If you’re into pickles like I am, you will agree that this is the best pasta salad ever. It’s packed with dill pickle flavor. Not just in the dressing. And not just from the pickle slices. Even the pasta tastes dill-y. Sorry, but yeah, it’s dill-icious. I had to say it. Because I absolutely love this dill pickle pasta salad.
What would I change about this dill pickle salad? Well, I’d not make such a small batch next time, that’s for sure. I’d double it at the very least.
This recipe is also another lesson in why you never, ever toss the juice left in your pickle jars once the pickles are gone. Save it. Always.
Also try my Tuscan pasta salad.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
If you’re into pickles like I am, you will agree that this is the best pasta salad ever. It’s packed with dill pickle flavor.
Servings 6
Calories 396kcal
Ingredients
For the salad
- 1/2 pound pasta shells medium sized, not the jumbos
- 3/4 cup dill pickle chips
- 2/3 cup cheddar cheese diced
- 3 tablespoons white onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill or 1 heaping teaspoon dried, to taste
- 1/2 cup pickle juice from the jar (never toss out pickle jar juice!)
For the dressing
- 2/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1.4 tablespoons pickle juice from the jar (like I said, never toss out pickle jar juice!)
- Kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the dressing
- Place all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until smooth.
For the salad
- Cook the pasta to al dente per the package instructions. Rinse and drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add the pickle juice to the pasta and toss gently to coat. Let sit for 5 minutes then drain (but do not rinse!).
- Add in the dressing and stir gently to coat.
- Place in fridge for at least 1 hour before serving. I prefer to let the salad come to near room temperature before serving so that the dressing is not quite as thick.
Nutrition
Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 753mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 282IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional values are approximate.