Hawaiian Macaroni Salad (2024)

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 KatsuChicken, and twoscoops 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 recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full 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.

What makes Hawaiian Macaroni Salad taste different?

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.

Why is Macaroni Salad a thing in Hawaii?

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.

Can you make Mac Salad ahead of time?

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.

Recipe