Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Tender pasta shells tossed with crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, and everything bagel seasoning in a creamy, tangy dressing.

# 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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It stays cold and crisp even after sitting out at a picnic, which means you can actually relax instead of worrying.
  • The everything bagel seasoning adds a salty, toasty depth you don't expect in a pasta salad, and people always ask what the secret is.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly after draining or it will clump together and soak up too much dressing before you even mix it.
  • Let the salad chill before serving—it tastes fine right away, but after thirty minutes in the fridge it becomes something completely different, brighter and more balanced.
03 -
  • Toast your everything bagel seasoning lightly in a dry pan for thirty seconds before adding it to bring out the oils and deepen the flavor.
  • If you can't find everything bagel seasoning, mix sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and flaky salt in equal parts.
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