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The Best Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe

The Best Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

A creamy, tangy cold pasta salad made with rotini, dill pickles, sharp cheddar, red onion, fresh dill, and a mayonnaise-sour cream dressing flavored with pickle juice.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad
  • 12 ounces Rotini pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups Chopped dill pickles
  • 1 cup Sharp cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
  • 1/2 cup Red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup Fresh dill, chopped
Creamy Dressing
  • 1 cup Mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Sour cream
  • 1/4 cup Dill-pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon Fresh dill, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Optional Additions
  • 4-6 strips Cooked and crumbled bacon
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup Chopped celery or cucumber
  • 1/4 teaspoon Onion powder

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to the package directions, usually 8–10 minutes, until just tender.
  2. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water until completely cool. Drain thoroughly so excess water does not thin the dressing.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, fresh dill, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, chopped dill pickles, cheddar, red onion, and fresh dill to the bowl.
  5. Stir gently until every spiral and mix-in is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Stir again and add a small splash of pickle juice if the dressing has thickened.
  7. Taste before serving and adjust the seasoning only if needed, remembering that pickles and pickle juice vary in saltiness.

Notes

For a larger, less heavily dressed batch, use 16 ounces or 1 pound of rotini with the same dressing quantity. Make the salad several hours ahead when possible, and reserve a tablespoon or two of pickle juice or dressing to refresh it before serving.