This creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe is made with short cut macaroni, bell peppers, celery, onion, hard-boiled eggs, and peas. The Greek yogurt dressing gives it an undetectably healthy spin with more protein and less fat than a mayo-based macaroni salad. This pasta salad is the perfect picnic and BBQ side dish!
This creamy macaroni Salad is secretly nutritious
You guys know I’m always trying to level up traditional recipes with undetectably healthy ingredients. This pasta salad is a classic example. Greek yogurt in the dressing makes it possible. Otherwise, this classic pasta salad is made with traditional macaroni salad ingredients. Countless people have eaten this pasta salad, unaware of the secretly healthy tricks I use for this recipe.
Creamy macaroni salad ingredients
For the pasta salad
- ditalini noodles (or macaroni noodles)
- red bell pepper
- celery
- red onion
- hard-boiled eggs
- peas
For the dressing
- Greek yogurt
- mayonnaise (optional)
- lemon juice
- apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- honey (or sugar)
- salt and pepper
- dill pickle relish (optional, but recommended)
How to make macaroni salad
- Boil macaroni noodles; rinse, drain, and set aside. (see Instant Pot pasta cooking instructions below)
- Combine eggs, peas, onion, celery, and bell pepper with cooked pasta and refrigerate.
- Make the dressing by whisking together wet ingredients and seasonings. Store refrigerated in a separate container.
- Toss all ingredients together up to a few hours before serving.
* See full recipe below
How to make creamy macaroni salad with healthier ingredients
Tip #1: Substitute most of the mayonnaise in a traditional macaroni salad recipe with Greek yogurt.
My favorite way to make macaroni salad a little healthier is to substitute nonfat Greek yogurt for most of the mayonnaise called for in traditional pasta salads. This replaces the mayonnaise fat with protein…and I’m all for that!
It’s a delicate balance. Too much yogurt and the dressing tastes chalky. Too much mayo defeats the purpose of using nonfat Greek yogurt.
Tip #2: Don’t add sugar to the pasta salad dressing.
It’s common to see sugar as a macaroni salad recipe ingredient. It’s really not necessary, especially if you substitute Greek yogurt for most of the mayonnaise in the dressing because yogurt will naturally add sugar.
Tip #3: Use whole wheat pasta, or gluten free pasta in place of semolina pasta.
There are so many choices these days for pasta that brings less allergens and more nutrition to the table.
Is Greek yogurt healthier than mayonnaise?
I’m no expert, but a side-by-side comparison of equal amounts of full-fat mayonnaise and nonfat Greek yogurt yields notable differences in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
I’m always happy to keep those numbers low while enjoying a macaroni salad with the rockin’ flavor of this pasta salad.
How to cook pasta in the Instant Pot
- Add pasta and enough water to cover the pasta, along with 1/2 tsp salt to the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, set pressure valve to “sealing”.
- Pressure cook on HIGH for 2 minutes.
- Allow the cooker to sit, undisturbed, for a 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Release excess steam (if any) by carefully turning pressure release valve to “venting”, then cool-water rinse and drain the pasta, and refrigerate until ready to use.
What to serve with macaroni salad
Kitchen tools
- 3.5 qt saucepan
- stainless colander
- chef knife
- cutting board
- salad dressing jar
- mixing bowl
- silicone spatula
More summer salad recipes
- How to Make THE BEST Potato Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad with Greek Yogurt Ranch
- Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Italian Vegan Pasta Salad
- Pesto Macaroni Salad
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 4 cups Ditalini Noodles (or macaroni noodles)
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1 Red Bell Pepper about 1 cup diced
- 2 stalks Celery about 1 cup diced
- 1/2 cup Red Onion about 1 cup diced
- 4 Hard Boiled Eggs chopped
- 1 cup Peas
For the Greek yogurt dressing:
- 1 1/2 cups Nonfat Greek Yogurt
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise optional
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 tsp Honey or Maple Syrup
- 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 cup Dill Pickle Relish optional but recommended
RECIPE VIDEO
Instructions
For the pasta salad:
- Cook PASTA NOODLES with SALT according to package instructions; drain, and rinse under cool water until completely cooled; set aside. * To cook pasta in the Instant Pot, see recipe footnotes below.
- In a large salad bowl, combine BELL PEPPER, CELERY, RED ONION, EGGS, and PEAS.
For the Greek yogurt dressing:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together YOGURT, MAYONNAISE, LEMON JUICE, VINEGAR, MUSTARD, HONEY, SALT, and PEPPER; (optional) add DILL PICKLE RELISH.
- Gently toss pasta ingredients with dressing until well-combined (up to two days ahead); cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Dressing Tip: If you don’t use the (optional) mayonnaise in this recipe, you’ll want to add an equal amount of nonfat Greek yogurt.
RECIPE NOTES
- Add pasta and enough water to cover the pasta, along with 1/2 tsp salt to the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, set pressure valve to “sealing”.
- Pressure cook on HIGH for 2 minutes.
- Allow the cooker to sit, undisturbed, for a 10-minute natural pressure release.
- Release excess steam (if any) by carefully turning pressure release valve to “venting”, then cool-water rinse and drain the pasta, and refrigerate until ready to use.
Nutrition
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - 07/08/2020
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad [Instant Pot or Stove] - 06/30/2020
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob - 06/28/2020
Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! We enjoyed it very much.
Oh awesome! So glad you enjoyed and thanks for letting me know. This macaroni salad is definitely on repeat during the warmer months 🙂
Macaroni salad is one of my favorite dishes to make! I love the healthy substitutions you recommend and will have to try those next time!
Glad to hear it, Lucy 🙂 Thanks so much!
I love making healthy substitutions like this and my family never notices the difference! I can’t wait to make it again for my annual summer family reunion.
Awesome, Stephanie! So glad your family can enjoy this one 🙂 Thanks!
Macaroni salad is like comfort food to me! This looks absolutely hearty and filling!
Thanks, Gail! Glad you can enjoy this one 🙂 Thanks!
Yumm this recipe looks perfect for summer! Saving. 🙂
Glad to hear it, Cate 🙂
I love the idea of using non fat yogurt. With all of the flavours in there you don’t need anything too creamy.
Thanks, Amanda! There IS so much flavor and texture. It’s still creamy though too 🙂
How long is it good in the refrigerator?
Hi Heather, thanks for asking. If you store this pasta salad in a solid, airtight container, you can get up to five days of optimal freshness. Let me know if you have further questions. Enjoy! 🙂
I looove macaroni salad! This is a great recipe and I love that I can easily veganize it. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Monique! Yes, you can definitely veganize it…hope you love it! 🙂
Nice to use greek yogurt instead of mayo for a leaner option, this is a classic and a must have for grilling parties and summer menu, cannot wait to try it!
Thanks Adriana! I’m right there with you on this 🙂 Hope you get to try it sometime!
What a great summer potluck recipe! So colorful, too!
Thanks Britt! Love hearing that…it’s perfect potluck food! 🙂
I love how you made the classic macaroni salad healthy! I use yogurt for everything, it is so much better for you than mayo. All those probiotics, plus I love it’s flavor! I’ll be adding this to my summer menus!
Yay, so glad to hear it, Pam! I use yogurt for everything too! 🙂
I love that you used a combo of mayo and Greek yogurt here. Macaroni salad definitely could use this healthy makeover. Plus, I’m with you…no sugar needed!
Thanks Andrea! This is definitely a healthy makeover 🙂 The no sugar thing is key too!
Yes! I love the addtion of the dill relish at the end! This just screams flavor to me! 😀 I bet I’d just eat that whole bowl to myself haha – it’s healthy! I’m allowed! 🙂
Thanks Joyce! And I have eaten quite a lot of this at once, so ya, it’s easy to do! Hope you get to make it and love it like we do! 🙂
Looks like a great summer dish! Yum!
Thanks Joyce! Happy summer to you! 🙂
GF, I was craving a good macaroni salad and this one ROCKS! It was sooo good along side my (unhealthy) hot dogs. lol Of course my dogs were uncured turkey so that’s sort of healthy, right?! Thank you Kitchen Girl for a really good macaroni salad (with some mayo) YAY!!
Woohoooo thank you GF! This totally makes my day! Now you have me craving it too mmmkayyyy. And with dogs…brrring it! 😉
I LOVE macaroni salad! This recipe will be perfect for 4th of July weekend! Yay! Thank you!
Thanks Angela…hope you get to try this one out! Happy 4th to you and yours 🙂
This looks like such a colourful, hearty salad, perfect for my husband who doesn’t like mayo!
Thanks Lizzie! Yep, the mayo haters hit the jackpot on this one (although that is def NOT me LOL). But I love to cut back on it, which is why I created this recipe. Hope you husband like this one like I do 🙂
I’m with you, girl, I’ve never met a recipe in which Greek yogurt didn’t improve on mayo! This sounds absolutely perfect for summer – pinning for sure!
Haha thanks Monica…Greek yogurt and mayo were made for each other in my book 🙂 Thanks for pinning too!
I LOVE macaroni salad! This recipe will be perfect for 4th of July weekend! Yay! Thank you!
Thanks Michelle! Happy 4th weekend to you! 🙂
Love this twist on macaroni salad and especially love that relish in the dressing! I definitely have to try this with some gf pasta! 🙂
Thanks Sherri! Yep, the relish MAKES the dressing in my opinion. And yes, GF pasta is perfect for this! Hope you love it 🙂
Traci, Love this lightened up, tangy dressing for macaroni salad. Would be perfect for this weekend!
Thanks Marisa…love hearing that 🙂 Happy weekend to you!
Pasta salads are a crowd pleaser. Healthy is even better. With BBQ season here you can never have too many salads to include in the rotation.
Gloria, I’m with you on that! BBQ season is such a fav too! 🙂
This sounds like my kind of pasta salad! I love that you subbed in the yogurt for some of the mayo. I do that in some of my chicken and egg salads too. It’s nice to know that if someone didn’t know you made it healthier that they would never guess. Important for some of my friends that I say healthy and they say no. lol
Thanks Linda! Yep, subbing yogurt for mayo is one of my favorite dressing tricks! I love when people don’t detect it 😉
Wow, this macaroni salad looks so delicious! It’s perfect for summer!
Thanks Shanika…it really is the perfect summer side dish. Enjoy! 🙂
The balance of greek yogurt and mayo sounds wonderful in this dish. But good to know that too much can make it chalky! Small tips like that are really helpful 🙂
Thanks so much Katie! Love hearing that you find it helpful! 🙂
Traci you sneaky sneak!!!! Making a macaroni salad healthier!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Haha, well you know I just can’t help myself. Thanks for the compliment, Tina 🙂
YUM! I can’t wait for Part 2. I like zesty! Thanks for the heads up on cooked noodles double in size.
Angela, your enthusiasm makes me more enthusiastic! I appreciate you 😉