Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

by Traci ·

5 from 48 votes

Total 30 minutes minutes

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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!

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (1)

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.
  • 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.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2)

How to make creamy macaroni salad

Full instructions are in the printable recipe below.

  1. Cook macaroni noodles. Rinse and drain.
  2. Hard boil the eggs, peel, and chop.
  3. Chop vegetables.
  4. Make the creamy dressing.
  5. Refrigerate ingredients separately until ready to serve.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (3)

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
  • Loaded Potato Salad Recipe
  • Broccoli Salad with Grapes
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • Italian Vegan Pasta Salad

📖 Recipe

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (4)

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe

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!

Prep TimePrep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook TimeCook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total timeTotal Time: 30 minutes mins

Yield 10 cups

Author Traci Antonovich

5 from 48 votes

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound Uncooked Ditalini Pasta 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 Nonfat Greek Yogurt
  • 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 noodles according to package instructions.

  • 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.

Final step

Click stars to vote. Please visit 'Comments' below for reviews.

5 from 48 votes

Video

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.

Did you make this recipe? I'd love to see it!Follow @thekitchengirl on Instagram, snap a photo, and tag #thekitchengirl. This always makes my day!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 307mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

We love recipe feedback...

Comments

  1. Bonnie says

    Adding dill relish to the dressing was mentioned a couple of times in the comments, but I don’t see it in the recipe. It sounds like a great addition to the dressing, but how much. One teaspoon?

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Hi there! Sure, you can start with a teaspoon or two and adjust by adding more, if needed. Let me know if you have any more questions. Enjoy!

  2. Georgie says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (5)
    I made this salad last night and it was a tremendous hit with my whole family! I’ll definitely be making it again.

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Yay! So glad you went for it. I always love when the family gives thumbs up 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experience. Enjoy!

  3. Lorelei says

    just a question: the 4 cups of pasta is uncooked, correct? or is it 4 cups cooked pasta?

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Hi! Yep, uncooked is correct 🙂 This pasta salad yields 10 cups, so you could reduce the whole yield, if needed. Let me know if you have any more questions. Enjoy!

  4. David says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (6)
    I made this to go with a bbq tri tip, it's for my birthday. Outstanding recipes. Thank you!

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Yay! So glad to hear you're enjoying my recipes. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂 Cheers!

  5. Crystal says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (7)
    I made this today. Delicious with a much lighter, fresher flavor using the Greek yogurt vs all heavy Mayo. Thanks for the new go-to recipe for macaroni salad!

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      You are so welcome, Crystal 🙂 I absolutely love the combo too. So glad you found the recipe and enjoyed it as much as we do. Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!

  6. Dave says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (8)
    Great Recipe! No one believed I made it 😊

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Wow ... such a compliment to both of us 🙂 Thanks for the review!

  7. Maggie says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (9)
    Just made this tonight and it's delish! Can't wait to try it tomorrow after it melds together. If it tastes as good as tonight then yum!

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      So glad to hear it, Maggie! Now you got me all wanting some Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback...much appreciated

  8. Susan says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (10)
    Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe! We enjoyed it very much.

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Oh awesome! So glad you enjoyed and thanks for letting me know. This macaroni salad is definitely on repeat during the warmer months 🙂

  9. Luci says

    Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (11)
    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!

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Glad to hear it, Lucy 🙂 Thanks so much!

« Older Comments

Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe - The Kitchen Girl (2024)

FAQs

Why isn t my macaroni salad creamy? ›

The key to keeping macaroni salad from drying out is the pasta. If you don't cook it enough, the pasta won't grab on to the dressing and will dry out. If you overcook the pasta, it will be completely soggy and gross. Cook the pasta just right, and your macaroni salad will stay perfectly creamy.

Why is Hawaiian mac salad so good? ›

Unlike its Anglo counterpart, Hawaiian mac salad tends to shun vinegar and mustard; it eschews sugar and MSG (which some vintage recipes include), favoring Best Foods (also known as Hellmann's) mayonnaise instead.

Why does my macaroni salad taste bland? ›

Making sure the water is salty enough ensures the macaroni is seasoned through (even after rinsing in cold water) and the salad will not be bland. 2. The noodles weren't sufficiently drained. Let the macaroni drain completely in a colander to ensure the sauce isn't diluted with water.

How do you make macaroni creamy again? ›

The #1 secret to creamy reheated mac and cheese

"Stir in about 2 Tbs. of milk per 1 cup of mac and cheese and reheat," he says. The milk loosens up the pasta and helps create the creamy sauce as it's reheating. Heavy cream works well in this case too and adds an extra touch of richness to the mac and cheese.

Should you rinse macaroni when making macaroni salad? ›

Rinsing your pasta also stops the cooking process, which will ensure that your pasta isn't overcooked and mushy. By washing away the starchy film on the pasta, you're guaranteeing that when you toss the pasta with your other salad components and dressing, the pasta won't stick together or clump.

Why is it called Russian salad? ›

Russian salad was originally called Oliver salad based on the Moscow-based Belgian chef who invented it. During the 20th century, the dish spread throughout Europe and adopted the name Russian salad.

What is in Walmart deli macaroni salad? ›

INGREDIENTS: Cooked Enriched Macaroni (Semolina Egg Whites, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Mayonnaise (Soybean Oil Water, Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Salt), Water, Sugar Sour Cream (Milk, Cream, Whey, Modified Cornstarch, Guar Gum, Sodium Phosphate, Locust Bean Gum, Sodium Citrate, Carrageenan, ...

Why is it called Israeli salad? ›

It was adopted by Jewish immigrants to the Levant in the late 19th century, who found the locally grown Kirby cucumbers and tomatoes in popular local salad. It was popularized in the kibbutzim, where the Jewish farmers had local fresh produce at hand. The name Israeli Salad is used mainly outside of Israel.

What is the Kim Kardashian salad? ›

Fresh and flavorful, La Scala Salad is a copycat recipe of the famous Italian chopped salad served at La Scala restaurant in Beverly Hills. Rumor has it, Kim Kardashian orders this salad often, and for good reason!

What is the aftertaste in macaroni salad? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

Is macaroni salad good or bad for you? ›

Macaroni salad is a delicious side dish that is not the healthiest option because of its high saturated fat content. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to lower the fat and increase the nutrients. Start by choosing a more nutritious pasta that is made with whole grains instead of semolina flour.

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

What can I add to macaroni to make it taste better? ›

8 Ways to Elevate Your Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
  1. Add extra cheese to your dish.
  2. Mix in some hot sauce and chicken to make buffalo chicken mac n' cheese.
  3. Add in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach.
  4. Sprinkle some bacon bits or breadcrumbs on the top of your dish.
  5. Add spices and fresh herbs to your dish.
May 21, 2022

How do you take the bitterness out of macaroni salad? ›

Try a pinch of baking soda.

Baking soda is very alkaline, which is a good way to correct overly bitter dishes. Sprinkle just a pinch into your food and mix it in well to see if that helps. This is a good trick for if you're cooking and realize that you added too much of a bitter ingredient.

Why is my macaroni not creamy? ›

Cook your noodles in milk instead of water

According to The Kitchn, cooking your noodles in milk instead of water makes the sauce creamy before you even add the cheese sauce. The starches in the noodles get released as you cook them, helping to thicken the mixture from the start.

How do I keep macaroni from absorbing mayonnaise? ›

Tossing the pasta with oil will reduce the absorption, by coating them in a water-repellent layer. Beyond this, the solution is simple: don't drain as much water from the cooked pasta, and add more dressing.

How to fix runny macaroni salad? ›

Why is my macaroni salad runny? There are usually two culprits — not draining off wet ingredients and/or adding too many watery vegetables. For this macaroni salad recipe with egg, cook the noodles first so they have plenty of time to drain. Remember to drain off the package of tuna as well.

Why is my pasta not creamy? ›

You don't properly cool the pasta.

"It's not wrong, and I have done it before in the past [but] to make a more creamy pasta dish after cooking the pasta, drain it, and cool it on a sheet tray," he advises.

References

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