Description
Creamy, zesty dill pickle macaroni salad delight brings summer picnic memories to life with its irresistible blend of crunchy pickles and smooth pasta. Chilled perfection awaits you in this crowd-pleasing side dish that delivers serious flavor in every refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups macaroni (uncooked)
- 1 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Vegetable Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
Seasoning Ingredients:
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup pickle juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of generously salted water at a rolling boil for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender, ensuring an al dente texture.
- Immediately drain the pasta and shock with cold water to halt the cooking process, then spread on a clean kitchen towel to cool completely and prevent clumping.
- Whisk together creamy mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, and zesty pickle juice in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture reaches a silky, uniform consistency.
- Fold the cooled pasta into the creamy dressing, gently incorporating crisp chopped dill pickles, finely diced red onion, and freshly chopped dill fronds.
- Delicately season the mixture with salt and freshly cracked black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Transfer the salad to a sealed container and refrigerate for 60-90 minutes, allowing the flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute the dressing and ingredients, ensuring each bite is perfectly balanced and chilled.
Notes
- Perfectly cook pasta by ensuring it’s al dente, avoiding mushy texture that can ruin the salad’s overall consistency.
- Rinse pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to halt the cooking process and prevent overcooking, which helps maintain a pleasant bite.
- Customize the salad by adding extra crunch with diced celery or chopped bell peppers for additional texture and nutritional value.
- Make it diet-friendly by substituting mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-rich version that reduces calorie content without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg