Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 450 g bow tie pasta
• 5 thick cut bacon (about 1/2 cup cooked and chopped)
• 1 cup pickles (chopped)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (cubed)
• 1 shallot (minced)
• 0.25 cup fresh dill (minced)
• 2 green onions (thinly sliced)
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 0.25 cup mayonnaise
• 0.33 cup pickle brine
• 1 tbsp ranch seasoning
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
• salt and pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions.

2. 2

   While the pasta cooks, place the bacon in a pan and cook over medium heat until crispy.

3. 3

   Strain the pasta, drizzle with a little oil to prevent sticking, and set aside to cool.

4. 4

   Remove the bacon from the pan, pat dry with paper towels, cut into small pieces with a knife, and set aside.

5. 5

   Chop the pickles, cube the cheddar cheese, mince the shallot and fresh dill, and thinly slice the green onions. Set these prepared ingredients aside.

6. 6

   In a small bowl, make the dressing by combining the sour cream, mayo, pickle brine, ranch seasoning, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper. Mix well until smooth and set aside.

7. 7

   In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked pasta, bacon, pickles, cheddar, shallot, fresh dill, and green onion.

8. 8

   Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated.

9. 9

   Serve immediately or place in the fridge to chill. This salad is excellent served alongside BBQ dishes.

Notes

The salad becomes even more flavorful after a day in the fridge as the noodles absorb the dressing. Substitutions: - Bacon: Can be replaced with chicken, ham, or cold cuts like salami. - Sour Cream: Can be replaced with Greek yogurt or cottage cheese for a protein boost.

Nutrition per serving

• side dish
• pasta salad
• summer
• BBQ
• dill pickle
• quick and easy