Description
This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a tangy and creamy side dish featuring short pasta tossed with dill pickles, cheddar cheese, and a zesty pickle-flavored dressing. Perfectly chilled and bursting with bold pickle flavor, it’s an ideal dish for summer potlucks, backyard dinners, or any casual gathering that pickle lovers will adore.
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 (8-oz) box uncooked short pasta shapes like rotini or shells
- pickle juice to taste (2-4 tablespoons for tossing pasta)
- ½ cup sliced dill pickles (baby spears preferred for crunch)
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles
- ⅔ cup diced cheddar cheese
- 2-3 tablespoons minced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons pickle juice, or more to taste
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish
- 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it down and remove excess starch. Transfer to a large salad bowl.
- Toss with Pickle Juice: Add 2-4 tablespoons of pickle juice to the pasta and toss well so the pasta absorbs the flavor, ensuring it is not too liquidy.
- Add Salad Ingredients: Add the sliced dill pickles, chopped dill pickles, diced cheddar cheese, minced red onion, and chopped fresh dill to the pasta. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small jug or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, pickle relish, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Adjust the seasoning with additional pickle juice or mustard as desired for a balanced flavor.
- Combine Salad and Dressing: Pour about 1 cup of the dressing onto the salad mixture and toss to coat thoroughly. Reserve the remaining dressing in the refrigerator for later use.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the salad tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight, to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Final Toss and Serve: Before serving, toss the pasta salad once more. Add extra dressing if the salad seems dry, and garnish with additional fresh dill and pickles as desired. Serve chilled.
Notes
- This pasta salad improves in flavor after chilling, making it ideal for preparing in advance.
- Adjust the amount of pickle juice and Dijon mustard in the dressing to suit your taste preferences for tanginess and spice.
- Using baby dill pickles provides a crunchier texture, but any dill pickles you prefer will work.
- To keep the salad from becoming soggy, add extra dressing only immediately before serving.
- Feel free to substitute or add other fresh herbs like parsley or chives if desired.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
