Julie Clark
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Creamy Amish Macaroni Salad (Walmart Copycat)
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Amish macaroni salad is a sweet, creamy pasta salad made with elbow macaroni, eggs, peppers, carrots and onion, all folded into a mayo dressing sweetened with sugar.
This is my tested copycat of the macaroni salad in Walmart’s deli case. After much side-by-side testing, I landed on real mayo vs Miracle Whip for the smoothest, most authentic flavor.
It comes together in just 10 ingredients and about 25 minutes of hands-on time, then chills until you are ready to serve.
It’s on regular rotation with our blt pasta salad with mayo and cowboy pasta salad!
About this Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe:
- Flavor: The dressing is sweet with just a little bit of tangy thanks to yellow mustard and vinegar. The red pepper and onion add the flavor that makes this salad unique.
- Texture: This dressing on this salad is creamy and light. It’s not a heavy mayo dressing. The veggies are diced very small so that there is not a lot of crunchy texture.
- Method: The macaroni cooks on the stovetop, and then you’ll need to allow the salad to cool. Thankfully, rinsing the macaroni noodles with cold water makes the cooling down process quick.
What makes Amish macaroni salad different from regular macaroni salad?
The difference is in the sweet and creamy dressing. It’s very smooth, almost velvety thanks to the granulated sugar, yellow mustard and mayo base. There’s not a lot of tanginess.
The Amish salads also have very finely diced veggies and hard boiled eggs, making the macaroni noodles and creamy dressing stay front and center.
I tested a cooked flour dressing for this macaroni salad that was in my vintage Amish cookbook, but quickly decided an easier version was necessary.
Why is Amish macaroni salad so sweet?
Amish macaroni salad is sweet because the dressing uses granulated sugar, about ⅓ cup for 8 ounces of pasta. The sugar balances the tang from the mustard and vinegar. Cut back the sugar to ¼ cup if you’d like it less sweet.
What is Amish macaroni salad made of?
There’s just 10 ingredients:
- Any pasta shape will work, but macaroni is traditional.
- Granulated white sugar is best. You can lower the amount if you want the salad less sweet.
- Chop the red pepper, onions and carrots as finely as you possibly can. The salad is best this way!
How to Make Amish Macaroni Salad
- Prepare the macaroni. Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- Add the egg. Place the cooked macaroni and diced egg in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sugar, mustard, vinegar and salt.
- Add the veggies. Add the diced peppers, carrots and onions to the dressing. Mix well.
- Mix and chill. Pour this over the macaroni & eggs. Mix well to combine. Chill the Amish macaroni salad until serving. Serve in a pretty bowl!
What to serve with macaroni salad:
Here’s a couple of main dishes and side dishes to try with this Amish macaroni salad:
Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe
My tested copycat of Walmart's deli Amish Macaroni Salad favorite. Mayo makes it creamy and sweet, and people love the finely diced veggies.
Servings 8
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 2 large hardboiled eggs finely diced
- 1 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup finely diced red bell peppers
- 1/4 cup finely diced carrots
- 2 tablespoons finely diced yellow onion
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to package directions, then drain and rinse with cold water. 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- Place the cooked macaroni and diced egg in a large bowl. Set aside. 2 large hardboiled eggs
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sugar, mustard, vinegar and salt. 1 ¼ cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add the diced peppers, carrots and onions to the dressing. Mix well. Pour this over the macaroni & eggs. Mix well to combine. ¼ cup finely diced red bell peppers, ¼ cup finely diced carrots, 2 tablespoons finely diced yellow onion
- Chill until serving. Mix before serving to redistribute the dressing. Serve cold.
Video
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 8, with 1 serving being ⅛ of the salad. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 904IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo?
For the best flavor, no. This is a mayonnaise recipe and real mayo is what keeps the dressing smooth. Miracle Whip adds a tang that will make it taste different than the Walmart salad.
Can I add chicken or tuna to this recipe?
Sure! It’s a great way to add protein and make it a complete meal.
Can I use this dressing for potato salad?
Sure! This salad dressing would be excellent on potato salad. Simply switch out the noodles for bite-size, cooked potatoes.
What are some things I can add to this pasta salad for more flavor?
Try adding cucumber, a touch of celery seed, sweet relish or black pepper for spice. A ¼ teaspoon of paprika sprinkled on top gives it a pretty look, too.
We made this recipe and it was exactly what we wanted.
Just had Walmart’s Amish Macaroni Salad for the 1st time last night (I usually am not a big fan of other’s Macaroni salad, but as I didn’t buy it…) and wow was i impressed! Enough that I went searching for a homemade version of it. Based on your ingredients, I think you hit the nail on the head with this one. Can’t wait to try out your recipe. Thanks
Just to start I love Walmart Amish macaroni salad so I tried this. Everything was great except way too much mustard. My sauce even looked a little yellow. Walmarts is white. I thought the recipe was wrong and maybe it should of been teaspoon instead of tablespoons
Hmmm…authentic Amish recipe? Where did you get this? I have an Amish descent. My dad is Amish and I was raised Mennonite. This is not Amish
I made this with 3 variations: avocado oil mayo instead of regular, monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, and chopped cauliflower instead of pasta. Came out great!
Perfect “copycat” recipe. I used 2 cups of dry elbow macaroni and 1/4 cup sugar. Those were the only changes I made. I was a little hesitant about using all of the dressing, but I know the macaroni will absorb it as it cools. 😋 Thanks!