Macaroni Salad with Greek Yogurt Recipe (High Protein)
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Jump to RecipeThis Macaroni Salad with Greek Yogurt is a lighter take on classic macaroni salad, by giving it a high protein twist! Substitute traditional mayo for a non-fat Greek yogurt to make this mac salad extra creamy. You won’t notice the difference, the flavor is amazing.
This light mac salad is a fantastic way to get extra protein in your diet by using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. Serve this easy macaroni salad at your next barbecue, gathering, or as a side dish for grilling season.
Classic macaroni salad gets a modern low calorie makeover with Greek yogurt and fresh vegetables! This BBQ approved side dish is great for a party. It’s vegetarian, and can be made vegan or gluten-free for any audience! Great as a side dish for a cookout, this easy crowd pleaser recipe is great to serve with burgers, veggie dogs, or brats on the grill.
This Classic Macaroni Salad gets a bit of a modern twist from using Greek Yogurt in the dressing – it lightens the recipe and adds a nice creaminess without the fat. I also love the crunch from all the veggies in the dish as well, the celery, carrots, and bell pepper are a must!
This Greek Yogurt Macaroni Salad Recipe Is
- Packed with flavor
- Creamy
- Herby
- Savory
- Made with Greek Yogurt
- Mayo-free, no mayonnaise used at all!
- Vegetarian, and can be made gluten free or vegan!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Macaroni Noodles: I like plain macaroni noodles for this recipe. You could also use veggie pasta or a gluten free version if needed.
- Greek Yogurt – make sure it’s plain and unsweetened! You can use a fat free Greek yogurt or a full fat yogurt too. Make sure you get Greek yogurt and not plain yogurt, the thickness really makes this dish fantastic!
- Carrots, Onion, Celery, Parsley
- Sweet Relish
- Mustard – I used yellow mustard, but you could use Dijon instead if desired.
- Sea salt and black pepper
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
Additions and Substitutions
- This recipe uses Greek Yogurt in the dressing instead of classic mayonnaise. You can use a non-fat or low-fat Greek yogurt, or a full-fat variety if you prefer.
- Add chopped hard boiled eggs for extra protein and flavor.
- You can also use half Greek yogurt, and half mayonnaise for the dressing for a more traditional mac salad.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and add the noodles to a large bowl.
Step 2: To the cooled macaroni, add the chopped carrots, celery, and onion.
Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
Step 4: Mix the dressing well to combine, and pour it over the macaroni and vegetables.
Step 5: Stir well to combine the dressing, making sure it coats all of the macaroni and vegetables.
Step 6: Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt or pepper if desired. Stir in the fresh parsley and chill before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! You can use regular full-fat Greek yogurt for the creamiest texture and flavor, or a low-fat or non-fat yogurt if preferred. The Greek yogurt adds a wonderful tanginess to the dressing, and a delicious texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container, and refrigerate. Enjoy for up to 3 days. Before serving, give the salad a good stir, or add an additional tablespoon or two of Greek yogurt if if looks dry.
Macaroni salad is best fresh, avoid freezing leftovers.
The easy dressing for this recipe has thick and creamy Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. It’s similar to a classic southern Mac salad, but we swapped the mayonnaise for yogurt.
30 Minute Side Dishes
This easy Greek yogurt mac salad is great for last-minute potluck invites, or when you just want a home cooked meal but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. It’s ready quick, and is great to share with others.
I love to serve this yogurt macaroni salad with Oven Baked Veggie Kabobs, Sour Cream Coleslaw Recipe, and Orzo Pasta Salad with Artichokes. A real trifecta of crowd-pleasing recipes. I love that this can be made ahead of time. When you are hosting (or getting ready to go to a BBQ) this dish can be easily brought out and enjoyed.
More Easy Side Dish Ideas
- Avocado Black Bean Salad Recipe
- Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe
- Apple Walnut Salad Recipe with Dijon Vinaigrette
- Carrot Hummus without Tahini Recipe
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If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Macaroni Salad with Greek Yogurt
Ingredients
- 8 ounces macaroni use gluten free if desired
- 2 stalks celery diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 large carrots diced (about 1/2 cup)
- 1/2 bell pepper diced (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup sweet onion chopped
- 1 cup greek yogurt plain nonfat
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon each Sea Salt and Black Pepper or more to taste
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Cook macaroni noodles according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and add the noodles to a large bowl.
- To the cooled macaroni, add the chopped carrots, celery, bell pepper, and onion.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, sweet relish, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Mix the dressing well to combine, and pour it over the macaroni and vegetables. Stir well to combine the dressing, making sure it coats all of the macaroni and vegetables.
- Taste, and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt or pepper if desired. Stir in the fresh parsley and chill before serving.
Notes
Additions and Substitutions
- This recipe uses Greek Yogurt in the dressing instead of classic mayonnaise. You can use a non-fat or low-fat Greek yogurt, or a full-fat variety if you prefer.
- Add chopped hard boiled eggs for extra protein and flavor.
- You can also use half Greek yogurt, and half mayonnaise for the dressing for a more traditional mac salad.
Nutrition
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Do I have to use onion and parsley in the salad? I can see them in the photo.
Hi Dan, they are optional, but highly recommended! I like adding the onion and fresh parsley to give the salad some great flavor.
How many calories in one serving?