Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad

Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad is a refreshing pasta salad for those summer picnics and cookouts! Bursting with delightful Mediterranean flavors, this is a great addition your go-to salads. Fresh cucumbers, fresh dill, and feta cheese offer that Greek flair. Super fast, and super simple! This is a definite “Must Try!”

Mediterranean/Greek Food

The Mediterranean diet has been hailed as the best diet several years in a row to lose weight permanently, loser cholesterol, prevent heart disease, lower the risk of type-2 diabetes or control it if you already have it, along with a very long list of many other health benefits. Greek food is just one of the many cuisines that fit in with this lifestyle.

Long before I was old enough to be concerned with any of those health concerns, I always loved Greek food. My family and I enjoy something Greek or Mediterranean at least once a week. Gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, kafta kabobs, salads, and much, much more.

Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad

This Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad was meant to be a break from the ordinary. You know how it is. You’re invited to a party, picnic, or cookout, or you’re hosting one, and you know there’s going to be the mainstay salads – macaroni, potato, some other pasta salad (often times a really weird one, too). Maybe, you’re even the one asked to bring one.

I’m not saying these are bad or anything, because we all love them. But they can get boring, especially when someone gets lazy and picks up the store brand – yeah, I do it too sometimes . . . we all do.

So this is to break up that same-old-same-old routine. I originally added kalamata olive to this, but the flavor was too overpowering. But the Greek base is still very much there. My daughter absolutely loved it!

(This post was made during the coronavirus pandemic so it hasn’t been tried on my friends and family. So give a try and let me know what you think!)

What Are the Ingredients in Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad?

• Cooked Macaroni
• English Cucumber
• Sweet Onion
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Feta Cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Greek Yogurt
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Fresh Dill
• Garlic Powder
• Fresh Mint

Ingredient Notes

English Cucumber – I like using the English cucumber because it’s also called a “seedless” cucumber, so you can use the entire cucumber. But, a regular cucumber will work just fine, just remove the seed.

Greek Yogurt – I originally made this with just Greek yogurt. But it was too overpowering. So I went to a 50/50 mix of it with mayonnaise, which turned out awesome. But some people don’t like Greek yogurt. So, if that’s the case with you, you can use just the mayo.

How Is Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad Made?

1. Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the box for “al dente.” You don’t want to go more than al dente because the pasta will continue to absorb liquid from the dressing and become softer. If you cook it too long, the salad will have mushy pasta, which no one will enjoy.
2. Once the macaroni is finished cooking, place it in a colander and run cold water over it for about a minute to stop the cooking process. Let it drain then place the macaroni in a large mixing bowl.
3. There are 2 options for the dressing. Both taste great!
4. A) use 1 cup of mayonnaise
5. B) use 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (this is my personal favorite)
6. Add the cucumbers, onions, cherry tomatoes, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything thoroughly.
7. Add in the red wine vinegar and mix again. Give it a taste to test the salt and vinegar level. If desired, add in more vinegar and adjust the salt level.

What Can I Do with the Leftovers?

You can safely keep the leftover salad in the fridge for up to 7 days. Personally, I’ve kept it l14 days and it was fine. However, anything after 7 days, you run the risk of the vegetables going bad. So use your own good judgment after that point.

Useful Kitchen Tools

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Other Amazing Recipes That You’ll Love!

Click on these links for other great Mediterranean and Greek food! Or type in “Mediterranean” or “Greek” in the search bar to find even more recipes!

Best Greek Marinated Chicken

Mediterranean Fish

Spanakopita – Greek Spinach Pies

Spinach Quiche

Avocado Cucumber Mediterranean Salad

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Greek Cucumber Dill Macaroni Salad

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Greek, Mediterranean

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound Cooked Macaroni
• 1 cup English Cucumber, diced 1/4 inch
• 1 cup Sweet Onion, diced
• 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1/2 cup Feta Cheese
• 1/2 - 1 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt (optional)
• 3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Fresh Dill, chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Mint, sliced (optional garnish)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the box for "al dente." Once the macaroni is finished cooking, place it in a colander and run cold water over it for about a minute to stop the cooking process. Let it drain then place the macaroni in a large mixing bowl.

2. There are 2 options for the dressing. Both taste great!

   A) use 1 cup of mayonnaise

   B) use 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

3. Add the cucumbers, onions, cherry tomatoes, dill, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir everything thoroughly.

4. Add in 2 tablespoons of the red wine vinegar and mix again. Give it a taste to test the salt and vinegar level. If desired, add in the remaining tablespoon of vinegar and adjust the salt level.