Pasta Salad with Fresh Dill
This Pasta Salad with Fresh Dill is cool, creamy, and packed with fresh flavor, combining tender pasta with crunchy vegetables, dill pickles, and a bright herb-filled dressing. The fresh dill and lemon juice help the flavors pop, while the creamy dressing gives it that classic pasta salad comfort everyone loves.
It's the perfect side dish for warm weather, summer picnics, meal prep, or easy lunches throughout the week. Whether you serve it alongside grilled foods or pack it for a light lunch the next day, this creamy pasta salad is one of those recipes people keep coming back to.
If you love dishes like our Cold Tuna Pasta Salad or Potato Salad without Eggs, this pasta salad has that same cool, creamy feel with a fun twist from the dill pickles and fresh herbs.
Jump to:
Ingredients
With some simple ingredients you'll soon have a creamy, crunchy cold salad full of fresh flavor.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Small Pasta Shells: Holds onto the creamy dressing and creates the perfect texture.
- Celery: Adds crunch and freshness throughout the salad.
- Radishes: Brings a crisp bite and subtle peppery flavor.
- Dill Pickles: Adds tang and makes this feel like a creamy dill pickle pasta salad.
- Red Onion: Gives the salad a sharper bite and balances the creamy elements.
- Cottage Cheese or Greek Yogurt: Creates a creamy, protein-rich dressing base.
- Mayonnaise: Adds richness and helps smooth out the dressing.
- Lemon Juice: Brightens the salad and balances the creaminess.
- Fresh Dill: Adds fresh flavor and ties all the ingredients together.
- Sea Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the salad.
- Black Pepper: Adds warmth and depth.
Grab some measuring cups and spoons, a food processor (if you want a really smooth dressing), and large bowl.
Variations
- Extra Pickle Flavor: Add a splash of dill pickle juice for even more tangy flavor.
- Pasta Options: Swap in rotini pasta, bowtie pasta, protein pasta, or chickpea pasta.
- Cheese Addition: Add sharp cheddar cheese or feta cheese for more richness.
- Extra Vegetables: Mix in cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, or romaine lettuce for a more colorful pasta salad.
How to Make Pasta Salad with Fresh Dill
This creamy dill pasta salad comes together quickly in one bowl, unless you want it super smooth, then you can use a food processor for the dressing.
If you don't have leftover pasta, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While pasta cooks, add cottage cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and fresh dill to a food processor and blend until smooth (if using Greek yogurt instead, simply mix all ingredients in a large bowl).
Add creamy dressing to a large bowl. Mix in celery, pickles, radishes, onion, salt and pepper.
Add cooked pasta shells and stir until evenly combined. Garnish with additional fresh chopped dill if desired. Chill until ready to serve.
Hint: Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water so the dressing stays creamy and fresh.
Recipe Tips
- Don't Overcook: Keep the pasta al dente for the best texture once chilled.
- Let It Chill: Refrigerating for a couple of hours helps the flavors blend together.
- Use Fresh Dill: Fresh herbs make a huge difference in the final flavor.
For another refreshing summer side dish, our Broccoli Salad with Cranberries pairs perfectly with this recipe.
More Side Dishes
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended, as the creamy dressing may separate.
- Make Ahead: Prepare a couple hours ahead so the flavors continue to develop.
Serving Suggestions
- Mains: Pulled Pork, Chicken Thighs, Oven Brisket, Slow Cooker Brisket, Pulled Pork Sliders or Brisket Sliders.
- More Sides: Coleslaw, Keto Broccoli Salad and Baked Mac and Cheese.
Pasta Salad with Fresh Dill Recipe FAQs
Yes, Greek yogurt works well and creates a slightly tangier creamy dressing.
It has a noticeable dill pickle flavor, but the fresh dill and lemon juice help balance it.
Small shells, rotini pasta, or bowtie pasta all work great because they hold the dressing well.
More Recipes
Ready to get cooking? Save time by having a grocery list automatically generate for you by clicking the "Add to Shopping List" below.
Pasta Salad with Fresh Dill
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Large Bowl
- Food Processor optional
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta shells small
- 1 ¾ cup celery ribs chopped
- 10 radishes half-moon slices
- ½ cup dill pickles roughly chopped
- ¼ cup red onion diced small
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese or Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 3 sprigs fresh dill or more
- ½ tablespoon sea salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- If you don't have leftover pasta, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, add cottage cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and fresh dill to a food processor and blend until smooth. (If using Greek yogurt instead, simply mix all ingredients in a large bowl.)
- Add creamy dressing to a large bowl. Mix in celery, pickles, radishes, onion, salt and pepper.
- Add cooked pasta shells and stir until evenly combined. Garnish with additional fresh chopped dill if desired. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Don't Overcook: Keep the pasta al dente for the best texture once chilled.
- Let It Chill: Refrigerating for a couple of hours helps the flavors blend.
- Use Fresh Dill: Fresh herbs make a huge difference in the final flavor.
- Fresh Pasta Tip: Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water so the dressing stays creamy and fresh.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended, as the creamy dressing may separate.
- Make Ahead: Prepare a couple hours ahead so the flavors continue to develop.
Nutrition
Your feedback means so much! Please take a moment to rate and review this recipe if you've tried it.
We love how simple this is to customize and play with. We often do mostly cottage cheese with a bit of mayo, but even with full mayo, it is amazing. We always have a bowl in the house in the summer!