Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a creamy, crunchy, tangy pasta salad that’s a wonderful variation from the standard pasta and macaroni salads. The dill pickle flavor really knocks the salad outta the ball park.
It’s the perfect way to usher in spring or summer and complement warm weather meals for friends and family or even large get-togethers. It’s absolutely perfect for potluck season!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
Warm summer weather just seems to usher in refreshing cold pasta recipes like this scrumptious recipe. If you’ve got pickle pickin’ fingers that seem to wander to the pickle jar in search of a crunchy little snack, then you are going to absolutely fall in love with this recipe!
This creamy pasta salad recipe serves at least 6 hungry people. It’s perfect for dinner time and makes the perfect side dish for any grilled dinner. If you’d like to serve it for larger groups like potlucks, church dinners, or at a summer picnic, it’s easy to double.
Looking for more delicious pasta salad recipes? I’ve got you!! Try Italian pasta salad, Greek pasta salad, tortellini salad, or old-fashioned macaroni salad!
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Ingredients
Salad
- Elbow Pasta – Cooking your pasta al dente takes around 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center.
- Dill Pickle Juice – 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 Cheddar Cheese
- Dill Pickles
- Fresh Dill
- White Onion
Creamy Dill Dressing
- Mayonnaise
- Sour Cream
- Dill Pickle Juice
- 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
- Fresh Dill
Tips
- Pasta: Cooking your pasta al dente takes around 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center.
- Cheese: Switch the cheddar with Colby jack cheese or pepper jack.
- Pickles: Using sweet pickles instead of dill will coax out a brand-new flavor profile full of aromatic deliciousness and simple pleasures.
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 your 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.
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 favorite Shish Kabobs, chicken made with my Chicken Marinade Recipe, Grilled Flank Steak, or always popular, grilled Beer Brats!
How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
1. Pour pickle juice over cooked pasta.
2. Mix all the dressing ingredients
3. Add pasta, cheese, pickles, dill, and onion to a serving bowl.
4. Toss it with the dressing.
5. Refrigerate and serve.
See full instructions below.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
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
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!
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Pasta: Cooking your pasta al dente takes around 7-9 minutes and means leaving it just a little firm in the center.
- Cheese: Switch the cheddar with Colby jack cheese or pepper jack.
- Pickles: Using sweet pickles instead of dill will coax out a brand-new flavor profile full of aromatic deliciousness and simple pleasures.
Will it be ok if I make it a day ahead of time
Yes. You may need to add a little milk because the pasta will absorb some of the dressing.
Very tasty and relatively easy to make. Made 18 serving size. It takes more than the estimated time when you include chopping, etc.
Thanks, John! I’m glad you like this pasta salad 🙂
This was super tasty! Can’t wait to make again! 🙂
Yay! I’m glad you like this, Kris! 🙂
As I was preparing this recipe.. each step/ingredient ..I knew it was going to be a winner!
Especially putting the pickle juice directly into noodles.
If Kathleen has a cookbook, this one recipe let’s me know her cookbook would be great!
Thank you!
Terri
Oh wow, thank you so much, Terri! I’m so happy you like this! You’re amazing 🙂
You are making my crazy pregnant cravings happy!
Hehe. Enjoy! 😀
I make this at least once a month and always for the Independence Day block party. It’s a huge hit!!!
Happy 4th of July, Amanda! 🙂
Definitely a crowd favorite, right?
This looks pretty delicious. Definitely gonna try this. ?
Woot!??
Love this recipe! Have made it several times now! Added thinly sliced celery for extra crunch! Works!
Hi Nilda! So happy to hear that you love this recipe!! <3
This is my daughter’s favorite pasta salad. I have made it many times. We all love it too.
Thanks! Glad to hear you liked it! 😀
That looks so fresh and yummy!