Macaroni Salad vs Pasta Salad: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Macaroni salad has 4.4 g of protein, while pasta salad contains 3.7 g. Macaroni salad is higher in calories at 160, compared to 133 in pasta salad.

Macaroni salad and pasta salad are popular side dishes often served at gatherings. Both offer distinct flavors and textures, but their nutritional profiles can vary significantly.

What Is the Difference Between Macaroni Salad and Pasta Salad?

Macaroni salad is a cold dish made primarily from cooked macaroni pasta, mixed with various ingredients such as mayonnaise, vegetables, and seasonings. It is often served as a side dish at barbecues and picnics. Pasta salad is a versatile dish made from cooked pasta combined with vegetables, dressings, and sometimes proteins. It can be served cold or at room temperature and is a popular choice for potlucks and gatherings.

Macaroni Salad vs Pasta Salad: Nutrition Side by Side

Below is a side-by-side comparison of macaroni salad and pasta salad, highlighting their nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Macaroni salad	Pasta salad
Calories	160 kcal	133 kcal
Protein	4.4 g	3.7 g
Carbs	26.6 g	20.9 g
Sugar	3.3 g	2.4 g
Fat	4.0 g	3.7 g
Fiber	1.4 g	1.6 g
Sodium	211 mg	226 mg

Which Is Better, Macaroni Salad or Pasta Salad?

For weight loss: Pasta salad has fewer calories at 133, while macaroni salad contains 160 calories per 100 g.

For muscle and protein: Macaroni salad provides more protein with 4.4 g, compared to 3.7 g in pasta salad.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Macaroni salad has 26.6 g of carbs and 3.3 g of sugar, while pasta salad has 20.9 g of carbs and 2.4 g of sugar.

How to Track Macaroni salad and Pasta salad Accurately

Portion sizes and macro content can be easy to misjudge, impacting overall nutritional intake. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. This comparison focuses on the nutritional content per 100 g of each dish. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Macaroni salad has 4.4 g of protein, while pasta salad contains 3.7 g.

Which has fewer calories?

Pasta salad has fewer calories at 133, compared to 160 in macaroni salad.

What is the carbohydrate content of macaroni salad?

Macaroni salad contains 26.6 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What is the sugar content in pasta salad?

Pasta salad has 2.4 g of sugar per 100 g.

How much fat is in macaroni salad?

Macaroni salad contains 4.0 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the sodium level in pasta salad?

Pasta salad has 226 mg of sodium per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Macaroni salad: 160 calories per 100 g.
• Pasta salad: 133 calories per 100 g.
• Macaroni salad: 4.4 g protein per 100 g.
• Pasta salad: 3.7 g protein per 100 g.
• Macaroni salad: 26.6 g carbs, 3.3 g sugar per 100 g.
• Pasta salad: 20.9 g carbs, 2.4 g sugar per 100 g.