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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is made lighter with Greek Yogurt for a super creamy pasta salad that skimps on calories, but not flavor. This Hawaiian Mac Salad is the perfect side dish for barbecues, picnics, or just dinner with your family.
If you’re feeling a little tropical, enjoy this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad with our Huli Huli Barbecue Baked Chicken and Pineapple Cobbler. You’ll be transported to the islands and won’t ever want to leave!
Authentic Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
If you’ve ever visited the islands of Hawaii, then you’re probably familiar with the term “plate lunch.” Popular at food trucks and counter service restaurants, the plate lunch consists of a protein, like Kalua Pork or Katsu Chicken, and two scoops of white rice and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad.
Hawaiian Mac Salad is unlike the traditional Macaroni Salad we have stateside. It’s sweeter, creamier, and absolutely divine. It’s basically just macaroni, mayonnaise, carrot, salt, and pepper. Some add sugar or vinegar to the dressing.
I have eaten that way and it is delicious, but when I make it at home I try to make it a little lighter and still get the same great flavor.
So while this recipe is not an authentic recreation, it’s a healthier version of the traditional. It only uses half the amount of mayo, replacing it with a lighter plain Greek yogurt.
How To Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse. This is one of the few times I actually recommend rinsing. It removes the excess starch, cools the pasta, and stops the cooking process.
Whisk together the mayo, greek yogurt, honey, vinegar, and milk.
Gently fold the dressing into the macaroni. Use a rubber spatula so you don’t accidentally tear the pasta.
Stir in the carrot and onion. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired.
Garnish with fresh parsley if desired – I like to add this optional step for some color, but it is not traditionally included in mac salad.
Key Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – This is the main ingredient used in traditional mac salads, but I decided to cut the amount in half and make it a little lighter.
- Plain Greek Yogurt – It has the tang of sour cream without nearly the calories. It’s super creamy, like the mayo, and is a great substitution for either when trying to lower the calories in a dish.
- Honey – This sweetener has less sugar than actual sugar, so it’s a great swap to lower the calories.
- Carrots – Always included in the traditional Hawaiian mac salads so I had to include it.
- Onion – Not always included but I like the bite.
FAQs
Unlike our traditional macaroni salad in the states, the Hawaiian version tends to be sweeter, opting for sugar instead of vinegar and mustard. There is also a huge lean towards Best Foods mayonnaise, which some Hawaiians say is the only one they will use.
After Europeans introduced dry macaroni and mayonnaise to the islands, locals began making the mac salad because the ingredients were affordable, less perishable than other salads, and easy to make.
You can make it up a day in advance. If the salad looks a little dry, it’s because the macaroni absorbs some of the liquid in the dressing. Just whisk a little milk and mayo together and fold it in to remoisten.
Serving Suggestions
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad is pretty adaptable to a variety of entrees, but because of the sweetness, it pairs especially well with more savory, salty dishes like Kalua Pork, Korean Short Ribs, and Grilled Chicken Kabobs.
Some like to add tuna to the salad and make it a complete meal. Whatever way you enjoy your Mac Salad, it’s sure to become a family favorite!
Variations
While the traditional salad has a base of macaroni and mayo, there are several local variations that you might find around the islands.
- Macaroni and Potato – The locals love this one. It uses half diced potato and half macaroni so it’s kind of a marriage of mac salad and potato salad.
- Add-ins – Peas and canned tuna are classic add-ins for mac salad, or try my recipe for Tuna Macaroni Salad.
Storage
If properly stored in an airtight container in the fridge, Hawaiian Macaroni Salad will last 4-5 days. If it seems dry, add a little milk mixed with a touch of mayo or Greek yogurt and stir it up to moisten.
More Hawaiian-Inspired Recipes
- Baked Huli Huli Chicken (Hawaiian BBQ)
- Kalua Pork (Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, or Oven)
- Hawaiian Pizza Dip
- Pineapple Cobbler
- Homemade Hawaiian Punch
Lighter Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound Macaroni
- 4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 1/2 cup finely minced onion
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup plain Greek Yogurt
- 2 tablespoons nonfat milk more if needed
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley optional
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions. You want them a little softer than al dente. Rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain and cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator.
- In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, greek yogurt, milk, honey and apple cider vinegar. Pour over cooled macaroni and fold with a spatula to coat completely. Fold in carrots and onion. Chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
Absolutely fantastic! I love Hawaiian mac salad, and I enjoy a plate lunch a few times a year as an indulgent treat. By cutting the mayo with Greek yogurt (and I happened to have a tub languishing in the fridge), I can get a protein boost! I also added a diced up block of pressed firm tofu for another protein boost. This definitely changes the flavor, but allowed me to make this dish into a quick lunch.
Thank you Willa! Fantastic feedback, thanks for stopping by.
So good recipes !!!thanks 😍
Thanks so much Maria!
I did not make this salad but I have a question. I graduated HS in Hawaii. The name of this Salad is Lighter Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. None of your ingredients have anything to do with Hawaii. So why is it not just Lighter Macaroni Salad? I am not trying to be rude or anything but if I see Hawaii in a recipe name, I expect to see tropical ingredients.
Hi Teresa, “tropical” ingredients aren’t always Hawaiian. This is a popular macaroni salad in Hawaiian culture, and in the post I discuss why.
Can I use all Greek yogurt? Don’t care for mayo.
Yes you could, however it will alter the flavor.
Do you use plain Greek yogurt or vanilla?
Plain Greek yogurt.
When do you add the milk to the Hawaiian macaroni salad recipe?
With all the other liquid ingredients.
These sound super!!