Macaroni salads are the perfect summer side dish. Most often, it features pasta with a few veggies, drowning in a creamy sauce. A long-standing summer tradition, this cold dish makes a great picnic addition for many reasons. Well....as long as you are careful about mayonnaise sitting in the sun. You can also make a dressing with olive oil as the base. As picnic season is coming to an end, it's now or never.

Some people love elbow noodles slathered in mayonnaise. Not this girl. There is even an Amish macaroni salad around these parts. The Amish version often features hard-boiled eggs, relish, and is made with Miracle Whip, not mayonnaise. I literally needed to ask around because neither one is landing on my plate. But, I do appreciate everyone's love for this summer classic. Personally, I prefer a cream sauce using either cream cheese or Greek yogurt. I also like a lighter sauce, but the recipe could easily be doubled for a thicker and creamier texture.

Start with a mix of your favorite veggies or really whatever you can find in the fridge. Carrots, broccoli, asparagus, bell peppers, zucchini, celery, scallions, cilantro, parsley... And, I tend to go BIG with the veggies. Then, choose a shorter pasta- penne, rotini, elbow, shells, etc. Finally, a creamy sauce to bring everything together.

Fire up the grill- we're ready!

‍

‍

Ingredients for Gluten Free Summer Macaroni Salad

• Gluten Free Pasta
• Bacon
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Bell Peppers
• Cream Cheese
• Olive Oil
• Milk
• Sriracha
• Cilantro

What goes well with macaroni salad???

Pork BBQ

Hot Dogs & Hamburgers

Corn on the Cob

Honestly- most proteins and picnic food pairs beautifully.

‍