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Dill pickle pasta salad is the Best pasta salad recipe for pickle lovers! This easy pasta salad is simple and quick to make. It is loaded with crunchy dill pickles and even has pickle juice in the dressing. There is an abundance of creamy dill dressing totally enclosing the pasta, cheese, onions and pickles.

I must admit that I LOVE dill pickles! Growing up, dill pickle chips were my favorite, and dill pickles must also always be on my hamburger. Or, eaten plain or sandwiched between 2 slices of cheddar cheese. So, of course, my youngest sister had to let me try this dill pickle pasta salad when she made it. This easy pasta salad recipe is now my go-to pasta salad to bring to a potluck, picnic, or barbecure or just to have as a side dish any time. I will even eat this dill pickle pasta salad on its own for lunch or, dare I say, even breakfast!

The Best Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

This easy pasta salad recipe actually uses sweet and sour dills. If you don’t have sweet dills, you can use half dill pickles and half sweet bread and butter pickles. I love this dill pasta salad using Sweet Garlic Dills or Simple Refrigerator Pickles! The hint of sweetness is totally a personal preference which my sister came up with. Using plenty of fresh dill will bring out the dill flavor. The other unique feature of the best dill pickle pasta salad recipe is that we use way more of the non-pasta ingredients! The dressing is super creamy and this salad never dries out, even up to a week after you make it.

Dill pickle pasta salad can be made ahead. It is so tasty right away but even better if it sits for a day to incorporate all the flavors. Honestly, I never get sick of this easy pasta salad even if I eat it every day for a week!

I used homemade Sweet Garlic Dill Pickles in this dill pickle pasta salad. Of course pretty much any combination of pickles will work, it is totally up to you and what flavors you prefer. I must admit though that the hint of sweet garlickiness is super delicious!! The pickle flavor in this recipe is found in the salad, dressing, and even soaked into the pasta. It might sound like a lot of pickle but this pasta salad recipe has just the right amount of pickle flavor, not too much to be overwhelming but also enough that you taste it.

Variations to try:

• Add protein to make a complete meal, tuna, ham, chicken or bacon would be great.
• Add other vegetables such as celery, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, sugar snaps, or cucumbers?
• Can use a different type of pasta such as rotini, bowties, or macaroni.
• Other cheese would also be yummy, like colby, medium or mild cheddar, or monterey jack.

Ingredients

-Shell pasta, I love the little shells which end up being the same size as the other ingredients. They also hold lots of the creamy dressing! Of course, you can use rotini or macaroni with just as great results.

-Pickles, I use sweet and sour dill pickles, or if you don’t like the hint of sweetness, just use regular garlic dills.

-Cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes. I prefer sharp just for the cheesy flavor.

-White onion, these are the sweetest onions. Make sure it is white with papery skin.

-Fresh dill, this really takes this dill pickle pasta salad to the next level!

-Pickle juice, for soaking the pasta in and added to the dressing!

-Mayonnaise, use the real mayo, not miracle whip for this recipe.

-Sour cream

-Salt and pepper to taste and a dash of cayenne pepper.

How to make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

1.In a large saucepan, boil pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain, and run under cold water until the pasta is completely cooled to stop the cooking process.

2.In a large bowl, combine the pasta with about a cup of the pickle juice and let sit for about 5 minutes. Drain the pickle juice and get rid of this pickle juice as it will have some pasta water taste in it now.

3.In a small bowl, mix all of the dressing ingredients.

4.Mix all of the ingredients and the dressing in a large bowl. You can serve it now or refrigerate it for a day or so before serving the dill pickle pasta salad.

Don’t forget to celebrate National Pickle Day on Novemer 14th!!

What to Serve with Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

• Sloppy Joes

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Dill Pickle Pasta salad is the ultimate pasta salad recipe for pickle lovers! With loads of crunchy, sweet and sour dills, covered in creamy, dreamy, dressing, with cubes of cheddar, sliced onions, and plenty of fresh dill! This combination is amazing!! I always make double so that I get to eat the leftovers!

Author:RebekahCooking Method:ChoppedCuisine:American, CanadianCourses:Lunch, Side Dish, SnackRecipe Keys:PastaVegetarian

Print Recipe

Pin RecipeDairy

Prep Time10 minsCook Time10 minsTotal Time20 minsDifficulty:BeginnerServings:11Calories:252Best Season:Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

Servings

• ¹⁄₂ lb dry small or medium shell pasta (about 3 cups)
• 1 ¹⁄₂ cup chopped or sliced garlic dill pickles (half sweet and half sour)
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (cubed)
• 6 tbsp white onion (thinly sliced or diced small)
• ¹⁄₄ cup fresh dill (chopped fine)
• 1 cup pickle juice

Dressing

• ²⁄₃ cup mayonnaise
• ¹⁄₂ cup sour cream
• 2 tbsp pickle juice
• ¹⁄₄ tsp cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Video

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How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

1. In a large saucepan, boil pasta until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain, and run under cold water until the pasta is completely cooled to stop the cooking process.

   

2. In a large bowl, combine the pasta with about a cup of the pickle juice and let sit for about 5 minutes. Drain the pickle juice and get rid of this pickle juice as it will have some pasta water taste in it now.

   

3. In a small bowl, mix all of the dressing ingredients.

   

4. Mix all of the ingredients and the dressing in a large bowl. You can serve it now or refrigerate it for a day or so before serving the dill pickle pasta salad.

   Enjoy!

   

Nutrition Facts

Servings 11

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 252kcal

Calories from Fat 151kcal

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 16.9g26%

Sodium 349mg15%

Potassium 132mg4%

Total Carbohydrate 19g7%

Dietary Fiber 1.5g6%

Sugars 2.2g

Protein 6.5g13%

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Vitamin A 11 IU

Calcium 15 mg

Vitamin K 31 mcg

Thiamin 19 mg

Riboflavin 16 mg

Niacin 11 mg

Folate 22 mcg

Phosphorus 17 mg

Selenium 31 mg

Copper 11 mg

Manganese 14 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Fresh dill is definitely best. If you do need to use dry, use lots as the flavor is not as strong as the fresh.

I buy bunches of dill in the summer. Wash and chop finely, then freeze in small ziploc bags for use whenever we crave fresh dill.

Cook the pasta al dente, then run under cold water immediately to stop the cooking process.