🍋🌿 Creamy Lemon Dill Pasta Salad

Creamy Lemon Dill Pasta Salad is a refreshing, tangy, and creamy side dish made with tender pasta, crisp vegetables, fresh dill, and a bright lemony dressing. It’s perfect for picnics, BBQs, potlucks, lunch, or a light summer meal.

Prep Time

• Prep: 20 minutes
• Chill: 1 hour
• Total: About 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings

6–8 servings

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Ingredients

Pasta Salad

• 12 oz (340 g) rotini, bowtie, or penne pasta
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, finely sliced
• ½ cup bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
• ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Creamy Lemon Dill Dressing

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Cook pasta until al dente.
3. Drain and rinse under cold water.
4. Let cool completely.

2. Make the Dressing

1. Whisk together:
   • Mayonnaise
   • Greek yogurt
   • Lemon juice
   • Lemon zest
   • Olive oil
   • Garlic
   • Dijon mustard
   • Salt and pepper
2. Taste and adjust seasoning.

3. Combine the Salad

1. Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.
2. Mix in cucumber, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, feta, dill, and parsley.
3. Pour dressing over the pasta.
4. Toss gently until coated.

4. Chill

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

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Variations

🐟 Lemon Dill Salmon Pasta Salad

Add:

• Flaked cooked salmon
• Extra lemon
• Capers

🍗 Chicken Lemon Dill Pasta Salad

Add:

• Grilled chicken breast
• Spinach
• Parmesan

🥒 Greek-Inspired Version

Add:

• Kalamata olives
• Feta cheese
• Cucumber
• Oregano

🥑 Healthy Version

Replace mayonnaise with:

• Extra Greek yogurt
• Avocado-based dressing

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Serving Suggestions

Great with:

🍗 Grilled chicken
🥩 Steak
🐟 Salmon
🍔 Burgers
🥪 Sandwiches
🌽 BBQ dishes

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Tips for the Best Creamy Lemon Dill Pasta Salad

• Rinse pasta with cold water to stop cooking and prevent a mushy texture.
• Add fresh dill near serving time for the brightest flavor.
• Let it chill—resting allows the dressing to soak into the pasta.
• Reserve a little dressing to refresh leftovers.

🍋🌿✨ This pasta salad is the perfect balance of creamy, zesty, fresh, and herby flavors—a bright addition to any meal!