Description
Creamy Summer Sausage Pasta Salad blends hearty German-style sausage with cool, tangy mayonnaise dressing. Simple midwestern ingredients create a satisfying summer side dish perfect for gatherings where people crave quick, delicious comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups (475 ml) uncooked rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup (150 g) summer sausage, diced
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup (150 g) diced cucumber
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded cheddar cheese
Additional Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1/2 cup (75 g) red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup (75 g) red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup (50 g) sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/4 cup (15 g) chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (240 ml) mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) honey
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 g) onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender, maintaining an al dente texture. Immediately drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking process and cool quickly.
- Create a vibrant dressing by whisking mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until smooth and fully integrated.
- Prepare vegetables by dicing summer sausage, halving cherry tomatoes, chopping cucumber, slicing red bell pepper, and mincing red onion into uniform, bite-sized pieces.
- Combine cooled pasta with prepared summer sausage, vegetables, black olives, and shredded cheddar cheese in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Drizzle prepared creamy dressing over the pasta mixture, gently folding ingredients to ensure even coating without breaking delicate components.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for minimum 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and ingredients to chill thoroughly.
- Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir and optionally garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil for added brightness and visual appeal. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a firm texture and prevent mushiness when mixed with creamy dressing.
- Chilling Strategy: Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour to allow flavors to develop and ingredients to marinate thoroughly.
- Customize with Ease: Swap summer sausage with grilled chicken, tofu, or skip meat entirely for vegetarian options that keep the dish versatile.
- Make-Ahead Magic: This pasta salad tastes even better the next day, making it ideal for meal prep and picnic planning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg