Best macaroni salad with lemon and herbs: Try this flavor!

Okay, so I’ve been craving a good, fresh macaroni salad, not that mayo-heavy stuff. I wanted something brighter, you know? So, I messed around in the kitchen and came up with this macaroni salad with lemon and herbs. It’s super easy, I promise!

Getting Started

First, I cooked the macaroni. I used elbow macaroni, but you can use whatever small pasta shape you like. Just follow the package directions, and make sure you cook it al dente – nobody likes mushy pasta salad!

While the pasta was cooking, I got everything else ready.

Chopping & Prepping

• I chopped up a bunch of fresh herbs. I used what I had on hand: parsley, dill, and a little bit of chives. You can use whatever herbs you enjoy – mint would be good too!
• Then, I zested and juiced a lemon. The zest is key for that bright lemon flavor.
• I also diced some red onion, for a bit of a bite. If you’re not a fan of raw onion, you could soak the diced onion in cold water for a few minutes to take the edge off.
• I also add some celery.

Making the Dressing

This is where the magic happens. Instead of a heavy mayo dressing, I whisked together:

• The lemon juice and zest
• A good glug of olive oil (don’t be shy!)
• A pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper
• A tiny bit of Dijon mustard – just a dab for some extra tang.

I just whisked it all together until it was nice and emulsified.

Putting it all Together

Once the pasta was cooked and drained, I rinsed it under cold water to cool it down. Then, I tossed it into a big bowl with the chopped herbs, red onion, and celery.

Next, I poured the dressing over everything and gave it a good stir to make sure everything was evenly coated. It already looked and smelled amazing!

The Final Touch (and Taste Test!)

I covered the bowl and stuck it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. You can leave it for longer if you want – it actually gets even better the next day.

And that’s it! I took a big bite and it was exactly what I was craving. Light, fresh, and full of flavor. This is definitely going to be my go-to pasta salad from now on. I’m already thinking about adding some crumbled feta cheese or some chopped cucumber next time. You should totally give it a try!