Hi, friends! It’s summer and that means it’s picnic time! I love picnics and outdoor gatherings in the summer! Whether you’re the host or attending a picnic and need to take a dish, I’ve got a great one for you today! It’s easy and a crowd favorite – Pennsylvania Dutch Macaroni Salad.
Like most of you, I have gotten most of my favorite and “go to” recipes passed on to me from family or friends. This one was given to me by my friend, Cindy! And, I think it was passed on to her by another friend of hers! Recipes are like that – the good ones anyway!! And, this is one of those recipes!
I think I was at a graduation party at Cindy’s house when I first tasted. this macaroni salad. First, you should note that I don’t really like macaroni salad. Nope! I don’t care for it! Especially the kind you find in the deli section at the grocery store! But, Cindy was raving about this recipe and insisted that I give it a try. And, she was right! This macaroni salad was different from any that I’d had before! And, I loved it!
Pennsylvania Dutch Sweet & Tangy Macaroni Salad
This is a Pennsylvania Dutch version of the classic summer macaroni salad. What makes it “Pennsylvania Dutch” you may ask? I think it’s the combination of dressing ingredients that give this macaroni salad a sweet and tangy Pennsylvania Dutch twist. The dressing uses Miracle Whip, instead of the classic mayonnaise, a little bit of sugar, vinegar and yellow mustard. I will also say that I typically don’t care for Miracle Whip. If I have a choice between a sandwich with mayo or Miracle Whip, I will always choose the mayo. But, in this dressing combination, I like it!
Pennsylvania Dutch Macaroni Salad
A sweet and tangy Pennsylvania Dutch twist on traditional macaroni salad!
Ingredients
- 4 Ribs Celery
- 1 Medium Onion
- Shredded Carrots
- 3 Hard Boiled Eggs
- 2 Cups Elbow Cooked Elbow Noodles
- 2 TBS Sugar
- 1 TBS Mustard
- 2 TBS Vinegar
- 2 Cups Miracle Whip Salad Dressing
- Sprinkle of Celery Seed
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni noodles. Rinse with cold water and drain.
- Dice the celery and onion.
- Chop the hard boiled eggs.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled macaroni, diced celery and onion, and chopped eggs.
- In a separate bowl mix together the Miracle Whip, mustard, sugar, and vinegar.
- Fold the dressing mixture into the macaroni bowl.
- Sprinkle with celery seed.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
I like to make this a day early so there is time for the flavors to blend.
I hope you’ll give this macaroni salad recipe a try for your next summer picnic or party!
Here are a few other traditional Pennsylvania Dutch recipes you might also like:
Pennsylvania Dutch Pickled Eggs
Hi Darlene,
I was glad to see this recipe. Being Pa. Dutch, this is very close to
the one my mother made. I think her potato salad also used this type of dressing. I have many of her recipes on old index cards, but I don’t have these.
As with many of our mothers and also myself, we just add things and know when it “feels” right. I look forward to using your recipe.
I think you mentioned you lived near Ephrata, PA. Do you ever go to The
Green Dragon? I live in Alburtis, which is about 15 minutes from Kutztown, PA. Have a great, safe holiday weekend!🇺🇸
Take good care.
Sue
Thanks sounds yummy and easy, in case i don’t hear from you again have a great 4th of July.
I do not know anything about Pennsylvania Dutch traditions so I find it fun to see your recipes. I love to read recipes!! My husband would like this because he likes Miracle Whip. I’d have never thought to add vinegar and sugar that must be the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition!! I’d like to use fresh carrots. They are so much better!! I live in a county where almost all of our country’s carrots are grown. You’d think I’d eat them more often!!
Interesting but I’ll stick with my tried and true tuna macaroni salad recipe. I use elbow macaroni, tuna, green onion, celery, mini sweet colored peppers, sweet pickle relish, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise, fresh squeezed lemon juice, celery seed. No need for sugar, the sweet pickle relish adds enough sweetness, no mustard! It’s the perfect tuna macaroni salad recipe.
My one son and I are on the hunt for the best pasta salad and look forward to trying this one. In the recipe instructions you have, “cook the noodles” but in the ingredients you have cooked noodles listed. Do you mean 2 cups uncooked noodles or 2 cups of cooked noodles? Thanks.
This sounds delicious and I’m definitely going to give it a try! Thanks for sharing and Happy 4th!❤️🇺🇸💙
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I watched my MIL make her own dressing using vinegar and milk for her coleslaw which was the best coleslaw ever!!! I asked her for the recipe and she told me to do it to taste. I wasn’t brave enough to try it, so we have suffered years of store bought brands. Maybe I will give it a try now seeing how you added some vinegar into your macaroni salad. Even though I am not there I’ll bet it tastes wonderful.
My step mom made this for us for years and I love it. I had no idea that it was Pennsylvania Dutch. We add tomatoes and green peppers.