Delicious, creamy Macaroni Salad with tender pasta, vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and a zingy Greek yogurt dressing for healthy macaroni salad vibes. Who knew a secretly nutritious pasta salad could be so tasty and so good!
This macaroni salad with Greek yogurt dressing recipe is a must-have for anyone who wants to either reduce or substitute mayonnaise in classic pasta salad. Nothing against mayo, but Greek yogurt dressing boosts nutrition and rich flavor, so it's a double win with this delish side dish!
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.
Macaroni salad recipe ingredients
Ingredient amounts are included in the printable recipe below.
- dittalini macaroni - Use whole wheat for even more healthy macaroni salad vibes.
- red bell pepper, celery, and red onion - These raw ingredients add texture and crunch to pasta salad that everyone loves. Of course, you can omit or double up on any of these.
- hard boiled eggs - A key ingredient in classic pasta salad. These add protein, texture, and flavor.
- peas - I use frozen peas, thawed of course. Fresh peas are great when they're in season!
- Greek yogurt - I use nonfat Greek yogurt, but full fat version adds even more richness to this recipe.
- mayonnaise - A find that adding a touch of this to nonfat Greek yogurt helps smooth out the chalky flavor of the yogurt and makes the dressing more silky.
- lemon juice - I love fresh squeezed lemon for 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.
Creamy macaroni salad recipe steps
Full instructions are in the printable recipe below.
- Cook macaroni noodles. Rinse and drain.
- Hard boil the eggs, peel, and crumble.
- Chop vegetables.
- Make the creamy Greek yogurt dressing.
- Refrigerate ingredients separately until ready to serve.
What's in a healthy macaroni salad
Use a healthy substitute for mayo. Pasta salad is traditioinally made with a lot of mayonnaise. My favorite healthy substitute for mayo is Greek yogurt. I especially love nonfat Greek yogurt because it reduces the saturated fat and adds protein. I find that 75% yogurt and 25% mayo is my sweet spot for a deliciously creamy pasta salad dressing.
Use natural sugar and less of it. Cane sugar is a common ingredient in pasta salad recipes. I like to use honey or maple syrup in its place, and much less than what I typically see in a classic pasta salad dressing recipe. Also, the natural sugar in Greek yogurt helps sweeten the pasta salad dressing.
Use whole wheat pasta. Although I didn't for this recipe, you can sub whole wheat pasta for semolina pasta anytime. I think of it as replacing empty calories with smarter calories that deliver fiber and nutrients.
Is Greek yogurt healthier than mayonnaise?
The word healthy is always subjective. In this case, a comparison of whole mayonnaise and nonfat Greek yogurt show differences that work for my diet in terms of lowering calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. You probably have different dietary needs, so it's up to you to decide which ingredient is healthier.
How long is pasta salad good for?
Once you combine the pasta, veggies, eggs and creamy dressing, pasta salad is technically good for up to five days. I prefer to see it gone by about day three though because it's not the lively and colorful pasta salad it was on the first day.
More summer salad recipes
- Dill Potato Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Salad
- Broccoli Bacon Salad with Grapes
- BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Italian Vegan Pasta Salad
- Pesto Macaroni Salad
Secretly Healthy Macaroni Salad
INGREDIENTS
For the salad:
- 4 cups Uncooked Ditalini Macaroni Noodles, or preferred pasta
- 1 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
For the Greek yogurt dressing:
- 1 ½ cups Nonfat Greek Yogurt, or preferred yogurt
- ½ cup Mayonnaise, optional
- 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 (See Instant Pot instructions in recipe footnotes).
- Drain pasta, rinse to cool, and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, add GREEK YOGURT, MAYONNAISE, LEMON JUICE, VINEGAR, MUSTARD, HONEY, SALT, and PEPPER. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine BELL PEPPER, CELERY, RED ONION, HARD BOILED EGGS, PEAS, and cooked PASTA.
- Add dressing to macaroni salad ingredients and toss to combine. Serve chilled.
RECIPE VIDEO
Traci's Recipe Notes
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Add PASTA and 4 cups WATER to the Instant Pot. Push pasta under the liquid to submerge.
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Secure lid, turn pressure valve to "Sealing", and select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" on HIGH for 2 minutes (for ditalini, elbow macaroni, or rotini) or 1 minute (for thinner "shell" pasta).
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When cook cycle completes, allow a FULL 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Don't rush this...the pasta is still cooking.
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Turn pressure valve to "Venting" to release any remaining steam. Press "Cancel".
- Continue with #2 instructions above.
Equipment
NUTRITION
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
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 | Sweet Tea and Thyme 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 @ Cooking with Mamma C 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 | Nourish & Fete 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 @ WatchLearnEat 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 | Love is in my Tummy 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 😉