Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a creamy, crunchy, tangy pasta salad that’s a fun twist on classic pasta and macaroni salads. The bold dill pickle flavor really makes this one stand out — it’s the perfect way to usher in spring and summer and complement warm-weather meals, potlucks, and get-togethers.

Warm weather calls for refreshing, cold pasta recipes like this one. If you love sneaking a crunchy pickle straight from the jar, you’re going to fall in love with this recipe. It’s bright, zesty, and totally irresistible for pickle lovers.

This creamy pasta salad serves at least 6 hungry people, making it perfect for dinner or as a side for any grilled meal. It’s also easy to double if you’re feeding a crowd at potlucks, church dinners, or summer picnics.

If you’re looking for more easy pasta salad recipes, be sure to try my Taco Pasta Salad, Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing, Chicken Pasta Salad, or Classic Macaroni Salad.

For even more variations, don’t miss my Pasta Salad Recipes collection, packed with creamy, tangy, and flavor-packed favorites.

Let’s make this salad!

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Ingredients

Salad

• Elbow Pasta: Boil your pasta until al dente.  takes 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center.
• Dill Pickle Juice: We use the pickle juice, aka pickle brine, to flavor the pasta. Letting the cooked pasta sit in the pickle juice only takes a couple of minutes, but it is essential to the flavor profile of this recipe. The pickle juice coats the pasta, giving it a light, refreshing flavor for the salad.
• Cubed Cheese: I like to dice sharp cheddar cheese into small cubes.
• Dill Pickles: The star of the show!  If you have dill pickle spears, cut them into small cubes.
• Fresh Dill: Compliments the flavor of the dill pickles. Fresh herbs are best.
• White Onion: You can use white or yellow onion, or you can switch the white onion to red onion if you prefer.
• Fresh Parsley: I add just a few tbsp for added color and freshness.

Creamy Dill Salad Dressing

• Mayonnaise: I use Best Foods. Be sure to use real mayonnaise.
• Sour Cream: I like the tang and creaminess the sour cream adds.
• Dill Pickle Juice: Pour it straight out of the jar.
• Sriracha – Making dill pickle pasta salad means using just enough of your favorite hot sauce to kick up the flavor profile. This recipe calls for Sriracha, but any hot sauce will do the trick.
• Salt & Pepper: Foundational seasoning.
• Fresh Dill: I only use fresh in this recipe.

Tips + Variations

• Pasta: Cooking your pasta al dente takes around 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center. Follow package directions. Feel free to use different shapes. We really like rotini pasta, too.
• Cheese: Switch the cheddar with Colby Jack cheese or pepper Jack.
• Pickles: Using sweet pickles instead of dill will create a brand-new flavor profile full of aromatic deliciousness and simple pleasures. My hubby loves this salad made with bread-and-butter pickles! If you like heat, make it with spicy pickles.
• Tomatoes: This salad is delicious with tomatoes. I like grape or cherry tomatoes best!
• Garlic Powder: Add a tsp or two to the dressing.
• Dijon Mustard: This is also a nice addition to the dressing.
• Eggs: We like chopped up hard-boiled eggs in the salad as a variation.

Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead

• How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Storing this dill pickle pasta salad is a cinch but it doesn’t last long once people taste it. Simply put it in an airtight container and toss it in the fridge to keep it fresh. I recommend chilling for a few hours before serving, anyway.
  • Storing the dill pickle pasta salad in a secure container in the fridge will protect it from moisture and other contaminants. If it is protected in an airtight container and kept at the appropriate temperature, this will keep for 3-5 days.
• Can You Freeze This? Unfortunately, dill pickle pasta salad does not freeze well. The mayo and sour cream tend to separate in the freezer and fresh veggies are never quite the same after thawing. This recipe is best made fresh and stored in the fridge until served.
• Make-Ahead Tips: Letting your salad sit in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight gives all the yummy flavors time to marry and become one with awesomeness!

Variations

• Type Of Pasta: Any type of pasta will work in this salad. I like the elbow macaroni because it catches the dressing and is easily coated with lots of dill. Try making it with bowtie pasta, small shells, penne, fusilli, rotini, or cavatappi in place of the elbows.
• Dill Pickle Pasta Salad With Ham: This salad is delicious with cubed ham mixed in. Try it when you want to serve this salad as a main course.
• Carrots: Carrots make a nice addition. The sweetness of the pickles contrasts nicely with the tangy, salty flavor of the dill pickles.

Serving Recommendations

This Salad is one of those delightful chilled pasta salad recipes that complement almost any grilled food, adding variety and texture to the plate.

Try serving it with my family’s favorite shish kabobs, chicken made with my chicken marinade recipe, grilled Greek chicken, grilled cilantro lime chicken, grilled flank steak, air fryer hot dogs, or always popular,  grilled beer brats!

How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe

1. Cook pasta in a large pot,  then rinse with cold water
2. Pour pickle juice over cooked pasta.
3. Mix all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
4. Add pasta, cheese, pickles, dill, and onion to a large bowl.
5.  Toss it with the dressing.
6.  Refrigerate and serve.

***See full instructions below.

Best Pasta Salads

• Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
• Tortellini Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad
• Tuna Pasta Salad
• Pesto Pasta Salad
• California Spaghetti Salad
• BBQ Pasta Salad
• Elote Pasta Salad

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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a delicious way to usher in summer and compliment warm weather meals for friends and family or even large get togethers.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Chill4 hours hrs

Total Time25 minutes mins

Servings: 6 Servings

Author: Kathleen

Ingredients

Salad

• ▢ 8 ounces elbow pasta
• ▢ 1/2 cup dill pickle juice, straight from the jar
• ▢ 1 cup cheddar cheese, small diced
• ▢ 1 cup sliced dill pickles
• ▢ 3 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
• ▢ 3 tablespoons white onion, finely chopped

Creamy Dill Dressing

• ▢ 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 1/3 cup sour Cream
• ▢ 1/4 cup dill pickle juice, straight from the jar
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon Sriracha (or other hot sauce)
• ▢ salt to taste
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Cook the pasta (8 ounces) according to package instructions, just until al dente. Rinse pasta and drain well.
• Add pasta to a mixing bowl and combine with 1/2 of pickle juice (straight out of the jar). Let sit for 5 minutes and drain.
  
• Mix together all the creamy dill dressing ingredients in a mixing bowl.
  
• Add pasta, cheese (1 cup), pickles (1 cup), dill, and onion (3 tablespoons) to a serving bowl and toss with dressing.
  
• Refrigerate for 4-6 hours for best flavor and serve!

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Notes

1. Pasta: Cooking your pasta al dente takes around 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center.
2. Cheese: Switch the cheddar with Colby jack cheese or pepper jack.
3. Pickles: Using sweet pickles instead of dill will coax out a brand-new flavor profile full of aromatic deliciousness and simple pleasures.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 424kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 944mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 0.8mg

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