Creamy, tangy, and loaded with pickle flavor, this Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad is made with pickles, celery, cheddar, and tender rotisserie chicken. It's a briny spin on classic chicken macaroni salad, with chopped pickles in every bite and a creamy pickle dressing you'll want to put on everything.
Why You'll Love this Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad:
- Quick & Easy: Ready in about 30 minutes with boiling as the only cooking required.
- Great for Leftover or Rotisserie Chicken: This macaroni salad is the perfect way to use up whatever cooked chicken you have.
- Super Customizable: Add extra pickles, leave out the mayo, or make it gluten-free.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients:
- Macaroni: I've used classic elbow macaroni, but any short-cut pasta will work!
- Rotisserie Chicken: Tender, flavorful, and convenient. You can also use any leftover cooked chopped chicken.
- Dill Pickles: Chopped gherkins add tangy crunch. They're my go-to for this recipe because they have fewer seeds, less moisture, and let's be honest, they're just plain cute.
- Celery & Red Onion: For color and crunch.
- Cheddar Cheese: White cheddar adds a salty, creamy element. Feel free to swap with sharp yellow or even Colby Jack.
- Fresh Dill: Boosts that dill pickle flavor.
- Pickle Dressing: A creamy, briny blend of mayo, Greek yogurt, pickle juice, Dijon, garlic, and seasoning.
Dietary Swaps:
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free elbow macaroni. Chickpea or lentil-based pastas work well too. For this recipe I used Banza (made from chickpeas).
- Vegetarian: Omit the chicken or sub in your fave plant-based chicken.
- Low Carb/Keto: Swap the pasta in this dill pickle chicken salad for chopped steamed cauliflower. Keep the chicken, pickles, and creamy dressing.
- Low FODMAP: Use lactose-free yogurt and cheese, skip the onion, and stick to gluten-free pasta.
- Egg-Free: Swap the mayo for more Greek Yogurt.
Recipe Variations:
- Classic Chicken Macaroni Salad: Skip the pickles and dill, and use a more traditional mix of mayo, celery, carrots, and onion with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice.
- Add Bacon: Crumbled bacon adds an extra savory element.
- Spice, Spice, Spice it Up: Add a chopped jalapeño, dash of hot sauce, or some pepper jack cheese for heat.
How to Make Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad:
- Cook Pasta: Boil macaroni until al dente, then rinse and let cool completely.
- Mix the Dressing: Whisk together mayo, Greek yogurt, pickle juice, Dijon, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Chop the Add-Ins: Prep chicken, pickles, celery, onion, cheese, and dill.
- Combine Everything: Toss pasta, mix-ins, and dressing together until evenly coated.
- Chill or Serve: Serve right away or chill for 30-60 minutes for max flavor.
Tips & Notes:
- For extra pickle flavor, soak the cooled macaroni pasta in pickle juice for 5-10 minutes before assembling.
- Let it chill: The flavors (especially the creamy dressing) get even better after 30-60 minutes in the fridge.
Make Ahead & Storage:
- Make Ahead: Assemble the chicken salad up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate. Stir before serving.
- Storage: Keeps well in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- To Refresh: If the macaroni salad looks dry after being refrigerated, mix in a bit of mayo, yogurt, or pickle juice to refresh.
- Not Freezer-Friendly.
What to Serve with Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad:
This salad makes a great side dish, especially for BBQ's, picnics, and potlucks. Try it with these summer meals:
- Southern-Style Pimento Cheese BLT Sandwich
- Ronto Wrap, inspired by Disney's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
- Salmon BLT Sandwich
- Sausage & Herb Stuffed Tomatoes
FAQs:
Can I use canned chicken or leftover grilled chicken?
For sure! Any cooked chicken works for this recipe. Just chop it up and season to your liking.
Can this recipe be made without mayo?
Yes! Just swap the mayo for more Greek yogurt.
What kind of pickles work best?
I use gherkins for less seeds and less moisture, but any dill pickle will work.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes! This recipe is scaled easily, just taste and adjust seaoning once mixed. (Hot Tip: use the slider bar in the recipe card below to adjust serving size)
Is this recipe kid-friendly?
Yes, especially if your kiddo loves pickles! You can tone down the onion and fresh dill for picky eaters.
More Pasta Salad Recipes You Will Love:
- Cucumber Pasta Salad with Feta & Dill
- Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad with Bacon & Cheddar
- Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing
Recipe
Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad
This creamy, tangy Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad is packed with tender rotisserie chicken, crunchy pickles, celery, and cheddar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry elbow macaroni
- 2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken skin optional
- 1 cup sliced dill gherkin pickles
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup grated white cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill
Pickle Dressing:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1½ teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool completely. (Optional: soak cooled pasta in pickle juice for 5 minutes for extra pickle flavor.)
- Make the dressing: Whisk together mayo, Greek yogurt, pickle juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Prepare add-ins: Chop chicken, pickles, celery, red onion, and dill. Grate cheese.
- Combine: In a large bowl, toss together macaroni, chicken, pickles, celery, cheese, onion, dill, and dressing until well coated.
- Chill or serve: Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30-60 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir before serving.
Notes
- For extra pickle flavor, soak the cooked/cooled pasta in pickle juice for 5-10 minutes before mixing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Refresh with a little mayo, yogurt, or pickle juice if dry.
- To make gluten-free, swap macaroni for your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Nutritional Information is just an estimate and will vary according to specific ingredients and amounts used.
Nutrition
Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 22.3gProtein: 22.1gFat: 21.3gSaturated Fat: 3.6gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 327.9mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 8.8g
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Tried This Dill Pickle Chicken Macaroni Salad recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out! ⭐ Please leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover this ultra-flavorful, easy dish. Enjoy, and happy cooking! Follow me on Instagram and Subscribe to my newsletter more delicious recipes, travel inspiration, and behind-the-scenes content.
Must Love Garlic says
A fun pickley spin on a classic Southern recipe.