Chicken Macaroni Holiday Salad (Print Version)

Tender macaroni, canned chicken, crisp veggies with a tangy mustard-relish dressing, chilled for vibrant flavor.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

→ Protein

02 - 2 cans (10 oz each) cooked chicken, drained

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup finely diced celery (about 2 stalks)
04 - 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
05 - 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
06 - 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

→ Dressing

07 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
08 - 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
09 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish (optional)

13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
14 - Paprika for sprinkling

# Directions:

01 - Boil elbow macaroni in salted water until just al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooled macaroni, drained chicken, celery, red bell pepper, red onion, and sweet pickle relish.
03 - Whisk together mayonnaise, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - Pour dressing over the macaroni mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Garnish with parsley and paprika if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, including chilling time, so you can make it earlier in the day and forget about it.
  • The flavors get better as it sits, so there's no last-minute panic if you're running behind.
  • It's the kind of salad people actually eat at potlucks instead of leaving half-full on the table.
02 -
  • Always rinse the cooked pasta under cold water or it'll clump together and taste starchy instead of silky.
  • If you skip the resting time thinking you can serve it right away, the pasta will be dry because it hasn't had time to absorb the dressing flavor.
03 -
  • Dice everything small and uniform—uneven pieces make the salad look sloppy and some bites taste different from others.
  • Don't skip the cold water rinse on the pasta or the starch will make everything gummy and thick.
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