Macaroni and Cheese Pea Salad

Creamy, tangy, and delightfully refreshing, this Macaroni and Cheese Pea Salad is the perfect twist on classic macaroni salad. Featuring tender elbow macaroni, sweet bursts of thawed peas, and sharp cheddar cheese cubes, this dish is enveloped in a luscious dressing made from mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, and a splash of apple cider vinegar for a zesty kick. A touch of sugar and finely chopped green onions round out the flavors, making it a crowd-pleasing side dish that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, or weeknight dinners. Ready in under 30 minutes and served chilled, this pasta salad proves that simple ingredients can create big flavors.

Nutriscore Rating: 59/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Elbow macaroni
• 1 cup Frozen peas
• 1 cup Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 stalks Green onions

Directions

Step 1

Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.

Step 2

While the macaroni is cooking, remove the peas from the freezer and let them thaw. If you're short on time, you can briefly run them under warm water in a strainer to speed up the process. Drain well.

Step 3

Cube the cheddar cheese into small bite-sized pieces and finely chop the green onions. Set aside.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.

Step 5

Add the cooked and cooled macaroni, thawed peas, cheddar cheese cubes, and green onions into the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold everything together until well coated.

Step 6

Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.

Step 7

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and garnish with additional green onions if desired. Serve chilled.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	905.3 grams (905.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3403

Total Fat 235.90g	302%
Saturated Fat 50.00g	250%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 387mg	129%
Sodium 3108mg	135%
Total Carbohydrate 252.70g	92%
Dietary Fiber 16.40g	59%
Total Sugars 28.80g
Protein 65.30g	131%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 691mg	53%
Iron 10mg	57%
Potassium 821mg	17%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 62.5%

Protein: 7.7%

Carbs: 29.8%