Fresh Creamy Cucumber Dill Pasta Salad
A light, refreshing, and creamy pasta salad featuring cucumber and fresh dill, perfect for summer picnics and quick lunches.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni or small shell pasta
- 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced (seedless if preferred)
- 1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely minced (optional)
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup sour cream (full-fat or light)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain well.
- While pasta cooks, peel and dice the cucumber into small, bite-sized pieces. Scoop out seeds if cucumber is watery. Finely chop 1/4 cup fresh dill and mince 1/4 cup red onion if using. Halve cherry tomatoes or dice bell peppers if substituting. Keep everything chilled until ready to mix.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 minced garlic clove. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Adjust lemon or seasoning if needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained pasta, diced cucumber, chopped dill, red onion, and tomatoes. Pour the dressing over and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and dill infuse the dressing.
- Before serving, gently stir the salad, check seasoning, and garnish with fresh dill sprigs.
Notes
Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent clumping and gummy texture. Remove cucumber seeds or salt diced cucumber and pat dry to avoid watery salad. Chilling the salad for at least 30 minutes improves flavor melding. Use fresh dill for best flavor; dried dill can be used in smaller amounts. Variations include vegan substitutions and adding nuts or smoked salmon.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 6
Keywords: cucumber pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, dill pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, quick lunch, picnic recipe