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Creamy Macaroni Salad with Ham and Sweet Pickles

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A creamy, tangy macaroni salad featuring smoky ham and sweet pickles, perfect for summer parties and potlucks. This easy recipe balances flavors and textures for a satisfying side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups (200g) elbow macaroni pasta
  • 1 cup (150g) cooked ham, diced
  • 1/2 cup (75g) sweet pickles, chopped (bread-and-butter pickles recommended)
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) plain sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup (60g) celery, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 2 cups (200g) of elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions, about 7 to 8 minutes, until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. Drain the macaroni well in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain thoroughly for 5 minutes.
  3. While the pasta cooks, dice 1 cup (150g) cooked ham, chop 1/2 cup (75g) sweet pickles, dice 1/2 cup (60g) celery, finely chop 2 tablespoons red onion, and chop 2 hard-boiled eggs if using. Place all in a mixing bowl.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise, 1/4 cup (60ml) sour cream, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl with ham, pickles, celery, onion, and eggs. Pour the dressing over and gently fold everything together to coat evenly without breaking the pasta.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors blend and chill the salad. If short on time, 30 minutes is sufficient.
  7. Before serving, sprinkle 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley over the salad and give it a gentle stir. Adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Notes

[‘Rinse pasta well after boiling to stop cooking and remove excess starch.’, ‘Do not overdress the salad; start with less dressing and add more if needed.’, ‘Dice ingredients uniformly for even flavor distribution.’, ‘Use good-quality smoked ham for best flavor.’, ‘Chill the salad for at least an hour to let flavors meld.’, ‘The salad tastes better the next day and is great for meal prep.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.’, ‘For dairy-free, use vegan mayo and omit sour cream.’, ‘Optional: Add chopped fresh strawberries for a fruity note in summer.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: macaroni salad, creamy macaroni salad, ham salad, sweet pickles, summer salad, potluck recipe, easy side dish

Find it online: https://lucydishes.com/creamy-macaroni-salad-with-ham-and-sweet-pickles-easy-recipe-for-summer-parties/