Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

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Calling all pickle lovers! This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a classic cold pasta salad with a tangy twist. Quick and easy to make, this tangy pasta salad recipe is just the thing for serving at those backyard barbecues, summer picnics and taking to potlucks.

Post includes Weight Watchers points.

If you are a real dill pickle lover, then this recipe that lets you enjoy dill pickles in a new and unexpected way. And this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad recipe is not only super tasty, it is suuuuuper easy to make.

Lovely Crunch……

The little sharp pickles give this comforting pasta salad a nice crunch. And the creamy dressing gets a nice kick from the combination of whole grain mustard, dill pickle juice and apple cider vinegar.

Delish! Because Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is so rich and creamy, it is a super kid-friendly side dish. Like my Hawaiian Pasta Salad and Taco Pasta Salad, I find it to be just the thing for packing in lunchboxes.

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When making this cold bowtie pasta salad I prefer using baby dill pickles, as you can just slice and toss in. But if you have bigger dill pickles on hand, by all means, use those. Just remember to then cut in half or even quarters, depending on the size.

kids hands placing a red bowl filled with dill pickle salad on a countertop

Why You’ll Love This

  • A frugal dish that requires handful of inexpensive everyday ingredients,
  • Good for potlucks, summer barbecues, picnics, lunch boxes and meal prep.
  • Double or even triple this recipe to feed a hungry crowd.
  • This is easy to make it in advance so you’ll be all set when the guests arrive.

Ready to learn how to make this zesty Dill Pasta Salad Recipe? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you…..

Salad Ingredients Notes

  • Pasta – This has farfalle (bowtie) pasta, but you can use other pasta shapes. This starts with uncooked pasta but you can easily sub in some leftover cooked pasta
  • Sliced dill pickles – Use slices of your favorite dill pickles.
  • Cheddar cheese – Use sharp cheddar cheese that has been cubed, although you can shred it too.
  • Green onions – use both parts of the green onion, and you could sub in some sweet onion.
  • Seasoning – salt and black pepper and fresh dill complete this. Try adding some dried dill if you don’t have fresh.

Salad Dressing Ingredient Notes

  • Light mayonnaise and sour cream – you can use half fat or full fat versions. I have also subbed in some creme fraiche and Greek yogurt.
  • Dill pickle juice – This is what makes the salad pop.
  • Whole grain mustard – you can use Dijon mustard, or you can skip this and add in a little extra black pepper.
  • Apple cider vinegar – I have also use white wine vinegar.

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

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How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Cook pasta according to packet instructions (you will want it to be al dente).
  2. Drain the pasta and add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool.
  3. Meanwhile, make the dill pickle salad dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, green onions, dill, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the dill pickle pasta salad till combined.
  5. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
  6. Cover the finished dill pickle pasta salad and chill until ready to serve. image collage showing the steps for making dill pickle pasta salad

How To Make Instant Pot Taco Pasta Salad

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

  1. Add in the pasta, 1 tablespoon of dill pickle sauce, salt, and water to the Instant Pot insert. Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set to manual pressure/high pressure for 4 minutes followed by a quick release.
  2. Remove the pasta, drain, add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool and add into a bowl.
  3. Meanwhile, make the dill pickle salad dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, green onions, dill, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the dill pickle pasta salad till combined.
  5. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
  6. Cover the finished dill pickle pasta salad and chill until ready to serve.

Recipe Tips

  • To help reduce prep time you can begin with some leftover cooked pasta.
  • Add in 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
  • Short on time? Stick the cooked pasta inside your freezer to cool it down faster.
  • I used butterfly pasta, but any pasta shape works for this recipe. Or make trying making this Dill Pickle Salad using whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta instead.
  • To make my dill pickle pasta salad healthier, I made the dressing using half fat mayo. But if you prefer, you can make it with regular mayonnaise.

Delicious Variations

You can easily add more (or less) ingredients to this Dill Pickle Salad Recipe. Like a creamier pasta salad? Then make more of the dressing. You can also use grated cheese instead of cubed. Or if you want to add a bit of sweetness to balance out the tart dill flavor, mix in a little honey. Here are  just a few ideas for ingredients you can use when making Dill Pickle Pasta Salad:

  • chopped celery
  • cherry tomatoes
  • slivered almonds
  • sunflower seeds
  • diced salami or ham
  • shredded chicken or turkey
  • canned tuna

Storage Meal Prep

  • Make ahead – make ahead and chill for up to 2 hours. Mix before serving.
  • Storage – Store in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Meal Prep – I happen to think that cold pasta salad is one of the best meal prep solutions there is. And this Hawaiian Mac Salad is sooooo easy to make. Just whip up a batch at the beginning of the week and keep it chilled in the fridge for 3 days.
two glass meal prep containers filled with dill pickle pasta salad

FAQs

Dill Pasta Salad No Mayo

You can easily make this pasta salad recipe without mayo. Just swap in Greek yogurt for the mayo when making the salad dressing.

Serving Suggestions

More Salad & Potluck Recipes:

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blueplan SmartPoints in a serving of this.

Thank you for reading my Dill Pickle Salad Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.

close up of finished dill pasta salad served in a red bowl

Adapted from Spend With Pennies

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Print Recipe
5 from 7 votes

Easy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a classic cold pasta salad with a tangy twist.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

Bowtie Pasta Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 lb (450g) uncooked Farfalle (bowtie) pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups dill pickles sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese cubed
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 5 tablespoons fresh dill chopped
  • salt
  • black pepper

Salad Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1 cup light mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard or Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Instructions:

  • Cook pasta according to packet instructions (you will want it to be al dente).
  • Drain the pasta and add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool.
  • Meanwhile, make the dill pickle salad dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, green onions, dill, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the dill pickle pasta salad till combined.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
  • Cover the finished dill pickle pasta salad and chill until ready to serve.
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Notes

 Recipe Tips

  • Add in 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
  • Short on time? Stick the cooked pasta inside your freezer to cool it down faster.
  • I used Farfalle pasta, but any pasta shape works for this recipe. Or make trying making this Dill Pickle Salad using whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta instead.
  • To make my salad healthier, I made the dressing using half fat mayo. But if you prefer, you can make it with regular mayonnaise.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 8 Blue Plan SmartPoints in a serving of this .

Serving Suggestion

Air Fryer Hamburgers.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
Crunchy Air Fryer Fish.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 461mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 0.7mg

 

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Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. This is so incredibly delicious. I made it for 3 Packer games and it disappears quickly. SO…..I wondered how it would be for today’s game with the pasta swapped for potatoes and bacon, of course. Also incredibly delicious.

  2. 5 stars
    Love this recipe, but in your tips, you suggest using olive oil to prevent pasta from sticking. In my experience, doing that prevents all the yummy dressing from fully combining with the pasta. It should not stick at all if plunged into cold water.

  3. 5 stars
    Never thought to add pickles to a pasta salad! My family loves pickles so I know they will devour this recipe! 🙂

  4. Wows this looks so amazing!! I’m making a pasta salad this weekend for a graduation party and I think I just found the winner!! Thanks for sharing!