Family Picnic Macaroni Salad

This macaroni salad tastes just like the ones you buy at the local grocery store. Only difference is, it's cheaper to make yourself, and you can make as much as you need. (Let's face it...macaroni salad is always the first one to go.) You can also add relish or onions depending on your desired taste. This recipe is an easy basic starter for you to add your own touch to and have everyone raving about your macaroni salad!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 512 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• ¼ cup white vinegar
• 1 (7.25 ounce) package macaroni and cheese mix
• ¼ cup pasteurized process cheese spread (such as Cheez Whiz®)
• 1 cup thousand island salad dressing
• ⅔ cup prepared tartar sauce

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Remove cheese packet from packet of macaroni and cheese and set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook both amounts of elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain. Pour hot pasta into a large bowl.

Step 2

Stir butter into macaroni until melted; mix in milk and the reserved cheese packet, stirring until thoroughly combined. Mix the processed cheese spread into the hot macaroni and let melt; mix thoroughly. Stir in thousand island dressing, tartar sauce, and vinegar. Cover bowl and refrigerate until cold; salad holds up to 5 days in refrigerator.