If you love the tangy, herby flavor of dill pickles, this dill pickle pasta salad is about to be your new summertime go-to. It's got that classic creamy dressing but infused with fresh dill and pickle juice for a major dose of flavor. The fresh veggies and chickpeas add crunch in addition to some fiber and protein. This is one of the best pasta salads and you would never even know it's vegan!
What is Dill Pickle Pasta Salad?
Many of us grew up noshing on creamy salads at potlucks, BBQs, and summer parties, and going vegan doesn't have to change any of that.
The only swap you need to make this salad vegan or dairy-free is to use vegan yogurt instead of regular sour cream or mayo. It's that simple!
You get the tender pasta tossed in the creamy, pickle-infused dressing, plus all the crunchy pickles, veggies, and chickpeas for a little extra fiber and protein. It's filling, hearty, creamy, tangy, and absolutely delicious!
Why you’ll love this Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Major pickle flavor - tangy and crisp with a bold dill flavor from the pickles and fresh herbs
- Perfect side dish for summer entertaining
- Can easily be made ahead of time for easy prep before a party or potluck
- Perfect way to use up an extra jar of pickles
- Creamy, cleansing flavor that complements hearty flavors, like grilled veggies and vegan burgers
Ingredients For Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
My favorite thing about this tangy pasta salad, besides the flavor, is how simple it is. This is one of those recipes you can throw together with ingredients already hanging out in your pantry or fridge! No need for a last-minute run to the store.
- Elbow macaroni - I typically like to use regular elbow pasta for this recipe, but you can use different shapes or even try whole wheat or gluten-free pasta.
- Veggies - Mince some fresh celery, carrot, and green onions for extra crunch and flavor.
- Dill pickles - It's not a dill pickle salad without the pickles! You can either chop pickle chips or buy baby dills and slice them yourself.
- Chickpeas - Rinse and drain a can of chickpeas to add a little extra crunch and enough fiber and protein to make the salad filling.
- Dill pickle juice - This is the leftover liquid at the bottom of the pickle jar. Adding it directly to the dressing adds so much extra flavor.
- Vegan yogurt - This is the only plant-based swap here! Look for a plain vegan yogurt, ideally one with a nice thickness to make the dressing really creamy.
- Salt
- Fresh dill - Fresh dill has a slightly sweet, aromatic scent that makes the salad taste light and fresh.
How to Make Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Making pasta salad at home is really, really simple. Just be sure to cook the pasta until al dente, then rinse it under cold water. This stops the cooking process to keep the noodles from becoming too soft or soggy. It also helps to make it the day before and let the flavors sit overnight in the fridge. The flavors really get a chance to come alive the longer they sit!
- Cook pasta according to the box, rinse with cool water and drain well.
- Make dressing by combining plain yogurt with salt and pickle juice. Whisk until smooth.
- In a large bowl add the cooked pasta, celery, chickpeas, pickles, dill, carrot and green onion.
- Add the dressing, and give it a good stir until well combined.
- Enjoy for 3-5 days for best quality.
Tips for Making the Best Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
- Cut everything evenly. The veggies in pasta salad are generally minced or diced into very small pieces. They should be small enough to scoop up with the pasta as you take a bite.
- Try different pickles. If you're in sweet and tangy flavors, you can add some sweet gherkins or try a sweet and spicy variety of pickles.
- Make it gluten-free. The only gluten-containing ingredient is the pasta, and you can easily replace it with a GF alternative.
FAQs
Yep! There are lots of options for pasta salads. I often like to use tube-shaped pastas, like elbow macaroni or ditalini. The tubes hold extra dressing and have a fun, smooth texture. I also like using mini bowties for a little extra flair, but you can use shells, orzo, fusilli, rotini, and more!
Dill pickles are a must here, although you can play with different types. For example, there are some really great spicy dills out there, or you can use sweet dill pickles. Bread and butter pickles are a little too sweet to use exclusively in this dish, but adding a little sweetness can be really delicious.
Many of us grew up with chopped cheddar cheese in our pasta salads and you can absolutely add some, if you'd like. There are some great vegan cheeses out there. Try cutting a block of vegan cheddar into small cubes or sprinkle some shredded cheese into the salad. So good!
Other Delicious Vegan Pasta Salad Recipes
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Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (Dairy-Free + Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- ½ cup celery chopped
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas rinsed and drained
- 1 cup dill pickles chopped small
- ¼ cup dill chopped
- 1 carrot peeled and diced small
- ¼ cup green onions white and green parts chopped
- 1 cup plain vegan yogurt
- 3 tbsp pickle juice
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the box, rinse with cool water and drain well.
- Make dressing by combining plain yogurt with salt and pickle juice. Whisk until smooth.
- In a large bowl add the cooked pasta, celery, chickpeas, pickles, dill, carrot and green onion. Add the dressing, and toss until well combined.
- Enjoy for 3-5 days for best quality