Now that summer is here, cold side dishes are must-have recipes. This particular one is my super-fast, very easy macaroni salad.
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To Make This Recipe You Will Need:
- elbow macaroni, or similar pasta
- mayonnaise
- ranch dressing
- garlic powder
- salt
- black pepper
- milk
- cheddar cheese
- crumbled turkey bacon
- onion
- whisk
- mixing bowl
To start, cook a 1 lb package of pasta until it is just done. I like to use something like shells or gamelle, but if you wish to use traditional macaroni, feel free. As soon as it is done cooking, drain it and run it under cold water to cool the pasta to stop the cooking process.
In your serving bowl, combine a half cup of mayonnaise and a quarter cup of ranch dressing.
To that had a half teaspoon each of garlic powder, salt & pepper.
Add 2 tablespoons of milk and whisk it all together.
Toss in your pasta and stir it to coat.
Finally, you are going to add a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, a third of a cup of cooked, crumbled turkey bacon bits and 2 Tablespoons of very finely minced onion.
Stir it all together and you are done! Give it a taste to see if you want a little more salt & pepper and adjust to taste.
Enjoy!
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Throw-Together Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb elbow macaroni, or similar pasta
- 1/2 c mayonnaise
- 1/4 c ranch dressing
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tb milk
- 1 c cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 c turkey bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
- 2 Tb very finely diced onion
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente. Immediately drain and run under cold water.
- In your serving bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ranch dressing, garlic powder, salt, pepper and milk.
- Add in your pasta and stir to coat.
- Add in the cheese, turkey bacon, and onion. Stir to combine.
- Add extra salt and pepper, if needed, to taste.
- Enjoy!
Equipment Used
Nutrition
If nutritional values are provided for this recipe, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste or for serving. If nutritional values are very important to you, I suggest using your favorite nutritional calculating tool with the brands you use.
Nice and easy. Thanks Constance.