Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is creamy, tangy, cheesy, loaded with crunchy dill pickles, and somehow manages to taste exactly like summer cookouts and backyard BBQs in the best possible way. If you’re a pickle person, this recipe is going to make you very happy. And if you’re only kind of a pickle person? I still think you’re going to love it because the flavor is definitely there, but it’s not aggressive or overpowering.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
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I think the balance is what makes it work so well. The creamy dressing mellows everything out, the cheddar adds richness, and the little splash of pickle juice ties the whole thing together without making it taste like you accidentally dumped a jar of pickles into your pasta.
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I used extra sharp cheddar because I love the contrast against the creamy dressing and briny pickles, but this is one of those forgiving pasta salads where you can absolutely swap in whatever yellow cheese you have hanging out in the fridge. Colby would be great. Mild cheddar works. Pepper jack if you’re feeling chaotic.
No bad choices here.
Why You’ll Love This
This is one of those ridiculously easy pasta salad recipes that tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did. It’s creamy, crunchy, cheesy, tangy, and loaded with dill flavor in every bite. It also holds up really well in the fridge, which makes it perfect for potlucks, cookouts, meal prep, or random late-night forkfuls straight from the container.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Medium shell pasta
- Dill pickles
- Cheddar cheese
- Red onion
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Pickle juice
- Fresh dill
- Salt and pepper
Step By Step Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. This keeps the pasta from getting gummy and helps stop the cooking process.
While the pasta cools, whisk together the mayo, sour cream, pickle juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chopped pickles, cheddar cheese, and red onion. Pour the dressing over the top and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving. The flavor gets even better as it sits.
Tips & Tricks
- If you want an even stronger pickle flavor, add an extra splash of pickle juice right before serving.
- Make sure the pasta is fully cooled before mixing everything together so the dressing stays creamy instead of oily.
- Finely diced pickles work best here because you get a little bit in every bite.
- Fresh dill really brightens the whole salad, but if you only have dried dill, you can use about 2 teaspoons instead.
Storage
Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
If the pasta salad thickens up after chilling, stir in a small splash of pickle juice or milk before serving to loosen it back up.
More Amazing Pickle Recipes
- Pickled Jalapenos Recipe
- Pickled Onions Recipe
- Dill Pickle Dip Recipe
- Dill Potato Salad Recipe
- Pickled Green Tomatoes Recipe
- Kool Aid Pickles Recipe
- Dill Pickle Soup Recipe
- See all our best pickle recipes!
How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shell pasta
- 2 cups chopped dill pickles
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese cubed
- ½ red onion finely diced
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until cooled completely.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, fresh dill, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped pickles, cheddar cheese, and red onion.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir until evenly coated.
- Cover and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- Extra sharp cheddar gives the salad lots of flavor, but Colby or mild cheddar work great too.
- For even more dill flavor, add an extra splash of pickle juice before serving.
- Fresh dill is recommended, but you can substitute 2 teaspoons dried dill if needed.
Nutrition
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Tools We Love
- Stainless Steel Serving Spoons – Are you a large spoon or small spoon person? My husband teases me because I use a teaspoon for everything.
- Mixing Bowl Set – Classic, basic, mixing bowls that everyone should have in your kitchen. You’ve seen me use them on the cooking show at least seventy bajillion times. Ish.
Other Awesome Pasta Salad Recipes
- Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe
- Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
- Tortellini Salad Recipe
- Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
- Amish Macaroni Salad Recipe
- See all our best pasta salad recipes!
What To Serve With It
This pasta salad is basically begging to show up next to grilled food. Burgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, pulled pork, ribs, all excellent choices.
It’s also surprisingly good with sandwiches. Especially anything with turkey or ham.
Or eat it straight from the bowl while standing in the kitchen. That also works.
Final Thoughts
I fully expected to like this recipe because I love pickles, but I didn’t expect to become emotionally attached to it.
It’s creamy, crunchy, tangy, cheesy comfort food with enough pickle flavor to keep things interesting without going overboard. Basically the kind of side dish that quietly steals the entire cookout.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! In fact, it tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge because the flavors have time to blend together. It’s a great make-ahead side dish for parties and cookouts.
Classic dill pickles are the best choice here. I like using refrigerated deli-style pickles for extra crunch and flavor, but any dill pickle you enjoy will work.
Absolutely. Use about 2 teaspoons dried dill in place of the fresh dill.
Stored covered in the refrigerator, it should stay fresh for about 4 days.
Definitely. Extra sharp cheddar adds great flavor, but Colby, mild cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack all work well too.
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