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Tropical Pasta Salad

This vibrant pasta salad combines cooked elbow macaroni with a creamy mayonnaise-based dressing, brightened by sweet pineapple chunks, crisp celery, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Tossed together and chilled, it offers a creamy, crunchy texture with tangy, tropical flavors and colorful presentation.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz elbow macaroni preferably whole wheat or regular
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise full-fat for richness
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 cup sweet pineapple chunks drained well
  • 2 stalks celery finely chopped
  • 3 large hard-boiled eggs chopped
  • 2 green green onions chopped, green parts only

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Strainer
  • Mixing Bowl
  • spoon or spatula

Method
 

  1. Cook the elbow macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta down.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and apple cider vinegar until smooth and slightly tangy. This creates a creamy, flavorful dressing base.
  3. Fold the cooled pasta into the dressing, gently mixing until the pasta is coated evenly and begins to feel sticky and creamy.
  4. Add the drained pineapple chunks, chopped celery, chopped eggs, and chopped green onions to the pasta mixture. Carefully fold everything together, ensuring the colorful ingredients are evenly distributed.
  5. Give the salad a gentle stir to combine all flavors. Taste and adjust with salt or additional vinegar if desired.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
  7. Before serving, give the salad a quick toss to refresh the ingredients and check the seasoning, adding more vinegar or salt if needed.
  8. Serve the tropical pasta salad cold, garnished with extra chopped green onions if desired. Enjoy the creamy, crunchy, and tangy flavors with each bite!