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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe

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4 from 27 reviews

This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is a tangy, creamy, and flavorful pasta salad perfect for summer picnics or as a quick side dish. It combines al dente elbow macaroni with diced dill pickles, cubed cheddar cheese, black olives, and a zesty dressing made with mayonnaise and pickle juice, delivering a refreshing and unique twist on traditional pasta salads.

Ingredients

Salad

  • ½ pound dry elbow macaroni pasta (about 2 cups)
  • ¾ cup diced dill pickles (1-2 large pickles)
  • ¾ cup finely cubed cheddar cheese (3-4 ounces)
  • 2.5 oz can sliced black olives, drained

Dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until barely al dente, usually about 7-8 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until cooled to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
  2. Make Dressing: While the pasta cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, pickle juice, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, and a pinch of cayenne pepper in a bowl. Chill the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  3. Prepare Ingredients: Dice the dill pickles into small pieces and cut the cheddar cheese into approximately ¼-inch cubes. Drain the canned sliced black olives.
  4. Combine Salad: In a large serving bowl, mix the cooled pasta, diced pickles, cubed cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, and the chilled dressing. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
  5. Adjust and Serve: Taste the salad and adjust seasonings if needed. You can serve the salad immediately or chill it for at least one hour, up to 24 hours, to enhance the flavors before serving.

Notes

  • Do not overcook the pasta; it should be slightly firm to hold texture in the salad.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
  • The pasta absorbs the dressing over time, so you may need to add additional milk or mayonnaise before serving leftovers to restore creaminess.

Find it online: https://deliciousyum.com/dill-pickle-pasta-salad-recipe/