Macaroni Summer Salad

Bright, refreshing, and bursting with garden-fresh flavor, this Macaroni Summer Salad is the perfect dish for warm-weather gatherings or light lunches. Featuring tender elbow macaroni tossed with a colorful medley of crisp bell peppers, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and tangy red onion, this salad is elevated with a creamy dressing made from a delightful blend of mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, and a hint of fresh lemon juice. A sprinkle of fresh parsley adds a vibrant finishing touch, while a quick chill in the fridge allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-make pasta salad is ideal for summer BBQs, potlucks, or picnics, and its zesty dressing is sure to make it an instant crowd-pleaser.

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium yellow bell pepper
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.25 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely before setting aside.

Step 2

While the macaroni cooks, dice the red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and cucumber into small, bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and finely dice the red onion.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and creamy.

Step 4

Add the cooked and cooled macaroni, diced vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss everything together until well combined.

Step 5

Finely chop the fresh parsley and sprinkle it over the salad. Gently stir again to incorporate.

Step 6

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.

Step 7

Before serving, give the salad a quick stir to redistribute the dressing. Serve chilled and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1336.7 grams (1336.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1921

Total Fat 93.90g	120%
Saturated Fat 8.40g	42%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 120mg	40%
Sodium 1738mg	76%
Total Carbohydrate 227.70g	83%
Dietary Fiber 16.80g	60%
Total Sugars 26.80g
Protein 40.90g	82%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 176mg	14%
Iron 11mg	58%
Potassium 1840mg	39%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 44.0%

Protein: 8.5%

Carbs: 47.4%