Description
This creamy Pink Cadillac Pasta Salad is the ultimate side dish for potlucks and cookouts. Packed with elbow macaroni, tangy pickles, red onions, and a pink-hued dressing, it’s a retro-inspired pasta salad recipe that delivers bold flavor and nostalgic charm. Perfect for summer sides, BBQs, and easy make-ahead meals.
Ingredients
2 cups elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water. Let it cool completely.
2. While the pasta cools, chop the red onion, celery, and hard-boiled eggs.
3. In a large bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, and apple cider vinegar. Stir until smooth.
4. Add the salt and pepper to the dressing and mix well.
5. Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl and toss until coated in the dressing.
6. Fold in the chopped onion, celery, and eggs.
7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
8. Stir gently before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Notes
Chilling the salad helps all the flavors come together beautifully.
You can use beet juice for a deeper pink tone if desired.
Make it heartier by adding diced ham or shredded chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 85mg