Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)

Tangy ditalini tossed with pickles, peas, and creamy dressing for the ultimate spring side dish.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of tangy pickles and sweet peas creates this perfect flavor balance that keeps people going back for seconds
  • It comes together in about 30 minutes but tastes like you put way more thought into it
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water is not optional, it stops the cooking and keeps the texture perfect
  • The salad needs at least an hour in the fridge, but overnight is even better for flavor development
  • The dressing will thicken as it chills, so stir in a splash of pickle juice before serving if needed
03 -
  • Taste your pickles before starting, since the dressing will reflect their flavor profile
  • Everything should be completely cold before mixing to prevent the pasta from absorbing too much dressing
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