Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender shell pasta meets crisp cucumber and fresh dill in a creamy dressing with everything bagel seasoning.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups cucumber, diced (about 1 large English cucumber)
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

→ Dressing

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

→ Seasoning

13 - 1 1/2 tbsp everything bagel seasoning

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the shell pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, diced cucumber, green onions, and fresh dill to the bowl. Toss gently to combine.
04 - Sprinkle in the everything bagel seasoning and fold until evenly distributed.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Chill for at least 30 minutes for best flavor before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy dressing clings to every shell instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl
  • You can prep it the night before and it actually tastes better after the flavors meld
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water is not optional it stops the cooking and prevents gummy starch
  • The salad needs those 30 minutes of chilling time or the dressing will taste too sharp
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic so it dissolves into the dressing instead of leaving harsh chunks
  • Toast the everything bagel seasoning in a dry pan for 2 minutes to wake up the flavors before adding
Go Back