I’m sure the first thing many of you are wondering is why is this called Amish pasta salad? Since I am not Amish, I really don’t know. But this creamy mayo-based pasta salad is not my creation. In fact, there are a couple million other versions of it if you Google it. Although I have read that this type of pasta salad is common in Amish country such as Pennsylvania or Ohio. What I do know is that it’s an egg pasta salad made with a variety of vegetables including bell peppers, celery, onion, and relish to add a bit of crunchy texture to an otherwise very creamy pasta salad. That’s because the dressing for this pasta salad is mayonnaise-based along with sugar, vinegar, and more. So it’s actually a creamy tangy-sweet dressing which is always a crowd favorite. There are hard-boiled eggs in this traditional Amish pasta salad recipe and egg yolks always bump up the creamy factor of any dish. Whether you’re looking for a way to use up extra hard-boiled eggs post Easter or just a great pasta salad for your next barbecue, graduation party, summer get-together, or potluck, this one is a keeper!
Ingredients Needed
You’ll want to have on hand these very common and easy to find fridge and pantry ingredients:
For the Pasta Salad:
Pasta Celery Bell pepper Red onion Hard-boiled eggs
For the Dressing:
Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip Granulated sugar Dijon mustard Apple cider vinegar Worcestershire sauce Sweet pickle relish Garlic Celery seed
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Amish Pasta Salad
Making this family favorite Amish pasta salad is a snap! If you’ve never used eggs in pasta salad before, you’re in for a treat! Simply follow these straightforward steps:
Make-Ahead Instructions
After you make up a batch of Amish macaroni salad you can either serve it right away or cover and chill it in the fridge. I prefer pasta salads to be served chilled although it’s up to you. For those of you wanting to make this in advance, you can feel free to make it the night before or an event such as a picnic or backyard get-together. The pasta tends to soak up the dressing so don’t be surprised if it looks slightly drier after being in the fridge overnight.
Tips for Making This Pasta Salad
This recipe for Amish pasta salad makes a big bowlful so make sure you start with a very large bowl so you can toss everything very well and not worry about it spilling over the sides as you toss. When you cook the pasta, make sure it’s not overcooked and is just cooked to al dente. After cooking the pasta, I rinse the pasta with cold water for a minute to cool it down because if you add freshly cooked super hot pasta to the vegetables, it will wilt them. Another thing that benefits from rinsing is red onions. If you’re sensitive to the bite in onions like I am, rinsing them under cold water briefly and then drying them with a paper towel takes out a big portion of their harsh bite. Apple cider vinegar really is preferred to white vinegar for the pasta salad dressing. If you like your pasta salad slightly less dressed and a bit drier, as I mentioned, it will tend to dry out in the fridge overnight as the pasta absorbs some of the dressing. Furthermore, you can reduce the mayo or Miracle Whip to 1 1/2 cups rather than 2 full cups. For the hard-boiled eggs, I like to rough dice the eggs I mix into the salad but then garnish the pasta salad with a few whole slices.
Video Tutorial
More Easy Pasta Salad Recipes:
The Best Pasta Salad Recipes – There’s something for everyone in this collection of FAST and EASY pasta salad recipes!! Whether you need something to bring to a potluck or picnic, or are in need of a no-fuss weeknight meal the whole family will enjoy, these recipes have you covered!! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! BLT Pasta Salad – EASY, ready in 15 minutes, feeds a crowd, and PERFECT for potlucks and parties!! Creamy ranch dressing perfectly coats the pasta and BACON! Guaranteed family FAVORITE!! Taco Pasta Salad – Easy, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with great Mexican-inspired ingredients including corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and more! Perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks!
Italian Chicken Pasta Salad – Easy, ready in 20 minutes, and healthy! Bursting with fresh flavors from juicy tomatoes, cucumber, basil, parmesan, and tender chicken tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette! Ravioli Pasta Salad — Crisp-tender zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and chickpeas over spinach with cheesy ravioli and a dijon vinaigrette! A healthy yet hearty salad that takes advantage of summer! Club Sandwich Pasta Salad – All your favorite club sandwich ingredients in an EASY pasta salad!! Turkey, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese with ranch! Ready in 15 minutes and perfect for potlucks, picnics, and parties!! Skinny Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing — EASY, ready in 30 minutes, feeds a crowd, and is on the SKINNY side!! Juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and the pasta are tossed in a light and tangy homemade Italian lemon vinaigrette!! Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad — The BEST version of a chicken Caesar salad because there’s tender pasta, too!! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, makes a big batch, and a guaranteed family FAVORITE!! Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad – This chicken pasta salad is loaded with flavor, ready in minutes, and showcases Mediterranean-inspired ingredients! It’s perfect for summer potlucks and barbecues (no mayo!) and feeds a crowd. Or make it as an EASY family dinner with planned leftovers!
