Every bite screams dill pickle in the best possible way in this incredibly tasty Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, which features a creamy homemade dill pickle vinaigrette (sans mayo).
This Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is what all pasta salads aspire to be. We’re talking perfectly cooked (rotelle) pasta tossed with sliced gherkins, cute little cubes of Havarti dill cheese, acerbic pops from diced red onion, and freshly chopped dill, all coated in a lovely, acidic Dill Pickle Vinaigrette.
Every bite screams dill pickle in the best possible way.
This super easy, 5-ingredient Dill Pickle Vinaigrette is a must for this salad! It makes just the right amount you’ll need for this recipe. Hit the link for the recipe, or find it in the recipe card below.
Jump to:
- How do you make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (without Mayo)?
- Ingredients
- Instructions
- Pickle Pasta Salad-Friendly Substitutions
- Pickle Pasta Salad-Friendly Variations
- Equipment
- Pasta Salad Storage
- Top Tip for the Best Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Other Dill-icous Things You Can Do with Pickles
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (without Mayo)
How do you make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (without Mayo)?
This dill-icious Dill Pickle Pasta Salad recipe calls for the following ingredients.
Ingredients
- Rotelle pasta
- Gherkins (mini pickles) - I used Gedney
- Havarti dill cheese
- Red onion, finely diced
- Dill, fresh
- Dill Pickle Salad Dressing <--- Click to get the recipe!
- Trader Joe’s Dill Pickle Seasoning (optional, but highly recommended!)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
First, prepare the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing and refrigerate it until needed.
Next, prepare the pasta according to the package instructions - don’t forget to salt the water the pasta cooks in! And cook it al dente! (The pasta package should have cooking instructions for this).
Strain the cooked pasta and run cold water over it until the pasta is cool - doing so prevents the pasta from continuing to cook.
Prep the other salad ingredients: Slice the pickles (I used a Mandolin), finely dice the red onion, finely chop the dill, and cut the Havarti dill cheese into cubes (or shred it if you prefer).
Add the strained and chilled pasta to a large bowl, along with the pickles, red onion, dill, and cheese.
Add about ¾ cup of the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing and stir to combine. Reserve the rest of the salad dressing.
Refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours. When ready to serve, add the rest of the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing (around ¼ cup) and stir. Enjoy!
Hint: If the pasta seems to have really absorbed all of the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing, you can add a few splashes of pickle juice to quickly add moisture.
Pickle Pasta Salad-Friendly Substitutions
Here are a few suggested substitutions you can make without compromising the dill-iciousness of this pasta salad:
- Rotelle pasta - Rotini or bowtie are good options as well. My requirement is that it be a fun pasta shape; more fun than penne (at a minimum).
- Gherkins - I like mini pickles here for their size and ease of preparation. But you can use whatever pickle you like here, just as long as it’s a dill pickle!
- Havarti dill - Not a requirement that you use Havarti dill, but I like that it keeps with the flavor theme of this pasta salad. You can reach for classics like cheddar or Colby jack if you'd prefer.
- Red onion - Use a yellow onion or shallot instead, or a few finely sliced spring onions. Or leave the onion out if you aren't a fan.
- Fresh dill - Perfectly fine to use dried dill instead; replace the fresh with 1 - 2 teaspoons of dried dill.
Pickle Pasta Salad-Friendly Variations
Add a twist to the basic recipe with these suggested variations:
- This is a vegetarian-friendly pasta, but you can certainly add cured meats to the mix if you’d like - try adding pepperoni or salami!
- To make this vegan-friendly, leave out or replace the Havarti dill cheese with a non-dairy substitute.
- Head on over to the page for Dill Pickle Salad Dressing for suggested variations regarding the vinaigrette, which include: Spicy, Garlic, Ranch, and Lemon Pepper.
- Other add-ins to consider are fresh or pickled jalapenos, sliced celery, or sliced coins of zucchini or cucumber.
Equipment
Mandolin - for perfectly uniform pickle slices
Blender or food processor - to make quick work of that homemade Dill Pickle Vinaigrette
Pasta Salad Storage
Store any leftover Dill Pickle Pasta Salad in a lidded container in the refrigerator. For best results, use within 3-4 days. If the salad could use some more hydration after a day or two, whip up some additional Dill Pickle Salad Dressing or add a few splashes of pickle juice.
Top Tip for the Best Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Take the time to make the homemade Dill Pickle Salad Dressing. Go out of your way to get Havarti dill cheese. Include fresh dill. These touches make this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad recipe truly special.
Other Dill-icous Things You Can Do with Pickles
There are so many dill-icious things you can do with pickles. Such as making hot appetizers like Air Fryer Pickle Spears or Dill Pickle Quesadillas. Or keep things cool with Cream Cheese Pickle Rollups or Spicy Cream Cheese Pickle Dip. I am HERE for big dill pickle summer, yo!
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (without Mayo)
Equipment
Ingredients
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces rotelle pasta
- 1 ¼ cup gherkins (mini pickles) (sliced with a mandolin)
- 1 cup Havarti dill cheese, cubed
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- ¾ cup + ¼ cup Dill Pickle Salad Dressing
- ½ tablespoon Trader Joe’s Dill Pickle Seasoning (optional)
Dill Pickle Salad Dressing
- ⅔ cup canola oil
- ⅓ cup pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon chopped dill dried
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste (optional)
Instructions
Dickle Pickle Salad Dressing
- Add pickle juice, Dijon mustard, dried dill, and garlic powder to a blender or food processor.
- Start the blender or food processor. Slowly start drizzling in the canola oil, keeping the blender or food processor running the entire time.
- Turn off the blender or food processor once you’ve added all of the canola oil. This should only take 1 - 2 minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasonings - you may want to add salt and pepper, or maybe even some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. If you add any seasonings, pulse a few times to combine.
- Refrigerate in a lidded container, like a Mason jar, until ready to use. Shake the Dill PickleSalad Dressing vigorously before each use.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- First, prepare the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing and refrigerate it until needed.
- Next, prepare the pasta according to the package instructions - don’t forget to salt the water the pasta cooks in! And cook it al dente! (The pasta package should have cooking instructions for this).
- Strain the cooked pasta and run cold water over it until the pasta is cool - doing so prevents the pasta from continuing to cook.
- Prep the other salad ingredients: Slice the pickles (I used a Mandolin), finely dice the red onion, finely chop the dill, and cut the Havarti dill cheese into cubes (or shred it if you prefer).
- Add the strained and chilled pasta to a large bowl, along with the pickles, red onion, dill, and cheese. Add about ¾ cup of the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing and stir to combine. Reserve the rest of the salad dressing.
- Refrigerate for at least 4-6 hours. When ready to serve, add the rest of the Dill Pickle Salad Dressing (around ¼ cup) and stir. Enjoy!
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