It’s salty, it’s savory, and it has tons of dill pickle kick! Dill pickle pasta salad like regular pasta salad (which is already delicious) with a little something extra, perfect for any snack or side dish for your hot summer camping adventures. It’s easy to make and stores great on the road. Pair with a nice big burger or a cold “soda” for even more enjoyment!
We ran into this delicious dill pickle pasta salad (or DDPPS if you prefer) at a brewery on a camping trip in South Carolina, and we loved it so much we had to make it for ourselves. It has been a staple on every warm-weather camping trip ever since. If you want to taste this awesome concoction for yourself, here’s the official Camping Coalition recipe for our delicious dill pickle pasta salad recipe.
Ingredients
This dish comes in two stages. First you make the pasta, then you add the dressing on top. For the pasta portion, here’s what you’ll need:
- 1/2 pound of dry shell pasta (about 3 cups)
- 3/4 cup of sliced pickles (we like baby dills)
- 2/3 cup of diced cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons of finely diced white onion
- 2 tablespoons of fresh dill
- 1/2cup of pickle juice
For the dressing, grab these ingredients:
- 2/3 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream (we prefer swapping with ranch)
- 1/8 cup teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 4 tablespoons of pickle juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Have everything you need? Great! Let’s jump right into the recipe. (And try not to eat too much cubed cheese before it all comes together!)
Instructions
Start by boiling your pasta until tender. Then drain and rinse it under cold water. You know, the usual pasta deal.
Once drained, throw the cooked pasta into a bowl with ½ cup of pickle juice, and let it sit for about five minutes to really soak in all that dilly flavor. Drain the pasta again after letting it sit. The key to a delicious dill pickle pasta salad is to drain some but not all of the pickle juice. A little bit of juice helps with the flavor and keeps the pasta moist while you make the dressing.
For the dressing, start by throwing your mayonnaise and sour cream into the bowl with the pasta. Like many, I’m a big fan of ranch dressing, so I substitute that for the sour cream.
Stir the mixture around until the pasta is well-coated. Then, cut your cheese into cubes and add that to the salad. You’re welcome to use cheddar cheese, but I like to add a little kick with some Colby Jack.
Next, slice up your baby dill pickles and dice some white onions. Just throw the ingredients into the bowl as you get them ready. It’s a salad, so there’s no specific order. Just go nuts! Stir everything together in the bowl.
Finish off the concoction with a sprinkle of fresh dill, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix it all up one last time, stick it in the fridge for a little while, and you’re ready to enjoy!
Ready for some dilly delicious fun!?
Dill pickle pasta salad is the perfect accompaniment to any camping meal. Or, if you’re like me, just make it a meal of its own! I’ve been known to sit outside the camper with the entire serving bowl and a fork… but don’t picture that.
Happy camping!