Lighter Homemade Macaroni Salad

My homemade macaroni salad is a remake of the best New York delicatessens with lighter ingredients that will blow your mind with flavor.  Perfect for picnics, tailgating, pot luck, trust me, you won't ever want a store made mac salad after tasting this treat!

Looking for specifics on the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
• 🔪 Ingredients
• 🍲 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Eileen's Tips for Success
• 📋 Frequently Asked Questions
• 📖 Variations
• ⭐ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips
• 🥗 Serving Suggestions
• 🍽 Similar recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

• The beauty of this low-calorie pasta salad is that you can change up the ingredients. Use seasonal vegetables or use what you have on hand.
• This is my take on the popular New York macaroni deli salad with lots more veggies and light mayonnaise.
• This is a great make-ahead pasta salad for summer BBQs, potluck, family gatherings, and tailgating.
• Our mac salad is a perfect side dish for any grilling recipe.

🔪 Ingredients

• pasta - Use any small shaped pasta such as elbow macaroni, cavatappi, or bow ties.
• mayonnaise - We use low-fat mayo it saves calories.
• sour cream-Low-fat sour cream works well. I don't recommend fat-free sour cream because the flavor is a bit bland for this recipe.
• Dijon mustard - Adds flavor to the dressing.
• apple cider vinegar - White wine vinegar can be used for a different taste, both are yummy.
• bell peppers - Any color bell pepper can be used. I love using red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers for added color.
• grape tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes can be used.
• carrot - Adds a bit of crunch to the macaroni salad
• shallot - feel free to use red onion, scallions, or yellow onion.
• salt and black pepper - The salt and pepper will add flavor to the mayonnaise dressing.
• paprika - optional topping
• chopped fresh dill or parsley - optional topping

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🍲 Equipment

• 8 Quart Pasta Pot
• Colander
• Cutting Board
• Knives
• Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Spoons and Cups

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

💭 Eileen's Tips for Success

• Cook pasta according to the package and drain excess water thoroughly so the noodles don't get soggy.
• Mix the dressing and add it to the noodles so the mixture is well mixed.
• It is best to refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
• Make it the night before, even better.
• When ready to serve, taste for seasoning and adjust salt/pepper if needed.
• The macaroni salad can keep in the fridge well-covered for about 3 days.
• This pasta salad does not freeze well.

📋 Frequently Asked Questions

📖 Variations

Do you want to change up this recipe? Here are some ways that you increase the flavor of this dish.

• Add 2 teaspoons of relish to the dressing.
• Mix in 1 or 2 chopped hard-boiled eggs.
• 1 cup thawed frozen peas
• Add chopped dill pickles to the salad.
• Add diced celery, chopped
• 2 5-ounce cans of tuna, drained and flaked
• Cut up and add in grilled chicken breasts or baked chicken breasts.
• Instead of mayonnaise, use Miracle Whip in the dressing.
• Try yellow mustard or brown mustard for a zesty flavor in the dressing.

⭐ Make ahead, storage, and freezer tips

If you are going on a picnic, pack the pasta mac salad into a cooler with lots of ice or ice blocks. 

Make ahead - This low-calorie macaroni salad can be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight covered container in the refrigerator.

Leftovers should be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight covered container for up to 3 days.

🥗 Serving Suggestions

Marinated chicken drumsticks are a favorite to serve with this veggie pasta salad.

Juicy Lucy burgers are fantastic to pair with this salad for an easy dinner.

Grilled pesto chicken is a great choice to add to the menu with this salad.

Grilled Apricot Chicken is another great grilled chicken recipe to enjoy with this mac salad recipe.

Greek chicken marinade is a great marinade for any poultry as the main course with this salad.

🍽 Similar recipes

Another great pasta salad is our tuna pasta salad.

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is another recipe that is great to make ahead.

Our Wedge Salad is easy crunchy and flavor-packed. Don't forget to top it with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing.

Enjoy a few more of our favorite salads here:

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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

Eileen  xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe