This creamy dill pickle pasta salad is packed with flavor from pickles, cheddar cheese all tossed in a simple ranch dressing. Make it for cookouts, potlucks, or even just weeknight dinners.
This Creamy Pasta Salad Is a Pickle Lovers Dream
If you love dill pickles as much as we do then, like our dill pickle dip, this easy pasta salad is a must make! It has the perfect amount of pickle flavor from diced pickles, extra pickle juice and a little dry ranch dressing mix added to the dressing.
Let’s just say it may very easily become your favorite pasta salad to make from now on.
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Tip
When serving pasta salads with a creamy dressing like this at cookouts, place ice in a larger bowl or disposable aluminum tray and then place the pasta salad bowl in it. Wrap a towel around the bowl if you’d like to cover the ice tray.
Ingredients Needed
The complete list of ingredients with amounts are listed in the full recipe card below.
For the Pasta Salad
- Rotini pasta – Cooked until al dente so it holds up butter after tossing with the dressing. You can use any other type of pasta shape like macaroni, shells or bowtie pasta.
- Dill pickles – sliced or chopped. Use your favorite refrigerated or jarred dill pickles. I like hamburger slices but kosher dill is perfect too if you prefer. Dill pickle relish is also an option.
- Cheese – We like sharp cheddar cheese cut into small cubes. You can also use shredded cheese and other types like Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Colby Jack or a mixture of cheese.
- Green onion – sliced thin. Swap for a couple of tablespoons of white or yellow onion. I don’t like to overpower ours with onion flavor but use more if you’d like.
- Fresh dill – Adding this is optional, but it’s great for a garnish and a little extra dill flavor.
For the Dressing
- Mayonnaise – I love Hellman’s mayo but use your favorite brand.
- Sour cream – Use full or low fat sour cream or even swap it for plain Greek yogurt.
- Dill pickle juice – for extra pickle flavor.
- Ranch dressing mix – I either use Trader Joe’s bottled spice mix (which I love!) or Hidden Valley Ranch dry dressing mix. I have made it without this as well and it’s still wonderful but I love the extra flavor.
- Salt and black pepper
How To Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Step 1: Add water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. (9 minutes is perfect for mine) Be careful not to overcook it or your pasta salad will be mushy.
Step 2: Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and immediately rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Then place the cold pasta to a mixing bowl. (or your serving bowl directly)
Step 3: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, dill pickle juice, ranch dressing mix, salt, and pepper.
Step 4: Add the sliced or chopped dill pickles, diced cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions to the bowl of pasta.
Step 5: Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss together until everything is coated well.
Step 6: Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to give the dressing time to thicken up and the flavors to meld together.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days.
If you love this dill pickle pasta salad, make these other popular pasta salad recipes next:
Easy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- ½ pound rotini pasta about 3 cups
- 1 cup dill pickles sliced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese diced
- 1 green onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped (optional)
For the Dressing
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix I use Trader Joe's jarred
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente pasta (I cooked mine for 9 minutes).½ pound rotini pasta
- Pour the cooked pasta into a colander in the sink and immediately rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking any further. Then place in a large serving bowl.
- In a medium bowl, add the dressing ingredients and whisk together well.1 tablespoon fresh dill, ¾ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 3 tablespoons dill pickle juice, 1 tablespoon ranch dressing mix, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper
- Add the diced pickles, cheese cubes and green onions to the cooked pasta, pour the dressing over top and toss to coat the pasta well.1 cup dill pickles, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 green onion
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before you serve it. Garnish with fresh dill.
Notes
Use 2 tablespoons of white or yellow onions instead of green onions.
Swap the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt.
Add ¼ cup of cooked and crumbled bacon. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
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