Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable)

A vibrant blend of tender pasta, crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, and creamy dressing topped with everything bagel seasoning.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz small shell pasta
02 - 1 teaspoon 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 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 1/2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning

# How-To:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook shell pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain in 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 black pepper until smooth and fully combined.
03 - Add cooled pasta, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and fresh dill to the bowl with dressing. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the salad and fold gently until the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasonings as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and ensure optimal chilled temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The everything bagel seasoning creates this incredible savory crunch that keeps you going back for just one more bite
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you put way more thought into it
  • The creamy tangy dressing coats every tiny shell perfectly so flavors actually mingle instead of sitting separately
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water is non negotiable because it stops the cooking and washes away starch that would make the dressing slide right off
  • The salad needs that chilling time because the flavors actually develop and the pasta absorbs some of the dressing making it taste completely different than straight from the bowl
  • Everything bagel seasoning brands vary wildly in salt content so taste after adding and adjust before chilling
03 -
  • Cut your cucumber slightly larger than you think you should because they will soften slightly as the salad sits and you want them to still have texture
  • If you are making this ahead wait to add the everything bagel seasoning until about an hour before serving so it stays crunchy
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