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Pasta Salad with Dill Pickles Recipe

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4.3 from 15 reviews

A creamy and tangy pasta salad featuring elbow macaroni, diced dill pickles, cheddar cheese, and black olives, tossed in a flavorful dill-infused mayonnaise dressing. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or light meal, this salad combines crunchy pickles and savory cheese for a unique twist on classic pasta salad.

Ingredients

Pasta Salad Ingredients

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

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry dill
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the elbow macaroni. Cook until the pasta is barely al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water until cooled to stop the cooking process and chill the pasta.
  2. Prepare the dressing: While the pasta cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise, pickle juice, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry dill, and cayenne pepper in a bowl until smooth. Refrigerate to chill the dressing.
  3. Prep the salad ingredients: Dice the dill pickles into small pieces and finely cube the cheddar cheese into approximately 1/4-inch cubes. Drain the sliced black olives thoroughly.
  4. Combine the salad: In a large serving bowl, mix the cooled pasta with the diced pickles, cubed cheddar, sliced olives, and the chilled dressing. Stir well until all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
  5. Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning as needed with additional salt or pepper. The salad can be served immediately or chilled for 1 hour up to 24 hours for enhanced flavor melding.

Notes

  • This pasta salad improves in flavor when chilled for at least an hour before serving.
  • Use firm dill pickles to add crunch and tanginess to the salad.
  • Cheddar cheese can be substituted with another semi-hard cheese if desired.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper amount to control the spice level.
  • Can be prepared a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator.

Find it online: https://lauracooks.com/pasta-salad-with-dill-pickles-recipe/