Aunt Gert's Sweet Macaroni Salad

4 from 35 votes

Aunt Gert's Sweet Macaroni Salad

This sweet macaroni salad is guaranteed to be a family favorite with its sweet mayonnaise based dressing and addicting combination of textures. It's rich and creamy but surprisingly simple to make and the perfect make ahead side for any picnic or party.

Prep Time10

Chilling Time8

Total Time8 10

Course: Lunch, Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 466kcal

Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us

Ingredients

For The Pasta Salad

1 lb radiatore pasta cooked, drained, and run under cold water until cooled (can substitute rotini or elbow noodles)
2 cups mayonnaise
1 medium yellow onion peeled & chopped
1 cup celery diced or very thinly sliced
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tsp garlic minced

For The Garnish

peeled & chopped hard-boiled egg optional
chopped fresh parsley leaves optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine mayo, onion, celery, sugar, water, vinegar, and garlic. Stir until evenly combined.
2 cups mayonnaise, 1 medium yellow onion, 1 cup celery, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup cold water, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 2 tsp garlic
Add pasta, stirring until evenly coated.
1 lb radiatore pasta
Refrigerate covered pasta overnight. Note that the pasta WILL be very soupy at first, but as it chills it will thicken and get creamy. Just re-stir to evenly coat.
Garnish, if desired, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

The macaroni salad will be very watery at first. It's ok! The dressing will thicken up as it refrigerates.
Make sure to stir it before you serve it. Stirring helps the dressing distribute evenly through the salad and thicken.
Don't make it the day you plan to serve it. This needs the time to sit in the fridge so the pasta can absorb the dressing and so that the flavors build and blend.
Cook the pasta to al dente. Overcooking the pasta will lead to mushy noodles.

Nutrition