Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Tender pasta shells with crisp cucumber, 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Cook shell pasta in large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In 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 dressing bowl. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over salad and fold gently until evenly distributed throughout.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor development.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The everything bagel seasoning adds an unexpected savory crunch that makes people pause and ask what's in it
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more time on it
  • The creamy dressing coats every shell perfectly while still letting the fresh vegetables shine through
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or the residual heat will make your vegetables wilt and your dressing separate
  • The salad needs that minimum chilling time because the flavors transform completely once they've had time to know each other
  • Add the everything bagel seasoning right before serving if you're making this ahead, otherwise it loses that signature crunch
03 -
  • Cut your cucumber slightly larger than you think you should, they shrink a bit as they marinate in the dressing
  • If you're making this for a crowd, double the dressing but maybe not quite double the pasta, people love that extra creamy coating
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