Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Cool, creamy and tangy, this dill pickle pasta salad is a must-try for any dill pickle lovers. It's a great choice for summer picnics, barbecues, and potlucks. It's light, refreshing, and can be served chilled, making it ideal for hot weather.
Servings: 8
Calories: 559kcal
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 3 cups dry short cut pasta like elbow or rotini
- ½ cup dill pickle juice from the pickle jar
- 1 ½ cups dill pickles chopped
- ½ cup cucumber diced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed (small)
- 1 shallot diced
For the Dressing
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup dill pickle juice from the pickle jar
- 3 tablespoons sweet relish
- 2 ½ tablespoons fresh dill chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta al dente, according to package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water.
- Add the pasta to a large bowl. Add ½ cup pickle juice, mix well and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Reserve.
- Drain the pickle juice from the pasta. Again, transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add the chopped pickles, cucumber, cheese and diced shallot.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and mix together well, until the pasta is fully covered.
- Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
- Serve garnished with fresh dill, if desired.
Notes
- Chill for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together. This step is crucial for the best taste.
- If you need a substitute for the shallot, use a ¼ of a red onion.
- Make sure you cook the pasta al dente so that it has some firmness to it but is soft enough to have a good texture when served cold.
- Make it a meal. Add a protein like diced chicken, tuna or crispy bacon to make it more hearty for a packed lunch.
- This salad will keep covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. I personally like how it tastes after it's been chilled for at least a day.
- I wouldn't recommend freezing this pasta salad because of the mayo, cheddar and other fresh ingredients that don't freeze well.
Nutrition
Calories: 559kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 995mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 302IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 131mg | Iron: 1mg
