Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing shell pasta with crisp cucumbers, creamy dressing, and everything bagel seasoning for summer gatherings.

# 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 - ½ cup sour cream
07 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
08 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - ½ tsp salt
12 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ Seasoning

13 - 1½ tbsp everything bagel seasoning

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Boil shell pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - Whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add cooled pasta, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and chopped fresh dill to the dressing. Toss gently to coat evenly.
04 - Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over salad and fold until evenly distributed throughout.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy dressing clings to every tiny shell instead of pooling at the bottom
  • You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after chilling
  • Cucumber stays crisp even after sitting in the fridge for a day
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water or it'll keep cooking and turn mushy
  • Wait to add the everything bagel seasoning until right before serving so it stays crunchy
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits so you might need to stir in another spoonful before serving leftovers
03 -
  • Use a box grater to quickly shred the cucumber if you want it to blend more with the pasta
  • Double the everything bagel seasoning if you're serving serious garlic lovers
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