Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers
Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers can be made with Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta, Palmini Pasta, or regular pasta. This combination of ingredients for pasta salad is a big favorite in my extended family!
PIN the Pasta Salad with Sausage to try it later!
If you’re wondering why there’s a pasta salad recipe front and center on my carb-conscious recipe blog, read on! My gorgeous niece Kara is my cooking assistant for the blog, and recently Kara and I have been obsessed with the lower-carb pasta made by Fiber Gourmet (that has lots of fiber to reduce the net carbs).
We loved this brand of lower-carb pasta in Zucchini Pesto Pasta, and I was working on a few more recipes using Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta when I had the idea of doing a make-over on this Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers!
For years this salad was one of my favorites to take to a family party, so I was excited to try it with this lower-carb pasta option. And we loved it! We used Fiber Gourmet Light Penne for this recipe, and Kara and I both thought it tasted just like “real” pasta, with a lot less carbs.
And we made the salad with lots of sausage, zucchini, olives, and roasted red peppers, which makes this salad even more carb-friendly and also stretches out the pasta to make it more affordable.
We liked the updated version of this salad so much that I just couldn’t wait until summer to share the it with you. And I do think this is a year-round dish, because if you’re attending a football-watching party I bet this pasta salad recipe will be a hit! In the updated version I’m giving options so you can make this favorite salad with Fiber Gourmet Light Penne, Palmini Linguini, or regular pasta; hope you enjoy!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- zucchini
- turkey or pork Italian sausage
- Fiber Gourmet Light Penne (affiliate link), Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link), or other pasta of your choice
- sliced black olives
- Roasted Red Peppers in a jar (affiliate link)
- coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
- Newman’s Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing (affiliate link) or other low-sugar vinaigrette
- basil pesto or chopped fresh basil
Why do we love the Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta so much?
Both Kara and I are carb-conscious eaters, and the one food that both of us missed the most was pasta. And when we tried the Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta, we were amazed to discover that it tastes just like regular pasta, with half the carbs! And if you use it in a recipe with less pasta and more low-carb ingredients like we did in this pasta salad, the carb counts are even lower for a serving.
How to Make Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta more affordable and reduce the carbs:
Even though the Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta varieties are all much lower in carbs than other pastas made from wheat, I like to make the carbs even lower by using this pasta in recipes with lots of other low-carb ingredients. So for this recipe, eight ounces of Fiber Gourmet Light Penne makes eight servings pasta salad. That makes the carb count much lower and makes the pasta much more affordable.
What pasta can you use for this pasta salad recipe?
- You can make the Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers with one 8 ounce box of Fiber Gourmet Light Penne (affiliate link), which is what we used for this recipe. With that option the salad has 19.2 net carbs per serving (with 16.5 grams of protein.) I bought the Fiber Gourmet penne at Amazon, where it’s definitely pricey if you don’t buy a case of 12, and we liked it so much that I did invest in a case! The pasta is a bit less expensive on The Fiber Gourmet site, and in some parts of the country it’s sold in stores.
- If you want a version of this pasta salad that could be suitable for Keto, you can add Italian Sausage to my recipe for Low-Carb Italian Pasta Salad that’s made with Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link), or just use the pasta cooking instructions from that recipe and make this salad with linguini. (That will make a slightly-smaller salad and the net carbs will be about 5 grams lower.)
- If you don’t care so much about carbs, you can make this salad with whole wheat penne, which will be higher in carbs (depending on the pasta you use) but still probably not super high if you use the small amount of pasta and more other ingredients like we did.
What adds flavor to the dressing for this salad?
We used basil pesto to make the dressing to make it a more year-round recipe, but if I was making this when it was fresh basil season, I’d use a bunch of finely chopped fresh basil.
What if you don’t want to use all these ingredients?
My family loves this pasta salad that’s loaded with good flavors from Italian sausage, marinated zucchini, black olives, and roasted red pepper. But if you don’t have (or don’t enjoy) some of those ingredients, you can definitely still make a very delicious pasta salad with only some of them.
Want more lower-carb ideas for pasta salad?
Check out No-Pasta Salad with Zucchini and Italian Sausage for a low-carb and gluten-free salad with similar flavors to this one. You might also like my vegetarian Pesto Pasta Salad that’s made with Palmini Low-Carb Linguini (affiliate link).
How to Make Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Start a big pot of salted water boiling. When water boils, add pasta, reduce heat, and cook until pasta is al dente. (We cooked the Fiber Gourmet Light Penne nearly 20 minutes; check time on package for other types of pasta.)
- Cut up zucchini, then cook about 3-5 minutes in barely simmering water and drain well.
- While the zucchini cooks mix the basil pesto into the dressing.
- Marinate zucchini in 1/4 cup of the dressing. Marinate at least 20-30 minutes marinating time to add flavor.
- Brown sausage well until it’s fully cooked. .
- Drain red peppers, then chop up peppers into bite-sized pieces.
- Drain olives, then cut into halves or slices.
- When the sausage is well browned, let it cool enough to handle. Then cut into slices about 3/8 inch thick.
- As soon as it’s al dente, drain pasta well. Let pasta cool for a few minutes.
- Then mix together drained pasta, cooled sausage, diced red peppers, and sliced olives.
- Stir in the marinated zucchini with any dressing that’s in the bag.
- Gently mix in the rest of the dressing (or as much as you prefer), and Parmesan cheese.
- The salad is best when it chills in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Leftovers will stay good in the fridge for quite a few days.
More Tasty Recipes with Italian Sausage:
- Deconstructed Pizza Casserole
- Sausage, Peppers, and Mushrooms Low-Carb Cheesy Bake
- Italian Sausage and Sweet Mini Peppers Sheet Pan Meal
- Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza-Stuffed Peppers
- No-Noodle Lasagna with Sausage and Basil
Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers
T๏ปฟhis pasta salad recipe has Italian Sausage, zucchini, olives, and roasted red peppers, and this is a big hit at Denny family parties! And we loved this salad made with the new Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta for a lower-carb version.
Ingredients
- 3 small zucchini, cut in fourths lengthwise, then cut into pieces
- 5 links turkey or pork Italian Sausage
- 8 oz. Fiber Gourmet Light Penne (or other pasta of your choice, see notes above)
- one 6 oz. can black olives
- one 12 oz. jar roasted red bell peppers
- 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for adding at the table
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup Newmanโs Own Classic Oil and Vinegar salad dressing (see notes)
- 1/4 cup basil pesto (see notes)
Instructions
- Start a large pot of salted water boiling to cook the pasta.
- When water boils, add pasta, stir, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until pasta is al dente. (We cooked the Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta nearly 20 minutes, but I would start checking at the recommended cooking time of 15-17 minutes. For other types of pasta, check the package for cooking time.)
- Cut ends off zucchini, cut into fourths, and then cut the strips into pieces. Cook zucchini just 3-5 minutes in barely simmering water; then drain well.
- While zucchini cooks mix the basil pesto into the salad dressing.
- Marinate the drained zucchini in about 1/4 cup of the dressing. Marinate it for an hour or so if you can, but even 20-30 minutes marinating time will add flavor.
- Brown the sausage well on all sides until it's fully cooked. When it's brown, let sausage cool until it's cool enough to cut.
- Drain roasted red peppers, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Drain the can of olives, then cut olives in half (or in slices.)
- When sausage is cool, cut into slices about 3/8 inch thick.
- As soon as it is done to al dente, drain the pasta in a colander placed in the sink. Let pasta cool a few minutes.
- Then mix together the drained pasta, sausage slices, diced red pepper, and olives.
- Then mix in the marinated zucchini and any dressing in the bag. Mix in the rest of the dressing (or as much as you prefer) and the Parmesan cheese.
- The salad is best when it chills in the fridge for at least an hour.
- Leftovers will stay good in the fridge for quite a few days.
Notes
I use Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing (affiliate link) because it's low in sugar; use any low-sugar vinaigrette you prefer. If you're making it in the summer months when fresh basil is plentiful you could substitute 1/4 cup (or more) fresh-chopped basil for the pesto mixed into the dressing.
This salad is great with roasted peppers from a jar, but if you want to bump up the flavor with freshly roasted red peppers, here isย How to Roast Red Bell Peppers on a Barbecue Grill.
This recipe created by Kalyn many years ago to make a pasta salad with favorite ingredients.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 529Total Fat 37gSaturated Fat 9.1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 28.3gCholesterol 35mgSodium 747mgCarbohydrates 32gFiber 12.8gSugar 6.1gProtein 16.5g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
When made with the Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta, this pasta salad recipe would work for low-carb diets, but not Keto. Using whole-grain pasta and turkey Italian Sausage could make this a personal choice for phase two or three of the original South Beach Diet, but it’s still probably a “once in a while treat” if you’re actively dieting, due to the amount of cheese and the fat content.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Salad Recipes for more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalynโs Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes Iโm sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2007! The photos were updated in 2013, when I accidentally made the salad a week early for a family party. The post was updated again with more information and options for a low-carb pasta salad in 2023.
26 Comments on “Pasta Salad with Sausage, Zucchini, Olives, and Peppers”
Have you tried edamame pasta? There are several brands, the one my grocery store carries is by Explore Cuisine. I really like it, but the texture isn’t right for a pasta salad. I’m curious to try this brand!!
I haven’t but my niece Kara has a son who’s gluten-free so she is always trying different pastas for him.
We both love this Fiber Gourmet Light Pasta the best of all the alternative pastas we have tried, even though it’s definitely pricey.
Pingback: No-Pasta Low-Carb Salad with Zucchini, Italian Sausage, Red Pepper, and Olives | Good Cookery
Thanks Kelly. So glad you like it and especially glad you like the photos. Like I told Dara, I am trying!
This is total comfort food! Definitely awesome when something not quite planned turns out so well. Droolworthy photos of a recipe I have to try.
Thanks Lydia. I admit, I am really enjoying updating these old favorite recipes.
So much fun to see the old photos with the new!
Thanks Dara. I appreciate that so much. I'm working on it!
Not only does this pasta salad look great, but that photo…gorgeous!
Beachchica, how fun. This is a big favorite in my family.
My BF and I made this salad together…he actually grilled the turkey sausage and I prepped the rest. We used the dreamfields pasta and it turned out wonderful. It is so pretty and tasty! Great summer salad. I am loving all these 'salads' that are full of things other than lettuce!
Anonymous, thanks, and so glad you like the looks of the blog.
holy crap! i just discovered this blog (googled tzatziki sauce)and have printed out like 5 recipes already! Lovin it so far… will get back on the recipes when i make them.
Duh, I just noticed in the comment to Nyla I wrote “I don’t know if every Dreamfields has it” and I meant to write “I don’t know if every Smiths has it.” (This is what happens when I frantically try to respond to comments when the students are at recess.)
Chris, be brave. The marinated zucchini actually tastes great.
Ruth, I love my new red bowl. Have a new green one just like it too.
Brady, pine nuts sound like a great addition. There’s no reason you can’t have them on South Beach, but keep in mind that they are adding more fat to something that has quite a bit of fat already (with cheese and oil in the dressing.) I bet they’d be great though!
Kalyn-
As always this looks delicious. I will be making this one. However, I thought I might add some pine nuts, are they South Beach approved? I’ve been making a lot of your recipes lately (trying to lose that pesky baby weight!)
Thanks for the wonderful, healthy choices!
Brady
It does look wonderful. I love the red bowl that adds to the party feel!
Thanks so much for taking part in Presto Pasta Night. Hope you’ll be back soon with more South Beach Diet friendly pasta recipes.
Wow! Every ingredient in here is fabulous, except for maybe the zucchini. But, I think I could tolerate the veggie if it gets mixed with all these other yummy foods….Great recipe!
Valentina, thanks. I’m guessing it would be good with lots of variations for the meat or vegetables I used. I keep meaning to try making it with marinated mushrooms. I think that would be a good addition. And I don’t think I’m that amazing, but I do try and thanks for noticing.
Polly, keep meaning to try Barilla Plus. I’ve heard good things about it from other people too. Your baked pasta dish sounds fantastic.
Laurie, thanks.
so good my new favorite dish.
Yum, that looks great. I’m a big fan of pasta salad, especially if it’s heavy on the veggies!
Incidentally, I make a hot casserole very similar to what you described in this post. In a non-stick pan, I cook turkey sausage, with onions and various other veggies, then toss with some chopped tomatoes and a little bit of shredded cheese and some al dente penne (I prefer Barilla Plus) and pop it all in the oven for about 10 minutes. I get lots of compliments on this!
Kalyn, I really love this recipe. What a great dish. Unfortunatelly I have no italian ( or similar sausages) at home tonigh, not the peppers.I will improvise a bit and use chicken and normal peppers – just to make do.When I get those two ingredients over the weekend I will have to prepare the dish again ( oh, such hard work!! ; o ).
I love the step by step photoes plus all the other recipes to use italian sausage. YOu are amazing. I have to say.
Lydia and Michelle, thanks.
Nyla, all the Smith’s stores where I shop (2100 South and 5th South) carry Dreamfields. I don’t know if every Dreamfields has it, but those two do for sure.
Kalyn
Is there a local source (south Salt Lake area) where I can find Dreamfields pasta? I’ve looked but can’t find it. Thanks for terrific recipes.
Nyla
This looks scrumptious! MMMMM! ๐
That looks just like my kind of thing, with or without the turkey sausage. Wonderful recipe!