Last Updated on July 25, 2025 by Michelle Mundy
Tender shell pasta, cheddar cheese and little bites of dill pickle, tossed in a light and creamy dressing with just a hint of pickle juice!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad hits all the right notes. It is fresh and delicious and just a little unexpected.
The creamy dressing is made lighter using pickle juice, and when you add in cheese chunks and pickle pieces, it is a delicious combination!
What You’ll Need to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Small Shells Pasta – Uncooked. Other great choices for pasta salad include Farfalle (bowtie pasta), Rotini (corkscrew pasta) or Fusilli (spiral pasta).
- Dill Pickle Juice – Reserved from the jar.
- Dill Pickles – Whole, half, quarters or slices, drained & chopped.
- Cheddar Cheese – Diced. We prefer sharp cheddar but any cheddar, marble, mozzarella, or cheddar jack may be used.
- Onion – Finely chopped. We typically use yellow onion but white or sweet onionsmay be used instead.
- Mayonnaise – We use regular full fat mayonnaise in this recipe but lite mayonnaise may also be used.
- Sour Cream – We use regular sour cream but you can use light sour cream or Greek yogurt instead.
- Pantry Spices – Dried dill, cayenne pepper, salt & pepper.
How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is always a welcome addition to a picnic, potluck or party. This recipe is an unexpected variation that everyone enjoys!
Bring a large pot filled with 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente per package directions.
Drain, rinse with cold water and return pasta to the pot. Add 1/2 cup pickle juice to the drained pasta and toss to coat.
Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and stir until well combined.
Drain excess pickle juice from pasta and place the pasta into a large bowl. Add chopped pickles, diced cheese, chopped onion and dill.
Add dressing to the salad and stir to well combine. Place into refrigerator and allow to chill for at least an hour, up to six hours.
Stir just before serving and refrigerate any leftovers. Enjoy!
Other Easy Potluck Favorites You May Like
Easy Potluck Four Bean Salad – Tender beans and crispy celery are wrapped in a delicious and simple vinaigrette dressing.
Easy Homemade Ranch Dip – just seven simple pantry ingredients! Delicious and easy.
Quick and Easy Bruschetta – Super simple restaurant quality Bruschetta with stuff you have in the fridge!
Bite Sized Sausage Rolls – Easy to make, bite sized pastry wrapped sausage bites. Perfect for game day!
Party Pretzel Bites – these delicious little bites are addictive and always welcomed at any gathering.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Bring a large pot filled with 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente per package directions.
- Drain, rinse with cold water and return pasta to the pot. Add 1/2 cup pickle juice to the drained pasta and toss to coat.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and stir until well combined.
- Drain excess pickle juice from pasta and place the pasta into a large bowl. Add chopped pickles, diced cheese, chopped onion and dill.
- Add dressing to the salad and stir to well combine. Place into refrigerator and allow to chill for at least an hour, up to six hours.
- Stir just before serving and refrigerate any leftovers. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!
Brittany says
I tried this out last night and it was a huge hit! I’m so excited to have found this recipe. I especially love how you suggested pickle juice in the dressing. It gave the dressing a nice zing to it! Thank you for sharing!
Gretchen says
I can’t wait to try this recipe!!!