Creamy Thousand Island Macaroni Salad
This Creamy Thousand Island Macaroni Salad is a tangy, creamy, and satisfying side dish packed with tender macaroni, crisp vegetables, and a flavorful Thousand Island dressing. It’s easy to make ahead and perfect for potlucks, barbecues, picnics, or family dinners.
Print
Pin
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Thousand Island dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- ½ cup finely diced celery
- ½ cup diced dill pickles
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package directions until tender. Drain well and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Make the creamy dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Thousand Island dressing, sour cream, relish, mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
- Add the vegetables: Stir in the red onion, celery, and diced pickles.
- Combine: Add the cooled macaroni and shredded cheddar cheese to the bowl. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated in the creamy dressing.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This gives the flavors time to blend.
- Serve: Give the macaroni a good stir before serving. If it seems a little dry after chilling, mix in 1–2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or Thousand Island dressing to loosen it up.