This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is an easy, delicious side dish that’s perfect for potlucks and summer barbecues. It’s made with pasta, dill pickles, and a creamy dressing. The tangy flavor of the dill pickles pairs perfectly with the creamy dressing. This salad is always a crowd a favorite.

 

This simple side dish is one of my favorite recipes to make with summer potlucks. Not only does it come together quickly but it also is great when made ahead. Plus, it pairs so well with some of my other favorite recipes like this Grilled Ranch Chicken or these Grilled Burgers.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• In addition to being quick and easy, this pasta salad is full of flavor.
• The tangy dill pickles add a nice contrast to the creamy dressing.
• Plus, it’s a great make ahead recipe that can be served cold or at room temperature.

Ingredients

The base of this salad is made with pickles and cooked pasta, but you will also need a few additional simple ingredients. So, gather these ingredients and get ready to enjoy this delicious side dish recipe.

• Dill Pickle Juice – Drain a little of the juice from the pickle jar and set aside to add some flavor to your creamy dressing.
• Dill Pickles – I sliced some baby dill pickles so that you get a nice crunch from the outside of the pickles.
• Cheddar Cheese – Pick up a block of cheddar cheese and diced it into small cubes.
• Onion – For raw eating I like to use a sweet onions, like a spanish onion.
• Mayonnaise – For this recipe a full fat mayo, will work best instead of a dressing like Miracle Whip.
• Sour Cream – This adds use a rich tang to your dressing, grab some from the dairy aisle of your store.
• Garlic Powder – Pull the garlic powder out of your spice cabinet so that it adds some great flavor.
• Salt and Pepper – You will need a dash or two of these basic staple ingredients.
• Fresh Dill – Pick out some fresh dill from the produce section, you will need it to finish off your dressing.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

This simple side dish is so easy to make. Gather your ingredients, and print the recipe card below so that you can whip up a batch of this delicious pasta salad recipe.

1. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
2. Drain and transfer to large mixing bowl.
3. Coat the pasta in pickle juice.
4. Set aside and allow to cool.
5. Add pickles, cheese and onion to pasta.
6. In a small bowl make the dressing by, combining mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper and dill. Stir until blended.
7. Add dressing to pasta bowl and toss to coat.
8. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Substitutions

Are you out of an ingredient and want to avoid a trip to the grocery store? Here are a few simple swaps that you use can use to make this side dish recipe.

• Pasta – I prefer to use a shell or spiral shape pasta for this recipe, however you could use any type of pasta that you have on hand.
• Mayonnaise – You can swap out the mayo for an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt if desired.
• Cheese – I think cheddar cheese works best in this recipe, but you can use Pepper Jack, or even Colby Jack if you prefer.

Variations

One of the best things about this pasta salad recipe is that it’s so easy to customize. Feel free to get creative and change up the this recipe to suit your tastebuds. Here are a few of my favorite additions for this pasta salad.

• Spicy – To give this dish a little kick try adding some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.
• Vegetables – You could also add additional vegetables like celery and bell peppers if you want.
• Protein – If you want to stretch this side dish and make it more filling, add some cooked shredded chicken to turn it into a meal.

Are you a fan of dill? If so, then for your next summer meal you are going to want to try this Cucumber Dill Salad recipe.

Storage / Freezing

Storage – Store this pasta salad in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap for up to three days.

Freezing – Due to the dressing in this recipe, I do not recommend that you freeze it. That’s okay, because you get to enjoy more it!

FAQ

Do you have questions about this easy pasta salad recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

Other Pasta Salad Recipes

Looking for other tasty pasta salads? Try these:

Other Potluck Salads

Here are some other great potluck salads for you to consider: