Description
Indulge in the vibrant flavors of Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad, a delightful and customizable dish perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or a satisfying meal at home. This versatile salad combines tender pasta with chicken sausage, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing that brings everything together beautifully. With its colorful presentation and robust taste, it guarantees to impress guests while being easy to prepare. Whether enjoyed as a main course or a side dish, this pasta salad is not only quick to whip up but also gets better after sitting in the fridge for a while, allowing the flavors to meld perfectly. Get ready to create a refreshing and hearty meal that everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 1 pound bow-tie (farfalle) pasta
- 13 ounces chicken sausage, diced
- 1 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 can quartered artichokes
- 1 can sliced black olives
- 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Cook the bow-tie pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Shock in ice water to halt cooking and drain.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the diced chicken sausage until fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, dried basil, and minced garlic in a bowl. Stir in diced onion.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta with browned sausage, artichokes, olives, bell pepper, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. Pour in dressing and toss gently.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate to enhance flavors before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Customize your salad by adding other vegetables like cucumbers or zucchini based on what you have available. For added freshness, consider tossing in some chopped herbs like parsley or basil. Letting the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour helps meld the flavors beautifully.