Pasta salad is front and center on Mt. Rushmore of summer dishes. It’s easy, keeps well, and travels even better, making as ideal for eating at your desk as it does at a picnic table during a backyard barbecue. It requires no oven time, which means your air conditioner and your oven aren’t competing for climate dominance. Oh, and it's delicious.
Crucially, it’s also endlessly adaptable. You can use whatever pasta shape you prefer and really add anything you want: peppers, olives, spinach, mustard—are all fair game. And sausage. Always sausage. Preferably chicken sausage. Lots of it.
Literally any pasta salad can get a protein punch with the addition of sausage, but these easy recipes put the links front and center.
Chicken Sausage and Shrimp Paella Pasta Salad
Paella has a bit of a diva reputation—special pans, saffron drama, and the unspoken rule that you must have a Spanish grandmother’s approval before making it. This version? Way more chill. It takes all those smoky, saffron-kissed flavors and folds them into an orzo pasta salad, then doubles down on the protein with Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage and shrimp. The result is beach-day portable, picnic-table perfect, and no abuela side-eye required.
Make it yourself: Get out step-by-step recipe
Sausage and Peppers Pasta Salad
Some pairings always ring true. PB+J. Chips + salsa. Graham crackers + chicken and cheddar? (Trust us.) But perhaps none ring truer than sausage and peppers. In pasta salad form, this classic pairing shines justice and is easy to throw together thanks to sweet jarred peppers, store-bought tortellini, and a simple vinaigrette. Don’t forget snappy sausage; Our Italian Herb Chicken Sausage has a proven track record of playing nice with all the ingredients in this one.
Make it yourself: Follow the Tipsy Housewife's play by play
Summer Squash and Chicken Sausage Pasta Salad
It’s easy to embrace eating the rainbow in the summer where colorful produce is plentiful and at its peak. This summer squash pasta salad is a celebration of the season’s bounty and includes yellow squash, zucchini, corn, and scallions all tossed with salty feta, sweet peppers, chicken sausage, and a Dijon-based vinaigrette.
Make it yourself: The Cheese Plate's recipe hits all the right notes
Sausage and Arugula Pasta Salad
Because sausage can be such a dominating, savory flavor, it’s good to put it up against ingredients that can hold their own. Such is the case for this Italian sausage and arugula pasta salad, which features bitterness from radicchio and baby arugula mellowed out by the zing of red wine vinegar and the punchiness of Dijon mustard. Raddiatore is an especially good pasta shape here to soak up all the flavor from the easy but impactful vinaigrette.
Make it yourself: Saveur has a can't miss recipe
Chicago Hot Dog Pasta Salad
Ever wanted a Chicago hot dog, but in pasta salad form? Well, get ready you glorious little weirdo, because you’re in great company! Although beef hot dogs are typically the star of a Chicago hot dog, the swap for chicken sausage works just as well once partnered with dill pickles, onions, sweet relish, tomatoes, and sport peppers. The dressing even has poppyseed… and absolutely no ketchup to be found anywhere. Pair it with Malört for best results.
Make it yourself: Carolyn's Cooking will make your (very specific) dream come true
Greek Tortellini Salad
Tortellini, tomatoes, cukes, olives, feta, red onion, and Greek dressing combine to make this simple, ultra-satisfying Mediterranean delight that plays beautifully with Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage. The hardest part of this ultra-bright recipe is resisting the urge to celebrate finishing it off by breaking your plate.
Make it yourself: Two Peas & Their Pod brings the opa
The Best Creamy Pasta Salad (with Summer Sausage)
If you’re one for creamy summer salads—think coleslaw, macaroni salad, or broccoli salad—try out this pasta salad that has elements of all three. That’s right, this is like the Neapolitan ice cream of the pasta world. There’s pasta and broccoli, of course, but also a sweet, mayonnaise-based dressing that is a signature component of these categories of salad.
Make it yourself: Let Blackberry Babe guide you through this might mashup
Hot Dog Pasta Salad
Carolina Gelen is a the James Beard award-winning cookbook author and recipe developer. So if Carolina Gelen thinks you should eat a hot dog pasta salad, know she means business. This comfort-food explosion includes pops of sweet corn, crunch from celery, some bite from red onions, and tangy, savory notes from sun-dried tomatoes. And in case you’re hot dog-averse, Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage would play nicely with all of the above.
Make it yourself: Your new cookout obsession awaits
Warm Broccoli and Sausage Pasta Salad
If the thought of eating pasta completely cold is unappetizing to you, this warm broccoli and sausage pasta salad may be the answer to your woes. It features broccoli and arugula (otherwise known as rocket across the pond) and feels extra summery thanks to both lemon zest and juice. You cook the sausage and vegetables while the pasta is boiling and everything is tossed together while warm and served immediately. Maybe that makes it just a pasta, but whatever, we’ll take it.
Make it yourself: BBC Good Food has the goods
High-Protein Pasta Salad with Lemon Pepper Vinaigrette
The combination of chicken sausage, chickpeas, and mozzarella balls makes this pasta salad a perfect option for anyone trying to increase their protein intake (gym maxxing anyone?). The flavor, however, does not suffer as a result. You’ll still find fresh cucumbers, marinated artichokes, and sweet peppers in this recipe, all dressed with a bright lemon pepper vinaigrette. To further amplify the protein, you could even swap out the pasta for a protein pasta.
Make it yourself: Brita Cooks has your protein fix