Description
Dolly Parton’s Macaroni Salad is a Southern classic that brings creamy, crunchy, and tangy goodness in every bite. It’s the perfect crowd-pleasing side for summer BBQs, potlucks, or weekday lunches. This dish blends elbow macaroni with a rich mayo dressing and colorful veggies, making it one of those easy dinner, quick lunch, or make-ahead picnic staples. If you’re after simple food ideas that deliver big on flavor with very little effort, this is your go-to easy recipe. Whether you’re building out your healthy snack options or adding to your dinner ideas, this versatile salad fits right in.
Ingredients
1 pound elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons grated onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the elbow macaroni until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let cool completely.
2. While the pasta cools, chop the celery and bell peppers, and grate the onion.
3. In a large bowl, mix together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and sweet pickle relish. Add salt and pepper.
4. Add the cooled macaroni and chopped veggies to the bowl. Gently fold until everything is evenly coated.
5. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
Letting the salad chill for at least an hour enhances the flavor and texture.
If the salad thickens too much in the fridge, stir in a tablespoon of milk or mayo before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 390mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: macaroni salad, Dolly Parton recipe, summer side dish, creamy pasta salad, easy potluck dish