This Dill Pickle Noodle Salad is a summer game changer. It is the perfect salad to enhance your next picnic, potluck or cookout. This vibrant salad is the perfect blend of textures and flavors.
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Why this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe is a Keeper
Imagine perfectly cooked pasta tossed in a creamy, tangy dill dressing, studded with crisp dill pickles, cheese, and pops of fresh dill. It’s got everything to change a boring macaroni salad into the perfect summer treat. Next time you are in the pickle aisle, grab extra for this salad, especially for those who love dill pickles. Like me!
- 18 Minutes: Make this delicious salad in less than 20 minutes.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge and it is so easy. Great for your dill pickle fans.
- Adaptable: Can make it low-carb, gluten-free or dairy free, a nice short pasta is great for this tangy dill pickle salad.
- Makes Great Leftovers: If there are leftovers, which I doubt, you can serve it with your favorite meat the next day or have a special lunch.
If you’re looking for more salad recipes, try these Jennifer Aniston Salad, Elote Salad (Mexican Street Corn Salad) and Lemon Orzo Pasta Salad.
Why do you run pasta under cold water after cooking?
While not recommended for cooked pasta, but for cold pasta salad has several benefits when you rinse pasta. It will stop the cooking process so the salad is not mushy. Also, it will help cool it down. Finally it will prevent the pasta from sticking.
Ingredient Notes for Dill Pickle Salad
- Pasta: Use your favorite such as rotini pasta, bowtie pasta or one you enjoy in your favorite pasta salad recipe. Any pasta would work, just cook pasta according to the package directions.
- Pickles: A Dill pickle jar, you will need the pickles and pickle juice for the delicious pasta salad.
- Cheddar cheese: You can use any type of cheese in this crunchy dill pickle salad. But a nice sharp cheddar really is a nice addition.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Creamy Dill Pasta Salad
This pickle pasta salad is perfect. The pickle pops throughout the salad. Plus there are many ways to make it your own.
- Type of Pasta: Feel free to experiment with different shapes like corkscrew or farfalle. Any type of pasta will work. Try a gluten free pasta if you are unsure if your guest can have traditional pasta salad.
- Greek Yogurt: Increase the tangy taste by replacing some of the mayonnaise in the dressing with Greek yogurt for the best pasta salad.
- Extra Pickle Juice: Add more, add a splash of pickle juice for the pickle lovers for more dill pickle flavor. This salad is delicious and the pickle juice in the dressing really gives it a unique flavor.
- Relish: Try using dill pickle relish. It is already cut up and ready to go.
Fun Fact
The fermentation process in pickles creates probiotics which can aid digestion. It is often drank by pro athletes to prevent cramping.
How to Make this Dill Pickle Recipe
These are the basic steps for making this delicious dill pickle pasta salad. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Cook the Pasta according to Package Directions
First, cook your pasta per the package directions. Drain the pasta and rinse. Place cooked pasta in a large bowl and add 1/2 cup of pickle juice; Allow pasta to sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
2. Create the Dill Pickle Juice Dressing
Meanwhile, while the pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, mix the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 1/3 cup of pickle juice, fresh dill, All Purpose Seasoning Blend and cayenne pepper. To create a creamy dressing.
3. Add the Cooled Pasta and Combine the Delicious Dill Pickle Salad
Next, pour dressing over the cooked pasta in the mixing bowl and stir in the chopped dill pickles, chipped cheese, minced onion and shredded carrots; Stir until completely combined. Finally, cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes before you serve this salad.
Creamy Dill Pickle Salad Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! The creamy pasta salad is a great make-ahead dish. In fact, the flavors often meld even better after chilling overnight. Just be sure to store it properly in the refrigerator. The pasta salad will keep for 3-5 days.
Diced cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu are all popular choices. You can also use shredded rotisserie chicken for a quick and easy option. For a vegetarian twist, consider adding cooked lentils or chickpeas to this creamy pasta salad recipe.
Chopped celery, red onion, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and spring peas are all classic additions. You can also get creative with broccoli florets, corn, or even chopped asparagus to the tender pasta salad.
Expert Tips to Make This Recipe for Tangy Pasta Salad Recipe
There are always ways to enhance your dill pickle noodle salad. Here are just a few ways to make the best dill pickle salad:
- Pickles: Change up the pickles. Sweet pickles or spicy, chopped or sliced, the choice is yours for this great recipe. Serve the salad in a cute serving bowl and top with more pickle slices. Use dill weed as an extra topper.
- Bacon: Bacon crumbles are a perfect complement to the pickle flavor in the salad. It will make you love this recipe for dill pickle noodle salad.
- Dried Dill Weed: Fresh dill is best for the salad but in a pinch you can use dried dill for the dill flavor in the homemade dill dressing recipe.
- Cheese: Replace the sharp cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese, colby jack cheese or feta cheese will add flavor for the salad.
- Eggs: Make some hard boiled eggs for an egg pasta salad.
- Add Pasta: You can add protein pasta for even more benefits. Use a pasta shape that will allow the salad dressing to cling to it.
- Rinsing the Pasta: Remember to rinse pasta after cooking. This will cool the pasta and make a better salad.
More Summer Side Dish Recipes
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Dill Pickle Noodle Salad
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Ingredients
- 16 ounces Pasta
- ½ cup Pickle juice
- 2 cups Dill pickles, chopped
- ⅔ cup Cheddar cheese, diced
- ½ cup Carrots, shredded
- ¼ White onion, finely diced
Dressing
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ½ cup Sour cream
- ⅓ cup Pickle juice
- 2 tablespoons Fresh dill, minced
- ½ teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain and run under cold water.
- Place cooked pasta in a large bowl and add 1/2 cup of pickle juice; Allow pasta to sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Prepare the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 1/3 cup of pickle juice, fresh dill, All Purpose Seasoning Blend and cayenne pepper.
- Test for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Pour dressing over the cooked pasta and stir in the chopped dill pickles, chipped cheese, minced onion and shredded carrots; Stir until completely combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for 60 minutes before serving.
Christina’s Notes
- Pickles: Change up the pickles. Sweet pickles or spicy, chopped or sliced, the choice is yours for this great recipe. Serve the salad in a cute serving bowl and top with more pickle slices. Use dill weed as an extra topper.
- Bacon: Bacon crumbles are a perfect complement to the pickle flavor in the salad. It will make you love this recipe for dill pickle noodle salad.
- Dried Dill Weed: Fresh dill is best for the salad but in a pinch you can use dried dill for the dill flavor in the homemade dill dressing recipe.
- Cheese: Replace the sharp cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese, colby jack cheese or feta cheese will add flavor for the salad.
- Eggs: Make some hard boiled eggs for an egg pasta salad.
- Add Pasta: You can add protein pasta for even more benefits. Use a pasta shape that will allow the salad dressing to cling to it.
- Rinsing the Pasta: Remember to rinse pasta after cooking. This will cool the pasta and make a better salad.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.