Pasta salad is front and center on Mt. Rushmore of summer cookout sides. It’s easy, to make ahead 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.
Farmers Market Chicken Sausage Orzo Salad
Tomatoes, corn, and peaches all hit their peak during the summer, and this fresh, vibrant orzo salad is basically a farmers market haul in pasta-salad form. Classic Roasted Chicken Sausage pairs beautifully with each of those seasonal ingredients, while tender orzo adds a satisfying bite to every bright, tangy forkful. It's the kind of summer pasta salad that feels equally at home at a backyard BBQ, picnic, or weeknight dinner.
Recipe: Farmers Market Chicken Sausage Orzo Salad
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.
Recipe: Sausage and Peppers Pasta Salad (via Tipsy Housewife)
Caprese Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage
Skewers, antipasto, pizza... what can't Caprese do? If you answered "pasta salad," congratulations—you failed miserably. Fresh mozzarella, basil, pesto, and pasta are a natural match, while Italian Herb Chicken Sausage adds a touch of Calabrian chili heat and plenty of herbaceous flavor. The result is a satisfying Caprese pasta salad that's equally suited for cookouts, meal prep, and sunny afternoons on the patio.
Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage
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: Sausage and Arugula Pasta Salad (via Saveur)
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.
Recipe: Chicken Sausage and Shrimp Paella Pasta Salad
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.
Recipe: Chicago Hot Dog Pasta Salad (via Carolyn's Cooking)
Kale and Broccoli Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage
A homemade pesto is never not a flex, and the vibrant green sauce coating this fusilli pasta salad challenges just about everything you think you know about pesto. Broccoli, kale, and basil provide the fresh flavor, while almonds add a rich nuttiness to every bite. Paired with juicy chicken sausage, it's a bright, satisfying pasta salad that feels equal parts comfort food and farmers market find.
Recipe: Kale and Broccoli Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage
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.
Recipe: The Best Creamy Pasta Salad (via Blackberry Babe) Summer Sausage)
Spring Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Asparagus, and Peas
Spring may have sprung, but some ingredients are simply too good to limit to one season. In this colorful pasta salad, sweet peas, crisp asparagus, and fresh herbs pair perfectly with Italian Herb Chicken Sausage and its gentle Calabrian chili kick. The real secret weapon, though, is the homemade dressing, which combines tahini, maple syrup, and plenty of lemon for a bright, zesty finish. Add chickpeas and you've got a protein-packed pasta salad that's welcome on the table any time of year.
Recipe: Spring Pasta Salad with Chicken Sausage, Asparagus, and Peas
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.
Recipe: High-Protein Pasta Salad with lLemon Pepper Vinaigrette (via Brita Cooks)