Red Macaroni Salad

Brighten up your next meal with this vibrant and creamy Red Macaroni Salad, a crowd-pleasing twist on the classic pasta salad. Packed with bold flavors and colorful ingredients like cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, and red onions, this dish lives up to its name with a luscious red dressing made from mayonnaise, ketchup, and a splash of tangy red wine vinegar. A pinch of paprika adds a subtle smoky undertone, perfectly complementing the refreshing crunch of the veggies. Quick to prepare but big on flavor, this chilled macaroni salad is ideal for summer barbecues, potlucks, or as a make-ahead side dish. Garnish with fresh parsley for an extra pop of color before serving!

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups Elbow macaroni
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 0.5 cup Red onion
• 0.75 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup Ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (optional, chopped)

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, dice the cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, and red onion into small, uniform pieces.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, red wine vinegar, sugar, paprika, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined. This forms the red dressing for the salad.

Step 4

Add the cooled macaroni, diced vegetables, and chopped parsley (if using) to the mixing bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together gently until the pasta and vegetables are well coated.

Step 5

Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Add more salt, pepper, or vinegar to your preference.

Step 6

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

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad another toss and garnish with additional parsley, if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	817.8 grams (817.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2254

Total Fat 134.00g	172%
Saturated Fat 11.90g	60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.00g
Cholesterol 177mg	59%
Sodium 3037mg	132%
Total Carbohydrate 228.60g	83%
Dietary Fiber 13.40g	48%
Total Sugars 33.50g
Protein 32.30g	65%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 54mg	4%
Iron 9mg	49%
Potassium 778mg	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: 53.6%

Protein: 5.7%

Carbs: 40.6%