Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Lovely Crunch……
The little sharp pickles give this comforting pasta salad a nice crunch. And the creamy dressing gets a nice kick from the combination of whole grain mustard, dill pickle juice and apple cider vinegar. Delish! Because Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is so rich and creamy, it is a super kid-friendly side dish. Like my Taco Pasta Salad, I find it to be just the thing for packing in lunchboxes. When making this cold bowtie pasta salad I prefer using baby dill pickles, as you can just slice and toss in. But if you have bigger dill pickles on hand, by all means, use those. Just remember to then cut in half or even quarters, depending on the size.
Why You’ll Love This
A frugal dish that requires handful of inexpensive everyday ingredients, Good for potlucks, summer barbecues, picnics, lunch boxes and meal prep.Double or even triple this recipe to feed a hungry crowd.This is easy to make it in advance so you’ll be all set when the guests arrive.
Ready to learn how to make this zesty Dill Pasta Salad Recipe? Then gather up your ingredients and I will show you…..
Salad Ingredients Notes
Pasta – This has farfalle (bowtie) pasta, but you can use other pasta shapes. This starts with uncooked pasta but you can easily sub in some leftover cooked pastaSliced dill pickles – Use slices of your favorite dill pickles.Cheddar cheese – Use sharp cheddar cheese that has been cubed, although you can shred it too.Green onions – use both parts of the green onion, and you could sub in some sweet onion.Seasoning – salt and black pepper and fresh dill complete this. Try adding some dried dill if you don’t have fresh.
Salad Dressing Ingredient Notes
Light mayonnaise and sour cream – you can use half fat or full fat versions. I have also subbed in some creme fraiche and Greek yogurt.Dill pickle juice – This is what makes the salad pop.Whole grain mustard – you can use Dijon mustard, or you can skip this and add in a little extra black pepper.Apple cider vinegar – I have also use white wine vinegar.
How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Cook pasta according to packet instructions (you will want it to be al dente).Drain the pasta and add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool.Meanwhile, make the dill pickle salad dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, green onions, dill, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the dill pickle pasta salad till combined.Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.Cover the finished dill pickle pasta salad and chill until ready to serve.
How To Make Instant Pot Taco Pasta Salad
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
Add in the pasta, 1 tablespoon of dill pickle sauce, salt, and water to the Instant Pot insert. Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set to manual pressure/high pressure for 4 minutes followed by a quick release.Remove the pasta, drain, add in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Allow pasta to cool and add into a bowl.Meanwhile, make the dill pickle salad dressing by adding all ingredients together and whisk till smooth. Set aside.In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, green onions, dill, salt and pepper. Then add in the dressing and mix the dill pickle pasta salad till combined.Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.Cover the finished dill pickle pasta salad and chill until ready to serve.
Recipe Tips
To help reduce prep time you can begin with some leftover cooked pasta.Add in 1- 2 teaspoons of olive oil and toss to prevent the pasta from sticking together.Short on time? Stick the cooked pasta inside your freezer to cool it down faster.I used butterfly pasta, but any pasta shape works for this recipe. Or make trying making this Dill Pickle Salad using whole wheat pasta or gluten free pasta instead.To make my dill pickle pasta salad healthier, I made the dressing using half fat mayo. But if you prefer, you can make it with regular mayonnaise.
Delicious Variations
You can easily add more (or less) ingredients to this Dill Pickle Salad Recipe. Like a creamier pasta salad? Then make more of the dressing. You can also use grated cheese instead of cubed. Or if you want to add a bit of sweetness to balance out the tart dill flavor, mix in a little honey. Here are just a few ideas for ingredients you can use when making Dill Pickle Pasta Salad:
chopped celerycherry tomatoesslivered almondssunflower seedsdiced salami or hamshredded chicken or turkeycanned tuna
Storage Meal Prep
Make ahead – make ahead and chill for up to 2 hours. Mix before serving.Storage – Store in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days.Meal Prep – I happen to think that cold pasta salad is one of the best meal prep solutions there is. And this Hawaiian Mac Salad is sooooo easy to make. Just whip up a batch at the beginning of the week and keep it chilled in the fridge for 3 days.
FAQs
Serving Suggestions
Air Fryer Hamburgers.Instant Pot Whole Chicken.Crunchy Air Fryer Fish.Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.
More Salad & Potluck Recipes:
Hawaiian Pasta Salad.Easy Cucumber Salad Recipe.Chinese Chicken Salad.Southern Grape Salad.Taco Pasta Salad.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 8 Blueplan SmartPoints in a serving of this. Thank you for reading my Dill Pickle Salad Recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
Adapted from Spend With Pennies.
