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Fresh Cucumber Pasta Salad

Fresh cucumber pasta salad with crisp cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and bright dill in a creamy mayo-sour cream dressing. Best when chilled for a light, refreshing summer side with perfectly rinsed pasta.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Fresh cucumber pasta salad
  • 1 lb rotini or penne pasta
  • 2 large cucumbers, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 0.5 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup sour cream
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 salt to taste
  • 1 pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and rinse the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini or penne pasta according to package directions until tender, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking and keep the pasta crisp.
  2. Let the pasta drain well so it doesn’t dilute the creamy dressing.
Make the dill creamy dressing
  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh dill, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth and evenly combined, with the dill suspended throughout.
Assemble and chill
  1. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, diced large cucumbers, halved cherry tomatoes, and finely diced red onion so the vegetables are evenly distributed.
  2. Pour the dill dressing over the salad and toss until every piece of pasta and cucumber looks lightly coated.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour so flavors meld and the salad feels light and refreshing.
  4. Toss again just before serving and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper as needed for balanced flavor.

Notes

Pro tip: rinsing pasta with cold water prevents clumping and helps the cucumbers stay crisp after chilling. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; the texture holds best with a quick toss before serving. Freezing is not recommended because cucumbers and creamy dressing can break down. For a lighter option, use Greek yogurt in place of half the mayonnaise to keep the dressing creamy with less richness.