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A delicious macaroni salad with tender pasta, vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and a nutritious, creamy dressing. This easy macaroni salad belongs at every BBQ and summer cookout!
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Why you'll love this recipe
This creamy macaroni salad is made just like a classic macaroni salad, but with one special twist. We're using a mayonnaise AND Greek yogurt as the dressing base, which adds nutrients, flavor, and even more creaminess.
Just like a classic pasta salad, it's a delicious side dish for Air Fryer Whole Chicken, Instant Pot Pulled Pork, Baked Chicken Thighs, and Garlic Butter Grilled Salmon.
Ingredient notes
Ingredient amounts are included in the printable recipe below.
- macaroni - I use ditalini short cut macaroni for this salad, but classic macaroni works nicely too.
- red bell pepper, celery, and red onion - These raw ingredients add texture and crunch to pasta salad that everyone loves. Of course, you can adjust the amounts, if desired.
- hard boiled eggs - A key ingredient in classic pasta salad. These add protein, texture, and flavor. Use my hands-free shortcut recipes for Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs or Air Fryer Hard Boiled Eggs.
- peas - I use frozen peas, thawed of course. Fresh peas are great when they're in season!
- mayonnaise - A staple ingredient for macaroni salad.
- plain Greek yogurt - I prefer to use the nonfat variety, but you can use any style yogurt for this recipe.
- lemon juice - Freshly squeezed lemon complements the vinegar and adds a zingy flavor to this recipe.
- apple cider vinegar - This adds a distinct zesty flavor to macaroni salad.
- Dijon mustard - A key ingredient in any pasta salad and a great binder for the dressing.
- honey - Any liquid or dry sweetener can be used.
How to make creamy macaroni salad
Full instructions are in the printable recipe below.
- Cook macaroni noodles. Rinse and drain.
- Boil the eggs and cool them down.
- Chop the eggs and vegetables.
- Make the creamy dressing.
- Refrigerate ingredients separately until ready to serve.
Recipe variations
- Feel free to substitute all of the mayonnaise with nonfat Greek yogurt to add protein AND reduce the cholesterol amount.
- Alternatively, you can replace the Greek yogurt in this recipe with mayonnaise to make an old fashioned macaroni salad.
- You are welcome to add more or less sugar to suit your taste preference.
- Use whole wheat macaroni in place of traditional macaroni to add fiber and nutrients to this recipe.
More summer salad recipes
- Tortellini Pasta Salad with Pesto
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Orzo Pasta Salad
- Loaded Potato Salad Recipe
- Broccoli Salad with Grapes
- BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
- Italian Vegan Pasta Salad
📖 Recipe
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Dry Pasta (Ditalini or Elbow Macaroni)
- ½ large Red Bell Pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 ribs Celery, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 small Red Onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 4 Hard Boiled Eggs, chopped
- 1 cup Sweet Peas, fresh, frozen, or canned
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt, any fat content
- 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice, juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Honey, or preferred sweetener
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook MACARONI according to package instructions.Optional: Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water.
- Drain, rinse until cool, and set aside.
- To make the dressing, whisk together MAYONNAISE, GREEK YOGURT, LEMON JUICE, VINEGAR, MUSTARD, HONEY, SALT, and PEPPER in a mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Place BELL PEPPER, CELERY, RED ONION, HARD BOILED EGGS, PEAS, and cooked PASTA in a large mixing bowl. Add dressing and toss until coated. Serve chilled.
Recipe Notes
- Feel free to substitute all of the mayonnaise with nonfat Greek yogurt to add protein AND reduce the cholesterol amount.
- Alternatively, you can replace the Greek yogurt in this recipe with mayonnaise to make an old fashioned macaroni salad.
- You are welcome to add more or less sugar to suit your taste preference.
- Use whole wheat macaroni in place of traditional macaroni to add fiber and nutrients to this recipe.
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
Stephanie says
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.
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Stephanie! So glad your family can enjoy this one 🙂 Thanks!
Gail Montero says
Macaroni salad is like comfort food to me! This looks absolutely hearty and filling!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Gail! Glad you can enjoy this one 🙂 Thanks!
Cate says
Yumm this recipe looks perfect for summer! Saving. 🙂
The Kitchen Girl says
Glad to hear it, Cate 🙂
Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I love the idea of using non fat yogurt. With all of the flavours in there you don't need anything too creamy.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Amanda! There IS so much flavor and texture. It's still creamy though too 🙂
Heather says
How long is it good in the refrigerator?
Traci Antonovich says
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! 🙂
Monique Starks says
I looove macaroni salad! This is a great recipe and I love that I can easily veganize it. Thank you for sharing.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Monique! Yes, you can definitely veganize it...hope you love it! 🙂
Adriana Lopez Martin says
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!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Adriana! I'm right there with you on this 🙂 Hope you get to try it sometime!
Britt says
What a great summer potluck recipe! So colorful, too!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Britt! Love hearing that...it's perfect potluck food! 🙂
Pam Greer says
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!
Traci Antonovich says
Yay, so glad to hear it, Pam! I use yogurt for everything too! 🙂
Andrea says
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!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Andrea! This is definitely a healthy makeover 🙂 The no sugar thing is key too!
Joyce says
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! 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
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! 🙂
joyce says
Looks like a great summer dish! Yum!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Joyce! Happy summer to you! 🙂
Girlfriend says
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!!
Traci Antonovich says
Woohoooo thank you GF! This totally makes my day! Now you have me craving it too mmmkayyyy. And with dogs...brrring it! 😉
Angela says
I LOVE macaroni salad! This recipe will be perfect for 4th of July weekend! Yay! Thank you!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Angela...hope you get to try this one out! Happy 4th to you and yours 🙂
Lizzie says
This looks like such a colourful, hearty salad, perfect for my husband who doesn't like mayo!
Traci Antonovich says
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 🙂
Monica says
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!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha thanks Monica...Greek yogurt and mayo were made for each other in my book 🙂 Thanks for pinning too!
Michelle says
I LOVE macaroni salad! This recipe will be perfect for 4th of July weekend! Yay! Thank you!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Michelle! Happy 4th weekend to you! 🙂
Sherri says
Love this twist on macaroni salad and especially love that relish in the dressing! I definitely have to try this with some gf pasta! 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Sherri! Yep, the relish MAKES the dressing in my opinion. And yes, GF pasta is perfect for this! Hope you love it 🙂
MARISA says
Traci, Love this lightened up, tangy dressing for macaroni salad. Would be perfect for this weekend!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Marisa...love hearing that 🙂 Happy weekend to you!
Gloria says
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.
Traci Antonovich says
Gloria, I'm with you on that! BBQ season is such a fav too! 🙂
Linda says
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
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Linda! Yep, subbing yogurt for mayo is one of my favorite dressing tricks! I love when people don't detect it 😉
Shanika says
Wow, this macaroni salad looks so delicious! It's perfect for summer!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Shanika...it really is the perfect summer side dish. Enjoy! 🙂
Katie Doyle says
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 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks so much Katie! Love hearing that you find it helpful! 🙂
Tina Dawson says
Traci you sneaky sneak!!!! Making a macaroni salad healthier!!!! 😀 😀 😀
Traci Antonovich says
Haha, well you know I just can't help myself. Thanks for the compliment, Tina 🙂
Angela Hutchcraft says
YUM! I can't wait for Part 2. I like zesty! Thanks for the heads up on cooked noodles double in size.
Traci Antonovich says
Angela, your enthusiasm makes me more enthusiastic! I appreciate you 😉