This is a gameday and picnic classic! Rich, creamy macaroni salad that tastes JUST LIKE the kind you buy in your favorite grocery store deli. It’s the perfect side dish for the 4th of July, Memorial Day & Labor Day!

The first time I had macaroni salad was in Florida; it was actually on my first Fourth of July as an official Floridian! I’d always leaned towards Perfect Potato Salad because macaroni salad was something that I didn’t really experience growing up in Alabama. But, as they say, when in Rome…..

GameDay Sidedish: Copycat Publix Macaroni Salad

When you become a resident of Florida, you immediately find yourself swept up in local culture….this being PUBLIX! Publix is a grocery store chain that has humble beginnings in Winter Haven, FL. It is now a regional favorite; I was so excited to learn years ago that my hometown of Huntsville, AL had one, too.

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We Floridians flock to this exceptional grocer for 3 main things:

Pub subs (the local way to say “a submarine sandwich from Publix”. They are SO good.)
Sugar cookies (kids get free samples!)
Macaroni salad

Take it to the tailgate tips: Macaroni Salad

ALWAYS keep this delectable dish COLD! To do this, pack it in a zip-top baggie or a plastic covered dish like this one & place on ice in your cooler. When you arrive at the beach, baseball park, or tailgate, just pour it into a bowl! Make sure it doesn’t sit out (even at room temperature) for too long.
The pickle juice is the key to making this recipe taste like a deli classic! Don’t skip this ingredient!
And, make sure you make it in advance. It definitely needs those 4+ hours for the flavors to blend and meld.
You can add chopped sweet baby gherkins instead of prepared relish – this is my favorite-but prepared relish will lend to the same deli flavor.

WATCH THE COPYCAT PUBLIX MACARONI SALAD VIDEO!

OH- you can totally make this with a light mayo with excellent results. I’m no longer on my 12 Week Weight-loss Challenge, but I am mindful of cutting back on fat grams when possible. For the batch of macaroni salad you see in these photos, I used a light mayo with 3.5 grams of fat per serving. The taste was in no way compromised – it was DELISH!

This recipe is really, really good! If you don’t have a Publix, you can make your own deli classic right home!

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