Description
Creamy classic dill pickle macaroni salad blends tangy pickles with rich, smooth pasta for a crowd-pleasing summer side dish. Cool comfort comes together quickly, promising refreshing bites you’ll savor at every backyard gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 2 cups (473 ml) elbow macaroni, cooked and cooled
Main Ingredients:
- 0.75 cup (177 ml) dill pickles, chopped
- 0.5 cup (118 ml) celery, finely diced
- 0.25 cup (59 ml) red onion, finely diced
- 0.25 cup (59 ml) fresh dill, chopped
- 0.5 cup (118 ml) shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 0.5 cup (118 ml) mayonnaise
- 0.25 cup (59 ml) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) dill pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt (or to taste)
- 0.25 teaspoon (1.25 ml) black pepper
Instructions
- Submerge macaroni in a pot of rapidly boiling water, cooking until tender yet firm. Quickly drain and shock with cold water to halt the cooking process, then spread on a flat surface to cool completely.
- Craft a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, sour cream, tangy pickle juice, zesty Dijon mustard, aromatic garlic and onion powders, along with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper until silky smooth.
- Select a spacious mixing vessel and combine the chilled macaroni with crisp, diced pickles, finely chopped celery, and thinly sliced red onion. Sprinkle in fragrant fresh dill and optional shredded cheddar for added depth.
- Gently cascade the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture, folding carefully to ensure every morsel is evenly coated. Seal the bowl with a tight-fitting lid and nestle in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour, allowing flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the dressing. Enhance presentation with a delicate garnish of additional fresh dill or a scattering of chopped pickles for a vibrant, textural finish.
Notes
- Ensure macaroni is cooked al dente and thoroughly cooled to prevent mushy texture and maintain a perfect pasta bite.
- Customize the salad’s tanginess by adjusting pickle juice quantity, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits your taste preferences.
- For a lighter version, swap full-fat mayonnaise with Greek yogurt or low-fat alternatives without compromising the creamy consistency.
- Make the dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and double-checking that all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 20mg