Macaroni Salad - Pioneer Woman

By lindaauman

"I love, love, love, adore, and love macaroni salad. I’m also picky, picky, picky, particular, and picky about macaroni salad. No joke. Macaroni salad is a religion to me.
I have issues, is what I’m saying.

Here’s what I don’t like: Macaroni salad that’s gloopy.
Here’s what I do like: Macaroni salad that’s creamy but still light.
Here’s what I don’t like: Macaroni salad that’s overly vinegary.
Here’s what I do like: Macaroni salad with a sweet/tangy/spicy kick.
Here’s what I don’t like: Macaroni salad that’s mostly macaroni.
Here’s what I do like: Macaroni salad with a confetti of wonderfulness coloring the whole mix with flavor, spice, and texture.
Now that that’s all settled, let’s make Macaroni Salad!"

- Ree author of "Pioneer Woman Cooks"

Ingredients

• 4 cups Elbow Macaroni
• 3 whole Roasted Red Peppers, Chopped (more To Taste, Can Also Use Pimentos)
• 1/2 cups Black Olives, Chopped Fine
• 6 whole Sweet/spicy Pickle Slices, Diced (about 1/2 Cup Diced)
• 3 whole Green Onions, Sliced (white And Dark Green Parts)
• 1/2 cups Mayonnaise
• 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Or Distilled Vinegar
• 3 teaspoons Sugar, More Or Less To Taste
• 1/4 teaspoons Salt, More To Taste
• Plenty Of Black Pepper
• 1/4 cups Milk (more If Needed)
• Splash Of Pickle Juice (spicy Sweet Pickles)
• Extra Pickle Juice To Taste

Details

Cooking time 25mins
Adapted from tastykitchen.com

Preparation

Step 1

Cook the macaroni in lightly salted water according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.

Mix together mayo, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Splash in enough milk to make it pourable. Splash in pickle juice for extra flavor. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Set aside.

Place cooled macaroni in a large bowl and pour 3/4 of the dressing. Toss and add more dressing if you’d like. (Dressing will seem a little thin, but it will thicken up as salad chills.)

Stir in olives, roasted red peppers (or pimentos), pickles, and green onions. Add more of any ingredient if you’d like more stuff going on! At the end, splash in a little more pickle juice and stir.

Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sliced green onion to serve!