Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

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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.

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It must be summer weather because we’re breaking out all the fresh garden pasta salad recipes and the pasta salad ideas.

This creamy, crunchy, tangy pasta salad 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 because they love that dill pickle flavor.

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.

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!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Ingredients – 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 like our Cucumber Salad.
Crowd Favorite – 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 along with our Best Taco Pasta Salad Recipe .
Make Ahead – This salad recipe is so good the next day too, my daughter claims even better the next day in fact. Our Mexican Macaroni Salad Recipe is a great next day pasta salad too.

Total Time: 1.5 hours

Serves: 6

While there are many variations on how to make Dill Pickle Macaroni Salad, this one is so tasty and simple. It’s a favorite pasta salad for our family!

If you are a fan of pickles, make sure to also try our Dill Pickle Dip, it’s a great appetizer recipe.

Ingredients and Notes

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this easy salad recipe.

As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Pasta – Typically, elbow macaroni or rotini pasta works best for this salad because their shape holds the dressing well, allowing every bite to be flavorful. You can substitute with small shells or penne if that’s what you have, but avoid long pasta since it won’t mix as evenly.
Pickles – Dill pickles provide the star tangy element that defines this dish’s character. If you prefer a milder option, bread-and-butter pickles can be used, though they will add a sweeter note rather than the sharp, herbaceous punch of dill.
Cheese – Sharp cheddar cheese adds a rich, savory depth and a satisfying bite to the salad. Yet you can also use medium Colby jack cheese, marble, or even Monterey Jack for a milder alternative without losing the creamy texture.
Mayonnaise – Full fat or reduced fat mayonnaise will work. For a lighter version, plain greek yogurt makes an excellent substitute to mayonnaise, lending a tang and creaminess with fewer calories.
Dill Pickle Juice – There’s no waste from the pickle jar thanks to this recipe. Adding some pickle brine from the jar really adds so much flavor to the dill salad.
Fresh Dill – or you can also use dried dill.
Celery Seed – You can also use finely chopped celery in its place.

Recipe Variations

Add Protein:
Toss in diced cooked chicken, ham, or crispy bacon bits for a heartier salad that can stand as a main dish.

Make it Vegan:
Substitute mayo with a plant-based alternative and use vegan cheese or omit cheese altogether for a vegan-friendly version.

Spicy Kick:
Add finely chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing for an unexpected burst of heat.

Creamier Dressing:
Mix cream cheese with mayonnaise to intensify creaminess and add a tangy richness.

Add More Veggies:
Incorporate diced red onions, cherry tomatoes, carrots, or peas to increase color and nutritional value while keeping the crunchy texture.

Tips for Success

Use chilled pasta for best texture
After cooking the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. This helps maintain the pasta’s firmness and prevents it from becoming mushy when mixed with the creamy dressing. It’s just like our Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe.
Chop pickles finely but not too small
Cut the crunchy dill pickles into small, bite-sized pieces to evenly distribute their flavor without overwhelming the salad. Larger chunks might create bursts of tang that can be too intense, while too-fine mincing loses their delightful texture.
Let the salad rest
Allow the pasta salad to sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving. This resting period lets the flavors mingle and deepen, resulting in a more cohesive and delicious dish.
Fresh dill accentuates flavor
Adding fresh dill, even in small amounts, enhances the pickle’s natural herbaceous notes. If fresh dill isn’t available, dried dill weed works, but use sparingly to avoid overpowering the salad.
Adjust salt carefully
Since pickles and mayonnaise already add saltiness, taste before adding more salt to prevent the salad from becoming too salty. You can always adjust seasoning later if needed.

How to make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Cook 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 green onion to the cooked pasta.
Mix together all dill dressing ingredients (mayonaise, sour cream, pickle juice, dill, celery seed, black pepper) into a small bowl, and combine well. Add in the dressing to the large mixing bowl, and combine again. Taste and alter if needed.

Don’t forget that this easy dill pickle pasta salad recipe is best when cold, so set aside chill time. An hour or two should do, in an airtight container.

Serving Tip

As the salad sits, the pasta will continue to absorb liquid. If making ahead of time, give it a stir and if it seems dry, add in more mayonnaise and/or pickle juice as needed.

Storage

Place leftover dill pickle pasta salad in an airtight container or wrap well with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Can You Freeze Dill Pickle Pasta Salad?

Dill pickle pasta salad does not freeze well. Not only will the pasta unthaw soggy and torn apart, yet the mayo and sour cream will separate.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This pasta salad recipe is delicious when it’s sat in the fridge a few hours to overnight. This is because the flavors soak into the pasta and combine to really stand out.

Recipe FAQ

What Kind of Pasta to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad?

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.

How long is dill pickle pasta salad good for in the fridge?

When dill pickle pasta salad is stored in the fridge, it’ll stay good for up to 5 days.

What Kind of Pickles for Dill Pickle Pasta Salad?

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.

More Salad Recipes

Try this crunchy flavourful Taco Salad recipe
Classic Potato Salad is always a good idea
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.

If you’ve tried this Best Dill Pickle Pasta Salad or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!