⏱ Prep: 20 min | 🍳 Cook: 10 min | 🍽 Serves: 8 | ↓ Jump to Recipe
Fair warning: make a double batch. This dill pickle bacon pasta salad disappears faster than anything else at a cookout. Creamy dressing, crunchy pickles, crispy bacon — it is impossible to stop eating.
Why Everyone Loves This Salad
- Make-ahead friendly — tastes even better the next day
- Only 20 minutes of active prep
- Feeds a crowd and travels well
- Bold, crave-worthy flavor in every bite
Key Ingredients
The secret weapon is pickle brine in the dressing — it adds tang that brightens everything. Use fresh dill and cook your own bacon for the best crunch. Rotini works great because the dressing clings to all those ridges.
How to Make It
- Cook pasta al dente, rinse cold, drain completely.
- Cook bacon until crispy, chop into pieces.
- Mix dressing: whisk mayo, sour cream, pickle brine, dill, spices.
- Combine pasta, pickles, bacon, red onion with dressing.
- Chill at least 30 minutes before serving.
Storage & Tips
- Make up to 2 days ahead — store covered in the fridge
- If it thickens overnight, stir in a splash of pickle brine
- Add bacon right before serving to keep it crispy
- For extra tang use half mayo and half Greek yogurt
Serving Suggestions
Serve chilled at BBQs, picnics, or potlucks alongside grilled burgers or smoked chicken.
Dill Pickle Bacon Pasta Salad
8
servings20
minutes10
minutes420
kcal30
minutesCreamy, tangy pasta salad loaded with crispy bacon, dill pickles, and a bold dill dressing. The most requested dish at every BBQ.
Ingredients
3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
6 strips bacon, cooked crispy and chopped
1 cup dill pickles, diced
1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
- For the Dressing:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tbsp pickle brine (from the jar)
2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook pasta until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain completely.
- Cook bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels and chop into pieces.
- In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, pickle brine, fresh dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add cooled pasta, diced pickles, bacon, and red onion to the bowl.
- Toss until everything is well coated in the dressing.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Stir and adjust seasoning before serving.

