Description
Delightful deviled egg pasta salad brings Southern comfort to classic potluck cuisine. Creamy egg-infused pasta combines zesty mayo, mustard, and crisp herbs for a crowd-pleasing side dish you’ll crave at summer gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) elbow macaroni
- 6 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
Dressing and Seasoning:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional/Garnish Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) diced pickles or pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook macaroni until tender yet firm, typically 8-10 minutes. Immediately drain and shock with cold water to halt cooking process and prevent sticking.
- While pasta cools, craft a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and ground black pepper in a spacious mixing vessel until thoroughly combined and silky smooth.
- Carefully chop hard-boiled eggs into bite-sized chunks, ensuring uniform pieces that will distribute evenly throughout the salad. Dice pickles into small, uniform cubes if incorporating.
- Gently fold cooled pasta, chopped eggs, and pickles into the prepared dressing, ensuring each ingredient receives a luxurious coating without breaking delicate pasta or egg pieces.
- Seal the pasta salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for minimum 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and develop a rich, cohesive taste profile.
- Before serving, dust with an additional sprinkle of paprika and garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish. Serve thoroughly chilled for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Optimize pasta texture by cooking just until al dente to prevent mushiness when mixed with creamy dressing.
- Rinse pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Experiment with different mustard varieties like Dijon or whole grain for added depth of flavor.
- Make it lighter by substituting Greek yogurt for half the mayonnaise to reduce calories without sacrificing creaminess.
- Enhance protein content by adding diced grilled chicken or crispy bacon bits for extra satisfaction.
- Create a vegetarian version by using plant-based mayo and adding chopped roasted vegetables like bell peppers or cucumber.
- Boost nutritional value by incorporating chopped fresh herbs like chives or dill for bright, fresh notes.
- Prepare eggs perfectly by using room temperature eggs and gentle cooking to prevent rubbery texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg