How to keep macaroni salad from absorbing dressing?

Rinsing the pasta with cold water after draining it will stop it from cooking, which will prevent it from absorbing the dressing and making the pasta salad dry.

Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad?

Yes, it would help if you rinse the cooked pasta with cold water after draining it to stop it from cooking, becoming mushy, sticking to other noodles, and absorbing the dressing.

Is it better to make pasta salad the day before?

The pasta will be delicious the day you make it, but the longer it chills in the fridges the longer it has for the flavors to intensify which will make it even tastier!

How to store pasta salad?

Store covered or in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Creamy Cheddar Pasta Salad with Mayonnaise

Description

This creamy cheddar pasta salad with mayonnaise is exactly what you need for summer bbq's, picnics, and weekend dinners!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Pasta Salad

Macaroni (or pasta of choice): 1 pound (450 grams)
Green Pepper, diced: 1
Red Pepper, diced: 1
Celery Sticks, diced: 2
Red Onion, diced: 1/3 cup
Cheddar Cheese, cut into small cubes: 1 cup

Salad Dressing

Mayonnaise: 1 and 1/2 cups
Granulated Sugar: 2 tablespoons
Apple Cider Vinegar: 2 tablespoons
Salt: 2 and 1/2 teaspoons
Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Parsley or Oregano: 2 teaspoons

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Instructions

Boil: Bring a large pot of water to boil on high and cook the pasta according to the instructions listed on the package. Drain and rinse the cooked pasta with cold water and transfer it to a large bowl.
Combine: Add and mix the chopped green and red pepper, celery, red onion, and cheese to the bowl of pasta.
Mix: Combine the salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then pour the dressing over the pasta salad. Mix the pasta salad to coat everything thoroughly, and then store it covered in the fridge for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Make this pasta salad in advance to intensify the flavors.

Cook the pasta a couple of minutes less than the package requires to ensure the pasta isn't mushy.

After draining and rinsing the cooked pasta with cold water, mix in a bit of olive oil (about half a tablespoon) to ensure the pasta doesn't stick while you make the dressing.

Rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process and ensure the pasta doesn't absorb the salad dressing.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: lunch, dinner, side dish
Method: boil, chill
Cuisine: american