Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

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.

A close up of a plate of food, with Salad and Pasta

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.

A close up of food, with Salad and Dill

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.

A plate of food, with Dill Pickle Salad

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
A bowl of food on a plate, with Dill Pickle Salad

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.

A bowl of food, with Salad

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.

A plate full of food, with Pasta Salad and Dill

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.

A bowl of food, with Pasta Salad  and pickles and Dill

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?

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!

food, with Pasta and Dill Pickle Salad
A bowl of food on a plate, with Dill Pickle 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

  1. 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
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together the: mayo, sour cream, pickle juice, dill, celery seed, and pepper. 
  3. Add the pickles, cheese and onion to the pasta. Mix. Add in the dressing and mix to coat. 
  4. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours at minimum. Serve cold and enjoy! 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving 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.

31 Comments

  1. I love summer for all the great salad options, makes for easy dinners or nice side dishes for bbq dinners. Since this has pickles it’s a surefire winner in my books!

  2. I made this for Canada Day and my kids and I loved it. I can’t get them to eat pasta salads so I was so happy when they ate this one and then wanted more. Next time I make it will add add more pickles. I also thought the dressing would be really good over baked salmon. I love dill and salmon so it’s a perfect match.

    thanks for the recipe.

  3. Since I made this salad 4 years ago it is my first go to for potlucks. In fact it is requested of me now at least 4 times a year! Thank you so much!

  4. This sounds so yummy! I never thought about the difference that pasta shells can make, I can’t wait to try this out.
    Thanks for sharing!

  5. You call for mayonnaise. I enjoy both Miracle Whip and Hellmans. Which would you recommend? Thanks

    1. I’d use Hellmans over Miracle Whip myself. That’s preference though, I like Miracle whip on sandwiches and wraps, but not so much in pasta salads. 🙂

  6. My husband is not allowed any type of seeds so what would I use instead of celery seeds.

  7. Made this for the first time today, took it to a birthday party, not much came home with me. It was a hit!!

    1. Absolutely, I love this salad the next day. The dill flavour really comes out! Just make sure your pasta isn’t overcooked. Enjoy! 🙂

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