You can also use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. A few great ideas include adding drained tuna, diced ham, chopped bacon, shredded chicken, cubed cheese, carrots, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, pineapples (for a Hawaiian flair), yellow, green, and orange peppers, hot sauce, paprika, or garlic salt. Add your favorite veggies, seasonings, and protein to make your salad even more flavorful. What I love about this recipe is that is it’s easily customizable.For instance, bowtie pasta and fusilli will both make such a pretty salad! While this recipe calls for elbow macaroni, there’s nothing wrong with using a different type of pasta to make things more interesting.However, if you’re cutting back on calories, you can, of course, use low-fat mayo or sour cream instead.

Just be sure to use full-fat dressings for maximum flavor. Keep in mind, though, that Miracle Whip is sweeter, so you may have to adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste preference.

Amish macaroni salad requires real mayonnaise, but if you prefer Miracle Whip, that’s all right.This is another way to prevent the dressing from drying out. Refrigerate the pasta, veggies, and dressing for 30 minutes prior to combining them. If you have the time, it’s better to chill the ingredients before you put them together.That way, the dressing will coat the noodles well it doesn’t stick well to wet or moist pasta. Another way to prevent your salad from drying out: Be sure to pat dry your pasta with a paper towel before adding it to the mix.Another tip, you can coat the salad with half of the dressing, refrigerate, then add the remaining dressing once you’re ready to serve. To prevent too much absorption, be sure to place the salad in an airtight container.

Pasta noodles absorb sauces and dressing like a sponge.

That way, the noodles won’t clump together. Not only will this stop the pasta from cooking further, but it also rinses off excess starch.

Since you’re serving this salad cold, you can rinse the noodles in cold water right after cooking them.

This makes it an awesome make-ahead dish. It gives the elements ample time to soak up the flavors of the dressing.

While I did say to chill it for just an hour before serving, Amish macaroni salad tastes so much better when refrigerated for at least 24 hours.

Unlike regular macaroni salad which uses Miracle Whip, Amish macaroni salad uses real mayo, yellow mustard, sugar, and vinegar, creating a sweet and tangy flavor. It’s macaroni salad but with a fun twist.

Old fashioned macaroni salad pasta