Spicy Pickle Smash Pasta Salad
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 8 Servings
- 8 oz. rotini
- 2 cups dill pickle spears (about 10)
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/2 cup pickle juice (from the jar of spears)
- 1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
- 2 tbsp. Louisiana style hot sauce
- 1 cup diced red onion
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 canister (6 oz) crispy fried onions
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Cook the rotini according to package directions. Drain, then rinse under cold water until rotini is cooled. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, smash the dill pickles with a potato masher or the bottom of a measuring cup until broken into rough pieces. Add mayo, pickle juice, sweet pickle relish, and Louisiana style hot sauce. Dressing should be thin.
- Toss in the cooked rotini and red onion. Season with salt and pepper.
- Just before serving, add in the crispy fried onions and crushed red pepper flakes (if using) and toss to coat everything. The crispy fried onions will slowly absorb the dressing, so make sure to serve right away.
- Can be made up to two days ahead, but always add the crispy fried onions right before serving.
Notes: Any dill pickles can be used for the smashing: whole, baby dill, hamburger chips, spears, or sandwich slices. Increase hot sauce and crushed red pepper to up the spice factor, if desired.
