Creamy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad with Bacon & Cheddar
Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with bold pickle flavor, this pasta salad is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. It's the perfect make-ahead side dish for BBQs, potlucks, or summer lunches.
Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese sharp, white, or a blend
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles or more to taste
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- ½ cup crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- Fresh dill for garnish
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup dill pickle juice from the jar
- 1-2 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook rotini to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water. (Optional: soak in pickle juice for 5 minutes for extra pickle flavor.)
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, pickle juice, chopped dill, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, combine pasta, cheese, pickles, red onion, and bacon. Pour dressing over the top and toss to coat.
- Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Garnish: Top with extra fresh dill and more bacon if desired. Serve cold.
Notes
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Keep it al dente for the best texture.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Gluten-Free: Use GF pasta and bacon; check labels on all ingredients.
- Nutritional Information is an estimate only and will vary according to specific ingredients and amounts used.
Nutrition
Calories: 360kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 10gFat: 24g
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