Description
A creamy and flavorful Jalapeño Popper Macaroni Salad combining tender elbow macaroni with a spicy, cheesy dressing, fresh jalapeños, and crunchy toppings. Perfect as a zesty side dish for barbecues, picnics, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Macaroni Salad
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
- 1/4 cup diced green onions
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Toppings
- 1/4 cup crispy bacon bits (optional)
- 1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni: Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down completely.
- Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, diced jalapeños, green onions, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Mix macaroni with dressing: Add the cooled macaroni to the bowl with the dressing mixture. Stir gently but thoroughly to ensure every piece of macaroni is coated evenly with the flavorful dressing.
- Season: Taste the salad and season with salt and pepper according to your preference, mixing well to distribute the seasoning.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate the macaroni salad for at least 1 hour. This resting time allows the flavors to meld together and the salad to chill properly.
- Add toppings before serving: Just before serving, sprinkle the top with crispy bacon bits for a smoky crunch and crushed tortilla chips for added texture and flavor enhancement.
Notes
- Use fresh or pickled jalapeños depending on your heat preference.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon bits or replace with vegetarian bacon alternatives.
- To reduce calories, use light mayonnaise and sour cream.
- This salad can be made a day ahead to improve flavor infusion but add tortilla chips right before serving to keep them crispy.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity for spiciness to suit your taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
