Main Dish Macaroni Salad
Main Dish Macaroni Salad pairs tender corkscrew pasta with a tangy, savory dressing of mayonnaise, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley, then folds in juicy cherry tomatoes and hearty diced ham. Chilled until flavors meld, it’s satisfying enough for lunch yet works well as a picnic or potluck staple. Expect a balanced mix of creamy, garlicky notes with bursts of freshness and salty ham.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves7
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Main Dish Macaroni Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 53 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 11
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 31
- Digestive
- 60
- Inflammatory
- 48
- Performance
- 33
- General Wellness
- 1
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until slightly firm.
- 2
Drain, rinse, and drain again.
- 3
Set aside.
- 4
In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, grated cheese, parsley, milk, and garlic and mix well.
- 5
Stir in the pasta, ham, and tomatoes.
- 6
Chill for several hours.
- Calories 403.54 kcal High 20%
- Protein 14.9 g Good Source 30%
- Carbohydrate 31.41 g 11%
- Total Fat 25.26 g High 32%
- Saturated Fat 5.01 g High 25%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 45.71 mg Moderate 15%
- Sodium 1028.12 mg High 45%
- Dietary Fiber 4.23 g Moderate 15%
- Total Sugars 4.74 g --
- Added Sugars 0.33 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 67.79 mg Low Source 5%
- Iron 1.56 mg Low Source 9%
- Potassium 53.05 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 97.44 mcg Moderate 11%
- Vitamin C 6.71 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin D 0.12 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
About This Recipe
Main Dish Macaroni Salad is an American dinner recipe made with 8 ingredients. It takes about 25 mins, serves 7, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Cherry Tomato, Cooked Spiral Pasta, Diced Ham, and Fresh Parsley. Each serving provides about 403.54 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Main Dish Macaroni Salad?
- It is an American salad recipe made with 8 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch or salad.
- What is Main Dish Macaroni Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Cherry Tomato, Cooked Spiral Pasta, Diced Ham, Fresh Parsley, Grated Parmesan Cheese. The full list of 8 is above.
- What goes well with Main Dish Macaroni Salad?
- Explore these American side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Main Dish Macaroni Salad?
- About 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 403.54 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Main Dish Macaroni Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 8 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Main Dish Macaroni Salad healthy?
- Main Dish Macaroni Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 403.54 calories and 14.9 g of protein, or 30% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1028.12 mg (45% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 5.01 g (25% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes and Garlic, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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