Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Vibrant pasta salad featuring ditalini, crunchy dill pickles, and sweet peas tossed 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

# Directions:

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 finely diced red onion. Toss 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 the mixture is smooth and well blended.
04 - Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently and thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
05 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and develop.
06 - Remove from refrigeration, stir the salad gently, and garnish with additional fresh dill if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The tangy pickle flavor balances perfectly with the cool creamy dressing creating that addictive sweet and sour harmony that keeps you coming back for seconds.
  • It travels beautifully to picnics and actually tastes better after chilling for a few hours making it the ultimate make ahead side dish.
02 -
  • The pasta will absorb some of the dressing as it sits so don't panic if it looks a little dry after several hours in the fridge.
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water isn't optional here because warm pasta creates a strange oily texture with the mayonnaise based dressing.
03 -
  • Dry your thawed peas thoroughly with paper towels so they don't make the dressing watery.
  • Cut your pickles and vegetables into small uniform pieces roughly the same size as the pasta for the best eating experience.
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