Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Vibrant tangy pasta salad with ditalini, dill pickles, peas, and creamy zesty dressing. Ideal for spring picnics and potlucks.

# Components:

→ 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

# Preparation steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in half an hour but tastes like you fussed over it all morning.
  • The pickle juice in the dressing adds a brightness that keeps people guessing what makes it so good.
  • It holds up beautifully in the fridge, so you can make it the night before and actually enjoy your party.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or the residual heat will make the dressing watery and sad.
  • Let the salad chill for the full hour because the flavors really need that time to come together and deepen.
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the pasta, you can always add more pickle juice or mustard if you want more punch.
03 -
  • Always cook your pasta one minute less than the package says, it will soften a bit more as it sits in the dressing.
  • Chop your pickles into small, even pieces so every forkful gets a little tangy bite.
  • Do not skip the fresh dill at the end, it makes the whole dish feel brighter and more alive.
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