Chicken Cobb Macaroni Salad - Perfect for summer barbecues or graduation parties! Macaroni salad loaded with chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, spinach, tomatoes & celery! | foxeslovelemons.com

When I think of summer barbecues and graduation open houses, I basically just think of ALL THE PASTA SALADS. If there are multiple versions available at any one party, even better!

I love the classic, macaroni salad my mom makes with celery, onion, mustard and mayonnaise – it’s simple and perfect. But you know food bloggers – always trying to jazz everything up.

Chicken Cobb Macaroni Salad - Perfect for summer barbecues or graduation parties! Macaroni salad loaded with chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, spinach, tomatoes & celery! | foxeslovelemons.com

This mega, super loaded macaroni salad is what I’ve started calling “dinner macaroni salad.” Because it’s loaded with tons of the stuff you would normally eat for dinner anyway – lean chicken, leafy spinach and lots of other veggies.

Oh, and hard boiled eggs, bacon and blue cheese, too (blue cheese lovers, don’t miss my blue cheese mashed potatoes). It’s tossed with a creamy dressing made from Greek yogurt, mayo, buttermilk, and a little bit of mustard, vinegar and garlic.

If you can eat a big bowl of warm pasta for dinner in the winter, why not eat a bowl of cold pasta for a no-sweat lunch or dinner in the summer?

Keep a stash of this in your fridge for the next time you want a great meal that doesn’t involve turning on the oven or stove, or need a dish to pass at a summer party!

Chicken Cobb Macaroni Salad - Perfect for summer barbecues or graduation parties! Macaroni salad loaded with chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, spinach, tomatoes & celery! | foxeslovelemons.com

Chicken Cobb Macaroni Salad - Perfect for summer barbecues or graduation parties! Macaroni salad loaded with chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese, spinach, tomatoes & celery! | foxeslovelemons.com

Chicken Cobb Macaroni Salad

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni
  • 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoons buttermilk
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 slices oven baked bacon, crumbled
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped
  • 3 cups lightly packed baby spinach
  • 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
  2. Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together yogurt, mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper.
  3. Add bacon, eggs, celery, spinach, chicken, tomatoes, blue cheese, onion and cooked pasta to bowl with dressing. Toss until well combined; refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 3 days before serving.

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