Calling all dill pickle lovers, this pasta salad recipe is for you! This creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is THE BEST and has the tangy flavour of crunchy pickles, fresh dill, cheese, mayo and sour cream.
It’s the perfect side for any BBQ or summer meal.
It must be summer weather because we’re breaking out all the fresh garden salad recipes and the pasta salad ones.
As much as I love all the ones I’ve featured on My Organized Chaos, this one just may have them beat.
This one is for all the dill pickle fans out there, it’s the best creamy pasta salad recipe ever!
This easy pasta salad recipe has become a perfect side dish for us, and also for taking to parties and family gatherings.Every time I take this potluck salad, many ask for the recipe.
Something not so common happened after I made this delicious pasta salad recipe for the first time. My oldest made it herself the next day and then the next weekend for friends.
She has dubbed this recipe, the delicious dill pickle pasta salad.
I truly count a recipe a winner when the girls request it again later, or in this case – take matters into their own hands and start making it themselves.
Trust me, this doesn’t happen very often at all.
Ingredients Required
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this easy salad recipe. As always, the full recipe is on the printable recipe box at the end of this post.
- pasta of choice, I use shell pasta
- dill pickles
- cheddar cheese
- green onion
- mayonnaise
- sour cream
- dill pickle juice
- fresh dill or dried dill
- celery seed
- black pepper
How to make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Really, it’s so simple. You start by cooking your choice of pasta, yet cook al dente.
Drain and blast with cold water to stop cooking process, and make sure it’s drained again.
Add cooked cold pasta to a large bowl. Then add the chopped dill pickles, cheese and onion to the cooked pasta.
Add in the dressing to the large mixing bowl, and combine again.
For the dressing: Mix together all dressing ingredients into a small bowl, and combine well.
Don’t forget that this pickle pasta salad recipe is best when cold, so set aside time to allow for fridge cooling. An hour or two should do, in an airtight container.
What Kind of Pasta to Use?
I always lean toward using shell pasta for this recipe, since they hold in the dressing and taste so well. You’ll want to use a type of pasta that ‘holds’ the dressing. So you can also use elbow macaroni or bowtie pasta as well.
What Kind of Cheese to Use?
For this great recipe I tend to use whatever cheese I have on hand. So I’ve used cheddar cheese, colby jack cheese and even sharp cheddar cheese. Type of cheese isn’t necessary, so use your favourite!
What Kind of Pickles to Use?
For this dill pickle pasta salad recipe, I use dill pickles or baby dill pickles. You definitely want a dill pickle and not butter pickles or sweet pickles for this salad.
You definitely want the tangy bite over the sweet for this best dill pickle salad recipe.
Fresh Herbs or Dried?
I always use fresh when it’s convenient to do so. Yet, I also use dried when at it’s in the cards. So use whichever you’d like and alter to suit taste preference of course.
I personally have all the required ingredients for this recipe on hand at most times, so it’s one that can also be made on the fly.
We do make this salad recipe often, and I love that the juice is used too, there’ no waste from the pickle jar thanks to this recipe.
The juice really gives this recipe its dill pickle flavor!
Whether you’re looking to build your summer salads, need a potluck salad, or want to impress everyone at this years summer cookouts, this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is the best pasta salad ever.
Better yet – it’s so good the next day too, my daughter claims even better the next day in fact.
While there are many variations on how to make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, this one is so tasty and simple. It’s a favourite with my family for sure!
If you are a fan of pickles, make sure to also try our dill pickle dip, it’s a great appetizer recipe.
Looking for More Salad Recipes?
- Try this crunchy flavourful Taco Salad recipe
- classic potato salad is always a good idea
- This BLT Pasta Salad is loaded and a crowd pleaser
- Taco Pasta Salad – full of flavour and can be made ahead of time, it won’t go soggy!
- Grape Salad that also moonlights as a dessert!
- Quick and easy Strawberry Fluff Salad is popular.
- This Southern Chicken Salad is great on lettuce or between bread.
- Our Greek Chicken Pasta Salad has a delicious homemade greek dressing.
Look out summer, we’re prepared with the best summer side dishes! In the running as current favourite, because it’s like a meal – Oriental Chicken Salad!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Calling all dill pickle lovers, this salad recipe is for you! This creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad has the tangy flavour of crunchy pickles, fresh dill, cheese, mayo and sour cream. It's the perfect Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is the perfect side for any BBQ or summer meal.
Ingredients
- 4.5 cups shell pasta
- 3/4 cup pickles, sliced
- 2/3 cup cheddar cheese, diced
- 1/4 cup green onion, chopped
- 2/3 cup mayonaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 4 tbsp pickle juice
- 1 tsp dill
- 1 tsp celery seed
- 1/2 tbsp pepper
Instructions
- Boil pasta el dente as per package directions. Drain and blast with cold water to stop cooking, and make sure it's drained again. Pour pasta into a large mixing bowl and set aside
- In a medium bowl, mix together the: mayo, sour cream, pickle juice, dill, celery seed, and pepper.
- Add the pickles, cheese and onion to the pasta. Mix. Add in the dressing and mix to coat.
- Refrigerate for 1-2 hours at minimum. Serve cold and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 6 Servings
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 532Saturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 556mgCarbohydrates: 58gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 13g
Did you make this recipe?
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Created by Tammi Roy
Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography.Learn more about Tammi.
