Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant tangy pasta salad featuring ditalini, crunchy dill pickles, and sweet peas in a creamy zesty dressing.

# What you'll need:

→ Pasta & Vegetables

01 - 2 cups ditalini pasta, uncooked
02 - 1 cup dill pickles, diced
03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

→ Dressing

06 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
07 - 1/4 cup sour cream
08 - 2 tablespoons pickle juice
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add ditalini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, diced dill pickles, thawed peas, chopped celery, and diced red onion. Mix gently to distribute evenly.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle juice, Dijon mustard, fresh dill, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour prepared dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with dressing.
05 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and develop.
06 - Stir the salad thoroughly before serving. Top with additional fresh dill garnish if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pickle juice in the dressing adds a bright, unexpected zing that keeps people guessing.
  • It stays creamy and delicious even after sitting out at a picnic for an hour.
  • You can throw it together in less than half an hour and it tastes like you fussed.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta with cold water right after draining or it will clump together and absorb too much dressing.
  • Let the salad sit in the fridge for at least an hour, because the flavors need time to come together and the dressing needs to settle.
  • If it looks dry the next day, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or a splash of pickle juice to bring it back to life.
03 -
  • Use the pickle juice from a jar of good quality dill pickles, because it makes all the difference in flavor.
  • Do not skip the rinsing step after cooking the pasta, or the salad will turn gummy and absorb too much dressing.
  • Taste the dressing before mixing it in, because you can always add more salt or pickle juice but you cannot take it out.
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