Zucchini Pasta Salad

This Zucchini Pasta Salad is simple, yet so flavorful, packed with roasted zucchini, chicken sausage, and a light balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a lovely way to use an abundance of summer zucchini, plus nutritionally it’s packed with protein, fiber, and is ideal for meal prep!

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Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Starting with the obvious here, but it’s delicious! It’s the kind of recipe that when my husband took it to work and first tried he, he texted me to say, “this is DELICIOUS!”
• If you are growing or have access to abundant summer zucchini, this is a great pasta salad to use some up!
• Using a higher protein and higher fiber pasta makes this a protein and fiber packed meal.
• It tastes even better after setting in the fridge overnight.
• It’s fairly simple to make.
• Less than 10 ingredients required.

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions:

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Zucchini – you’ll need two medium-sized zucchini. I like to quarter them length-wise, then chop.
• Onion – I prefer to use red onion, but have made with other varieties and it always still tastes delicious!
• Chicken Sausage – I used Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar Chicken Sausage, but you can use whatever type you prefer (I do recommend an Italian or more savory flavored one, though).
• Seasonings – you’ll need a little olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper to season your vegetables while roasting for max flavor!
• Pasta – use whatever shape and type you prefer! My whole family loves Barilla’s Protein Plus pasta.
• Balsamic Dressing – you can use store-bought or homemade, whatever works for you! (If using homemade, I highly recommend my basil balsamic dressing.)

How to Make Zucchini Pasta Salad

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Start by chopping your vegetables and chicken sausage. Season, then roast.

While the vegetables are roasting, boil pasta according to package directions. If making a homemade dressing, you can also prep that at this point, too. Then, combine drained, cooked pasta, roasted vegetables, and balsamic vinaigrette and toss to combine.

Tips and Variations

• Gluten-Free: you can use any gluten-free pasta you prefer! Then just make sure your chicken sausage and dressing are certified gluten-free, too.
• Dairy-Free: this pasta salad is naturally dairy-free, so long as your chicken sausage and balsamic vinaigrette don’t contain any added dairy ingredients.
• Plant-Based: Ditch the chicken sausage and swap in some chickpeas or diced tofu (roast it along with the zucchini and onion).
• Swap Proteins: while we love this zucchini pasta salad with chicken sausage, it’s also delicious with rotisserie chicken, beans, or served alongside some air fryer salmon.

Meal Prep & Storage Tips

Pasta salad is one of those dishes that tastes even better the next day — and this zucchini pasta salad is no exception. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

For meal prep grab-and-go convenience, I recommend storing in airtight containers, like these glass containers or glass jars with bamboo lids.

Shop This Recipe

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• 16 Ounce Glass Jars
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More Pasta Salad Recipes to Love

• High Protein Pasta Salad
• Balsamic Pasta Salad
• Bean Pasta Salad
• Chicken Macaroni Pasta Salad

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