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Creamy Thousand Island Macaroni Salad

A delicious and satisfying macaroni salad with a rich and tangy dressing, perfect for gatherings and potlucks.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Thousand Island dressing
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables and Cheese
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
  • 1/2 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/2 cup diced dill pickles
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together mayo, Thousand Island dressing, sour cream, relish, mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  3. Stir in red onion, celery, and pickles into the dressing.
  4. Add cooled macaroni and cheddar cheese to the bowl. Gently toss until everything is coated.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors blend.
  6. Before serving, stir the macaroni salad and add more mayo or dressing if it seems dry.

Notes

For extra crunch, consider adding bell peppers or peas. Allow the salad to chill for a couple of hours for the best flavor.