Difficulty Medium
Cook Time 15 min
Heat Medium 🌶🌶
Mystic Macaroni Salad is a creamy and tangy side dish that brings macaroni to life with a luscious mixture of mayonnaise, sweet relish, and a hint of smoky paprika. The added crunch from fresh vegetables like red peppers and celery makes it irresistibly satisfying. This salad is perfect for barbecues or picnics, offering a nostalgic burst of flavor in every bite.
✨ AI Summary Step-by-Step Cooking Guide Ingredients 1 lb macaroni pasta 8 slices bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped 1 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons sugar 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese ½ cup diced red onion 1 cup diced celery 1 cup diced red bell pepper 1 cup shredded carrots 1 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup corn (canned, drained, or frozen and thawed) 1 cup peas (frozen and thawed) 1 cup diced cucumber ¼ cup sweet relish ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 2 cups roasted chopped chicken thighs or smoked BBQ pulled pork 2 cups crushed jalapeño kettle chips Hot honey, for drizzling (optional) Directions 1 Cook macaroni according to package directions, drain, and rinse with cold water. Let cool completely in the refrigerator while you prep the other ingredients. 2 In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sugar, sweet relish, red pepper flakes, and smoked paprika until well combined. 3 Add the cooled macaroni, bacon, hard boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, red onion, celery, red pepper, carrots, tomatoes, corn, peas, and cucumber to the bowl. Toss everything together until evenly coated with the dressing. 4 Fold in the roasted chicken thighs or pulled pork. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together. 5 Just before serving, top the salad with crushed jalapeño kettle chips and drizzle with hot honey if desired.
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