Smoked Sausage Pasta Salad
This Smoked Sausage Pasta Salad is a flavorful pasta salad recipe made with smoky beef sausage, tender rotini noodles, juicy tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and a creamy spicy dressing with Italian dressing and sriracha.
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It’s an easy pasta salad that works for summer BBQs, potlucks, family gatherings, game day parties, or even meal prep for the week. Since it can be made ahead of time and chilled until serving, it is always a convenient side dish when you need to feed a crowd.
It’s great served with grilled burgers, BBQ chicken, pulled pork sandwiches, or even a simple fruit salad.
How to Make Smoked Sausage Pasta Salad
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Cut the sausage into ½ inch slices, then cut the slices in half (so you have a half moon). Add them to a skillet and sprinkle the barbecue seasoning over the meat. Cook over medium heat, tossing as it heats while the noodles cook.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the noodles and cook for about 10-12 minutes, until noodles are tender. Pour into a colander in the sink to drain the water and run cold water on the noodles for a few minutes. I like to toss the noodles with a spoon while the water is running on them to chill all of the noodles. Dump cooled noodles into a large bowl.
3. Cut the tomatoes, onion, olives, and cheese.
4. Mix the mayonnaise, italian dressing and sriracha together in a small bowl and pour over the noodles. Stir well to coat the noodles.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and toss to combines.
6. Cover and chill for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
Serve & Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Be sure to cool the pasta completely before mixing everything together so the dressing stays creamy and does not get oily.
- Toss the pasta while rinsing with cold water to help it cool evenly and stop the cooking process.
- Start with 1 tablespoon of sriracha if serving kids or guests who do not like much spice, then add more to taste.
- For the best flavor, let the pasta salad chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
- If making this ahead of time, reserve a little extra Italian dressing to stir in before serving since pasta absorbs dressing as it chills.
- Slice the cheese into small cubes so every bite gets a little cheese mixed in.
- This pasta salad can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can easily double this recipe for large parties, potlucks, or cookouts.
Smoked Sausage Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 14 oz beef smoked sausage ring
- 1 tbsp barbecue Rub
- 1 lb rotini noodles
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- 8 oz cheddar cubed
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Italian dressing
- 1-2 tbsp sriracha sauce depending on your preferred spice level
Instructions
- Cut the sausage into ½ inch slices, then cut the slices in half (so you have a half moon). Add them to a skillet and sprinkle the barbecue seasoning over the meat. Cook over medium heat, tossing as it heats while the noodles cook.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the noodles and cook for about 10-12 minutes, until noodles are tender. Pour into a colander in the sink to drain the water and run cold water on the noodles for a few minutes. I like to toss the noodles with a spoon while the water is running on them to chill all of the noodles. Dump cooled noodles into a large bowl.
- Cut the tomatoes, onion, olives, and cheese.
- Mix the mayonnaise, italian dressing and sriracha together in a small bowl and pour over the noodles. Stir well to coat the noodles.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl and toss to combines.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour, or until ready to serve.
