Dill Pickle Salad with Pasta

Table of Contents

1. DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD INGREDIENTS
2. HOW TO MAKE THIS DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD RECIPE
3. PICKLE PASTA SALAD SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
4. Tips for this Pickle Salad
5. How to serve Dill Pasta Salad
6. HOW TO STORE DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD
7. Dill Pickle Salad FAQs
8. MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE
9. JUMP TO RECIPE
10. Even More Recipes You'll Love

This dill pickle pasta salad features tangy and crunchy dill pickles. The creamy homemade dressing blends incredibly well with the tender pasta and cheese to complement these unexpected stars of the show.

There are so many choices for cold salads and we have lots of great recipes to help you out. Try out a few of our best pasta salads for your next potluck or weeknight dinner: Taco Pasta Salad, Elbow Macaroni Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, BLT Pasta Salad, Egg Pasta Salad or, for a non-pasta salad, try our German Potato Salad, Cucumber Salad or Grape Salad.

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MORE PASTA SALAD RECIPES:
BLT Pasta Salad | Italian Pasta Salad

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DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD INGREDIENTS

You will need:

• 16 ounces rotini pasta, cooked to al dente, drained, and rinsed in cool water
• 2 cups diced whole dill pickles (about 5 large pickles, reserve juice)
• 1½ cups cubed cheddar or Colby jack cheese 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon dried dill
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice 

Pro Tip: Try to use real mayonnaise rather than whipped dressing to give you the best flavor for the salad dressing.

HOW TO MAKE THIS DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD RECIPE

STEP ONE: In a small bowl whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, dried dill, onion powder, black pepper, dried parsley, and pickle juice to make the dressing.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl add the cold pasta, dill pickles, cheese, and fresh dill, and dressing.

PRO TIP: Make sure your pasta is fully cooled before adding the other ingredients, or your cheese will start to melt. Rinse it with cold water to ensure it is cooled enough and doesn’t stick together

STEP THREE: Stir everything together until well combined.

STEP FOUR: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavors to blend.

This recipe tastes even better the next day after all of the flavors have had time to mingle together.

PICKLE PASTA SALAD SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

PICKLES: Dill pickles are the classic choice for this salad, but you can experiment with other flavors like sweet pickles, bread and butter pickles, or even spicy pickles if you like a kick.

Tip: you can buy dill pickles already sliced for quicker prep.

PASTA: Any type of pasta that would hold onto the creamy dressing in all their nooks and crannies, including shells, fusilli and bowtie pasta would work best for this recipe.

CHEESE: Shredded cheddar or Colby Jack cheese can be used instead of cubed cheese if you prefer. In addition, pepper jack, provolone, sharp cheddar cheese or swiss would all be great options.

VEGETABLES: Fresh veggies such as chopped cherry tomatoes, finely minced white onion, red onion or celery would all make excellent additions.

FRESH DILL: Fresh dill is a nice addition for color and brightness. The flavor is more subtle than dried dill. Dill is the main ingredient that develops a stronger flavor over time, both the fresh and dried additions.

PARSLEY: You can substitute fresh parsley for the dried parsley (double the amount) with the dressing ingredients or add fresh minced parsley into the salad.

ADD MEAT: Chicken, tuna, ham, or bacon could be added to this recipe for a boost of protein.

Tips for this Pickle Salad

The pasta salad is too mushy

A possible culprit of this is overcooked pasta or not rinsing the pasta after cooking. Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente (aka firm to the bite).

Rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking will stop the cooking process and prevent it from getting mushy.

My salad tastes too tangy

If it’s too tangy, add a bit more pasta or a creamy element like mayonnaise to balance the acidity.

My salad is too bland

Increase the seasoning levels. This could mean adding more salt and pepper, more dill (fresh or dried), or extra pickle juice for an enhanced tangy flavor. Taste as you go to avoid over seasoning.

How to serve Dill Pasta Salad

This dill pickle lovers’ pasta salad is delicious as a side dish with grilled meat such as grilled chicken, grilled tilapia or grilled salmon.

It also works well with other meat entrees, such as our parmesan pork chops and oven-baked chicken.

Or serve it on the side of a sandwich such as our grilled ham and cheese, tomato sandwich, tuna melt or egg salad sandwich.

HOW TO STORE DILL PICKLE PASTA SALAD

There’s nothing quite like the crunch and zest of a fresh dill pickle pasta salad, especially when you’ve made it yourself.

Whether you’re prepping for a big family barbecue or just want to enjoy a delicious side dish throughout the week, knowing how to store your pasta salad can make all the difference.

The good news is, this salad stores beautifully, so you can enjoy those tangy, pickle-y flavors for days to come.

Make Ahead

This pickle pasta salad is perfect for making ahead of time. In fact, letting it sit allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Just assemble everything in a large bowl, except the fresh herbs, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Garnish with herbs right before serving.

In the Fridge

This delicious dill pickle pasta salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The key is to place it in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing any odors from the fridge and to keep the pasta from drying out.

The flavors will actually meld a bit more as it chills, making it even tastier the next day.

Just keep in mind that the pasta will absorb some of the dressing over time, so it might not be quite as al dente as when you first made it.

A quick tip to refresh it is to add a splash of pickle juice or a tiny bit of mayonnaise before serving to bring back that creamy consistency.

In the Freezer

Freezing dill pickle pasta salad is not recommended. Pasta salads dressed with mayonnaise or similar dressings tend to separate and become grainy when frozen and thawed.

For the best experience, enjoy your pasta salad fresh or store in the fridge as advised.

An instant favorite with dill pickle fans, dill pickle pasta salad is such a tasty alternative to other pasta salads.

The surprising crunch of juicy pickles and the extra pickle juice in the dressing make sure that the pickley flavor spreads throughout the salad.

It’s a versatile pasta salad that can cater to a wide range of taste preferences, making it a popular choice for picnics and potlucks as well as a side dish for everyday meals.

Dill Pickle Salad FAQs

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