Family Picnic Macaroni Salad

1 (7.25 ounce) package macaroni and cheese mix

1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni

¼ cup butter

¼ cup milk

¼ cup pasteurized process cheese spread (such as Cheez Whiz®)

1 cup thousand island salad dressing

⅔ cup prepared tartar sauce

¼ cup white vinegar

Remove cheese packet from packet of macaroni and cheese and set aside. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook both amounts of elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain. Pour hot pasta into a large bowl.

Stir butter into macaroni until melted; mix in milk and the reserved cheese packet, stirring until thoroughly combined. Mix the processed cheese spread into the hot macaroni and let melt; mix thoroughly. Stir in thousand island dressing, tartar sauce, and vinegar. Cover bowl and refrigerate until cold; salad holds up to 5 days in refrigerator.