Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

deli mac salad

(21 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Helene Mulvihill
Magnolia, TX

This is a family recipe from my husband's family. They owned a deli in New Jersey many years ago and this is the mac salad they made. Yum! It's always a hit.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

It can be hard to replicate the flavor and texture of authentic deli macaroni salad, but this recipe pulls it off beautifully. Sweet and tangy, celery seed adds a ton of flavor. Not only do chopped green peppers add another layer of flavor, but they also add crunch. A delicious side dish for a cookout or potluck.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(21 ratings)
yield 12 serving(s)
prep time 2 Hr 5 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For deli mac salad

  • 1 lb
    cooked elbow macaroni
  • 1 c
    white vinegar
  • 1 c
    white sugar
  • 1 c
    finely chopped bell pepper
  • 1 Tbsp
    celery seed
  • 1 c
    mayonnaise

How To Make deli mac salad

  • Heat vinegar and sugar until sugar dissolves.
    1
    Heat vinegar and sugar on the stove until sugar is dissolved. Cool.
  • Toss vinegar sugar mixture with macaroni in a resealable bag.
    2
    Toss vinegar sugar mixture with macaroni in a gallon resealable plastic bag.
  • Refrigerate the mixture.
    3
    Refrigerate for several hours to allow it to set. After soaking, there may be some excess sugar/vinegar mixture. If you find it to be very soupy, toss it into a colander for a minute to drain some off.
  • Refrigerated macaroni in a bowl with green peppers and celery seed.
    4
    After chilling, empty the macaroni into a mixing bowl. Toss with peppers and celery seed.
  • Stir in mayonnaise.
    5
    Add mayo to taste.
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