Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

A refreshing pasta salad with crisp cucumbers, tender shells, fresh dill, and creamy tangy dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz small shell pasta
02 - 1 teaspoon salt for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups cucumber, diced
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 1/2 cup sour cream
07 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Seasoning

13 - 1.5 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning

# Method:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add small shell pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and ground black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and fresh dill to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss all ingredients until evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle the everything bagel seasoning over the salad and fold gently until the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout.
05 - Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and salad to chill thoroughly.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The combination of cool cucumber and warm everything bagel seasoning creates this incredible flavor contrast that keeps people going back for seconds
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more time on it
  • This salad actually gets better after a few hours in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep or makeahead gatherings
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water is not optional, it stops the cooking process and prevents those shells from turning into mushy blobs
  • Everything bagel seasoning can vary between brands, so start with less and add more until it tastes right to you
  • This salad needs that chill time in the fridge for the flavors to really develop and the pasta to absorb some of that dressing
03 -
  • Cut your cucumber slightly larger than you think you should, they shrink a bit after sitting in the dressing
  • If making ahead, hold back half the everything bagel seasoning and add it right before serving for maximum crunch
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