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Melissa Burnell
This KFC®-style macaroni and potato salad dressing is the one people keep trying to recreate at home – and this version nails it. Gloria Pitzer cracked the code years ago, and the secret is the combination of sour cream, Miracle Whip, and real mayo working together. Skip the relish (it muddies the flavor). Use sweet midget pickles, chopped. That part matters.
The dressing comes together in two minutes. The salad takes longer to cool than it does to make.
KFC-Style Macaroni or Potato Salad
Dressing:- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
- 1 cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salad:
- 2 tablespoons dry minced onion
- 2/3 cup celery, chopped
- 2/3 cup sweet midget pickles, chopped (do not use relish)
- 2 tablespoons pimiento, chopped (or 1/2 small tomato, seeded and chopped)
- 8 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained, and cooled completely
Whisk all dressing ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni and all salad ingredients. Pour dressing over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. The flavor improves significantly the longer it sits.
For Potato Salad: Swap the macaroni for 8 cups of cooked, peeled, cubed cold potatoes. Increase celery to 1 cup and use snipped green onions instead of dried minced onion. Either version can take 1 cup of pitted black olives, stuffed green olives, or a mix of both.💡 Expert Tip: The single most important step is letting your macaroni (or potatoes) cool completely before adding the dressing – not just warm, actually cold. Warm starch absorbs the dressing unevenly and you end up with a gummy, underseasoned mess. Make the base the night before if you can.Make a big batch on Sunday and it holds in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep it covered. Do not freeze.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: KFC-Style Macaroni Salad
Ingredient Walmart Item Pkg Price Amount Used Cost Used Sour cream Great Value Original Sour Cream, 16 oz $1.88 1/2 cup $0.47 Miracle Whip Miracle Whip Original Dressing, 30 fl oz $5.48 1/2 cup $0.58 Hellmann’s mayo Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, 30 oz $5.97 1 cup $1.28 Prepared mustard Great Value Yellow Mustard, 14 oz $0.98 2 tbsp $0.11 Sugar Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar, 4 lb $3.48 3 tbsp $0.13 Onion salt Great Value Onion Salt, 4.75 oz $1.48 1 tsp $0.05 Black pepper Great Value Black Pepper, 3 oz $1.98 1/2 tsp $0.04 Dry minced onion Great Value Minced Onion, 2.62 oz $1.98 2 tbsp $0.22 Celery Fresh Celery bunch $1.48 2/3 cup $0.35 Sweet midget pickles Vlasic Sweet Gherkins, 16 oz $3.38 2/3 cup $0.71 Pimiento Great Value Diced Pimientos, 4 oz $1.18 2 tbsp $0.30 Elbow macaroni Great Value Elbow Macaroni, 32 oz $1.28 8 cups cooked $0.96 💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown Cost 🧾 Ingredients Total ~$5.20 👨👩👧👦 Servings 10-12 🏪 KFC Side (per pound, est.) ~$6.99/lb 💰 Your Cost Per Serving ~$0.47 Walmart prices verified June 2026 – prices vary by location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use relish instead of sweet midget pickles?No. Relish is too wet and too finely ground – it muddies the texture and throws off the sweetness balance. Chop whole sweet midget pickles by hand. It takes two extra minutes and it actually matters.
Can I substitute regular mayo for the combination of mayo, Miracle Whip, and sour cream?You can, but it won’t taste the same. The three-component dressing is what gives this its distinct flavor – slightly tangy, slightly sweet, creamy without being heavy. Using plain mayo alone produces a good salad, not a KFC copycat.
How far ahead can I make this?Up to 24 hours ahead is ideal. The flavor improves as it sits. Make it the night before a cookout and it will be noticeably better than a batch made the same day.Can I freeze this salad?No. Mayo-based salads do not freeze well. The emulsion breaks when thawed and you end up with a watery, separated mess. Keep it refrigerated and eat within 4 days.
Does the potato salad version use the same dressing?Yes, identical dressing. The only changes are swapping macaroni for cold cubed potatoes, increasing celery to 1 cup, and using snipped green onions instead of dry minced onion.
What kind of potatoes work best for the potato salad version?Waxy potatoes like red or Yukon Gold hold their shape after cooking and cubing. Russets tend to fall apart and absorb too much dressing. Either will taste fine – it’s a texture preference.How much does a batch cost compared to buying KFC’s side?A full batch runs about $5 to make at home, serving 10 to 12 people. KFC charges around $6.99 per pound for their sides – this recipe produces well over two pounds of salad. You’re saving $10 or more on a single batch.
Can I add olives?Yes. The original recipe notes that either version can take 1 cup of pitted black olives, stuffed green olives, or a mix. It’s an optional add-in that works particularly well in the potato salad version.
Why does the recipe use sugar in the dressing?KFC’s dressing has a subtle sweetness that balances the tang of the mustard and vinegar in the Miracle Whip. The 3 tablespoons of sugar replicate that balance. Cutting it back changes the flavor profile noticeably.Who is Gloria Pitzer?Gloria Pitzer was a recipe developer and food writer who became well known for her copycat restaurant recipes starting in the 1970s. She’s widely credited as one of the original copycat recipe creators before the genre became mainstream online.
📸 Make this and share it! Tag us on Instagram so we can see your batch.📝 Printable Recipe Card
KFC-Style Macaroni or Potato Salad
Equipment
Instructions
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Make the dressing: whisk together sour cream, Miracle Whip, mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, onion salt, and black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
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Cook macaroni according to package directions, or cook and cube potatoes until just fork-tender. Drain and cool completely before proceeding -- warm starch will absorb the dressing unevenly.
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Macaroni salad: combine cooled macaroni, dry minced onion, celery, chopped pickles, and pimiento in a large bowl.
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Potato salad: combine cooled cubed potatoes, celery, green onions, chopped pickles, and pimiento in a large bowl.
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Pour dressing over whichever salad base you made and toss until everything is evenly coated.
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Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Flavor improves significantly after several hours or overnight.
Recipe Size Alteration
If you altered the ingredients above by doubling or tripling the recipe, you may also need to change the pan/dish size and adjust the cooking/baking time.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!KFC-Style Macaroni or Potato Salad
A spot-on copycat of KFC's classic dressing — tangy, slightly sweet, and creamy -Make it as macaroni salad or swap in cold potatoes for the potato salad version. About $0.47 per serving, roughly $5.20 total.
- Large pot
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
Dressing
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
- 1 cup Hellmann’s real mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon onion salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Macaroni Salad
- 2 tablespoons dry minced onion
- 2/3 cup celery, chopped
- 2/3 cup sweet midget pickles, chopped (do not substitute relish)
- 2 tablespoons pimiento, chopped (optional)
- 8 cups elbow macaroni, cooked, drained, and cooled completely
Potato Salad (substitute for macaroni salad)
- 8 cups potatoes, cooked, peeled, cubed, and cooled completely
- 1 cup celery, chopped
- 2 tablespoons green onions, snipped
- 2/3 cup sweet midget pickles, chopped (do not substitute relish)
- 2 tablespoons pimiento, chopped (optional)
- Make the dressing: whisk together sour cream, Miracle Whip, mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, onion salt, and black pepper until smooth. Set aside.
- Cook macaroni according to package directions, or cook and cube potatoes until just fork-tender. Drain and cool completely before proceeding — warm starch will absorb the dressing unevenly.
- Macaroni salad: combine cooled macaroni, dry minced onion, celery, chopped pickles, and pimiento in a large bowl.
- Potato salad: combine cooled cubed potatoes, celery, green onions, chopped pickles, and pimiento in a large bowl.
- Pour dressing over whichever salad base you made and toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Flavor improves significantly after several hours or overnight.
🛒 Other Copycat KFC Recipes You’ll Love
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