Creamy macaroni salad recipe made with macaroni and colorful vegetables tossed in creamy Greek yogurt dressing. This easy pasta salad is hearty comfort food that can be made in just 30 minutes. Perfect for summer potlucks, BBQs, dinner, or simply serve it as a side dish.
If you love classic macaroni salad and want to make it healthier, then this Greek Yogurt Macaroni Salad recipe is just for you.
You can pair up this creamy macaroni salad with grilled meat or sandwiches. It is a perfect side dish for summer grilling.
About this Creamy Macaroni Salad recipe
This recipe is inspired by the Creamy Corn Salad recipe. The healthy substitution of Greek Yogurt for Mayonnaise gives this pasta salad a perfect creaminess and flavor.
Instead of making the creamy pasta salad with all Mayo, we have replaced a big quantity of Mayo with Greek Yogurt.
I can assure you, this macaroni salad with Greek yogurt tastes delicious. You won’t even notice the difference. It’s creamy from the yogurt and has the perfect crunch from the vegetables.
You can add any summer vegetables of your choice. Add some soft cheese cut into cubes, and it makes the salad taste awesome.
Ingredient Notes
For macaroni salad
- Dry Elbow Macaroni – You can use any small pasta of your choice.
- Vegetables – I used red bell peppers, cucumber, and onion. They add freshness, crunch, and color. Feel free to use any vegetables you like.
- Fresh Herbs – I used fresh coriander leaves (cilantro). They add a bright, fresh flavor. You can also use parsley instead.
For Greek yogurt dressing
- Greek yogurt: A healthy alternative to mayonnaise that still gives the salad a creamy texture.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness and creaminess. For a healthier version, skip it and use the same amount of Greek yogurt instead.
- Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens the flavor and adds a tangy kick. I also like to add a little lemon zest. You can substitute it with rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness and balances the tang from the lemon. You can use sugar or maple syrup instead.
- Red pepper flakes: Add a spicy kick. Skip them if you prefer a mild salad.
- Black pepper & salt: Add both to taste.
- Fresh Garlic: You can substitute it with garlic powder.
For the detailed list of ingredients & their measurements, please check out the recipe card below.
How to make a creamy macaroni salad recipe
- Cook macaroni in salted water as per the instructions given on the package. Drain it and rinse it with cold water. Drain it well and set it aside.
- Next, make the creamy macaroni salad dressing. In a big mixing bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, salt, black pepper powder, garlic, red pepper flakes, honey, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
- To the bowl, add macaroni, red bell pepper, cucumber, onion, and cilantro. Toss it with the dressing.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Creamy macaroni salad is ready to serve.
If you like this recipe, you may also like these amazing Pasta Salad recipes:
Recipe Tips For Macaroni Salad
- For meal prep, you can chop the vegetables and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Prepare the dressing just before serving the salad.
- Cook the macaroni in salted water as per the instructions on the package. Cook it for 1 minute more than the time given for al dente, since we won’t be cooking it further. Don’t overcook—it will turn mushy.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water. This stops the cooking process and removes excess starch, which can make the pasta sticky. Make sure to drain it well.
- If the macaroni holds water, it can thin out the dressing. So drain it completely after rinsing.
- You can cook the macaroni ahead and store it (without dressing) in an airtight container in the fridge. It stays good for up to 5 days.
- Tastes best when served chilled – Once the salad is ready, cover it with cling wrap and refrigerate for an hour before serving.
- This salad can stay at room temperature for up to 2 hours, but it’s best kept refrigerated.
- Finish the salad within 2 days of making it. Do not freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can store the macaroni salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It stays good for up to 2 days, but it's best to consume it within 24 hours.
If your macaroni salad is watery, make sure to drain the macaroni well before adding it to the salad. If there’s any water left, it can thin out the pasta salad dressing.
No, this salad is not freezer-friendly. Once thawed, the veggies turn soggy, and the dressing becomes watery. The texture won’t be good, so it’s best not to freeze it.
After cooking the macaroni, drain and rinse well with cold water. This removes excess starch and helps prevent the salad from turning sticky.
Yes, you can skip mayonnaise in this salad and use only Greek yogurt for a creamy macaroni salad. Just replace the entire quantity of mayo with Greek yogurt.
Variations that you can try
- You can add the vegetables of your choice. Add carrots, tomatoes, etc.
- Add boiled eggs or chicken to the salad.
- You can add some sweet pickles to it.
- Make it a Vegan Macaroni Salad by adding dairy-free yogurt.
Storage suggestions
To Refrigerate
- Keep this creamy macaroni salad in an air-tight container & store it in the refrigerator. Consume it within 2 days.
- Do not keep this salad at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Better to keep it refrigerated.
To Freeze
Do not freeze this macaroni salad. The vegetables will become soggy and the dressing will be runny.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve it as a side dish with
- Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken
- Garlic butter chicken bites
- Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Black pepper Chicken Stir Fry
More Summer salad recipes
- Greek Yogurt Coleslaw
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Grilled Chicken Salad
- Asian Slaw
- Grilled Corn Salad with Feta Cheese
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Recipe Card
Creamy macaroni salad recipe | Greek Yogurt Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Big mixing bowl
Ingredients
Macraroni Salad Ingredients:
- 200 grams Macaroni uncooked
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 cucumber
- ¼ cup cilantro coriander leaves
- 1 small onion chopped
Creamy Greek Yogurt Salad Dressing
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ¼ cup Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon garlic (finely chopped)
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions
- Cook macaroni in salted water as per the instructions given on the package. Drain it and rinse it with cold water. Drain it well and set it aside.
- Next, make the creamy macaroni salad dressing. In a big mixing bowl, whisk Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, salt, black pepper powder, garlic, red pepper flakes, honey, lemon juice and lemon zest.
- To the bowl, add macaroni, red bell pepper, cucumber, onion and cilantro. Toss it with the dressing.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Cover and keep it in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Creamy macaroni salad is ready to serve.
Video
Notes
- For meal prep, you can cut the vegetables and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Prepare the dressing when ready to serve the salad.
- Cook Macaroni in salted water as per the instructions given on the package. Cook 1 minute extra than the recommended time (for al-dente) on the package. As we are not going to cook it further. Do not overcook the macaroni. It will become mushy.
- Drain it and rinse it with cold water. It will immediately stop the cooking process. Also, it will rinse the starch that makes the pasta sticky. Drain it well.
- Make sure to drain off the water completely from Macaroni after you rinse it with cold water. If the macaroni has water in it then it will thin out the dressing.
- You can transfer the cooked macaroni (without adding dressing) to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It stays good up to 5 days.
- Tastes best when served chilled - After making the salad, cover with a cling wrap & refrigerate for an hour. It tastes best when served chilled.
- This salad stays good at room temperature for 2 hours. Better to keep it refrigerated.
- Consume this salad within 2 days of preparing it. Do not freeze this salad.
Nutrition
Hi! I’m Preeti Nayak, and with over two decades of hands-on experience in Indian cooking, I’m excited to share my passion with you. As the author, photographer, and editor behind every well-tested, family-friendly recipe on this blog, my goal is to help you cook with confidence and bring the bold, authentic flavors of India to your table.
helan
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.