🌿 Zesty Italian Macaroni Salad
A creamy, tangy, colorful macaroni salad loaded with crunchy vegetables, cheese, and Italian flavor. Perfect for cookouts, potlucks, or an easy side dish.
🥗 Ingredients
For the salad:
1 lb elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup Italian dressing
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 cup diced red bell pepper
½ cup diced red onion
½ cup diced celery
½ cup sliced black olives
½ cup diced pepperoncini, drained
1 cup shredded or cubed cheddar cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
👩🍳 Instructions
Cook the macaroni:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente.
Cool:
Drain well and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Let it drain thoroughly.
Make the dressing:
In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Italian dressing, vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Combine:
Add the cooled macaroni, bell pepper, red onion, celery, olives, pepperoncini, cheddar, Parmesan, and parsley.
Toss:
Gently stir until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Chill:
Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours so the flavors can blend.
Serve:
Stir before serving. If the salad seems dry after chilling, add a splash of Italian dressing or a spoonful of mayonnaise.
⭐ Tips
For extra zest, add ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes.
Add diced salami or pepperoni for a heartier Italian-style salad.
Make it a day ahead for even better flavor.
Keep refrigerated and don’t leave it at room temperature for more than about 2 hours.
