Go to Homepage
Get Our Cookbook

    Gyro Pasta Salad

    August 9, 2024

    This hearty pasta salad recipe celebrates Mediterranean flavors that make gyros so delicious, and a creamy yogurt dressing brings it all together.

    Categories

    • Summer
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    gyro pasta salad with sausage, olives, parsley, red onion, feta, tomatoes & cucumbers in a Greek yogurt dressing
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    Our families adore gyros in all shapes and forms. That’s why we’ve shared recipes for homemade Gyro Meat, Gyro Bowls and even Chicken Gyros. But today, we’re taking what we love about gyros to new heights with this over-the-top delicious gyro pasta salad recipe. Full of Italian sausage, gyro pasta salad is super hearty and could easily be dinner, maybe served with some veggies or a big salad on the side. It’d also make an ideal quick weekday lunch that you could meal prep on Sunday and enjoy well into the week. For even more pasta salad ideas, check out our very best Summer Salads!

    pasta, Italian sausage, greek olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, parsley, feta, olive oil, salt & pepper in prep bowls

    Ingredients

    For the gyro pasta salad:

    • Italian Sausage. Look for the kid that is already fully cooked when you buy it, and feel free to use either chicken or pork, whatever you prefer.

    • Pasta. Most any small pasta shape will work here; bow ties, penne, fusilli and rigatoni are a few of our favorite pasta shapes for pasta salads.

    • All the Greek herbs that make gyros taste like gyros! Thyme, garlic, cumin, oregano.

    • Salt & pepper. Always!

    • Extra virgin olive oil.

    • Greek olives. You could just use kalamatas, but we love to get the herby Greek olive mix from the olive bar for extra flavor and a little variety.

    • Fresh parsley. A little lift for a hefty pasta salad.

    • Red onion. A hint of sharpness to counteract the creamy yogurt dressing and rich sausage.

    • Feta cheese. Salty, sharp, and oh-so-delicious, it’s a must.

    • Cherry tomatoes. A vegetable! OK, a fruit. But something fresh and juicy to make this pasta salad feel summery.

    • Cucumbers. For us, Greek food almost always has to have cucumbers. We like to use English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers because they don’t have to be peeled. Literally who has the time?

    For the creamy yogurt dressing:

    • Greek yogurt. Full fat, plain Greek yogurt will give the best result here.

    • Mayonnaise. What is pasta salad without mayo? We don’t even want to know.

    • Extra virgin olive oil.

    • 2 kinds of garlic: Fresh garlic AND granulated garlic! We’re not messing around.

    • Lemon. Adds the zing that brings this dressing to life!

    • Dill. Dried dill is one of our favorite herbs — it perks up this dressing so much, don’t skip it!

    thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil being combined in a bowl
    sliced Italian sausage being tossed with thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil
    sliced Italian sausage tossed with thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil cooked in a skillet
    Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, dill, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper being combined in a bowl

    How To Make Gyro Pasta Salad

    1. Cook the pasta until it is al dente! Usually, that means a full minute (or even 2 minutes) less than the package suggests.

    2. Chop up all the veggies and olives!

    3. Slice the sausages, and toss them with the oil and herbs.

    4. Sauté the sausages. It should be smelling like gyros by now!

    5. Let the sausages and pasta cool a bit while you mix together the creamy dressing.

    6. Combine the veggies, pasta, sausages and dressing. Wonder at your handiwork! Chill the finished pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving.

    creamy yogurt dressing made with Greek yogurt, Mayo, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, dill, granulated garlic, salt & pepper
    Italian sausage, pasta, greek olives, parsley, red onion, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers being combined in a bowl

    How To Store Leftover Pasta Salad + Tips

    • Leftover pasta salad will keep for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. However…

    • If the pasta salad has sat out on a warm day — think on a side dish table at your family’s latest cookout or block party — you may want to consider composting or throwing out the leftovers. Mayonnaise-based salads like this pasta salad recipe are notoriously sensitive to heat. According to the USDA, they should not sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, and not more than 1 hour if it is a hot day (over 90°F).

    • If you’re serving a vegetarian crowd, you could easily swap in a delicious meatless Italian sausage. There are many options out there, just pick one with herbs that sound yummy to you!

    gyro pasta salad with sausage, olives, parsley, red onion, feta cheese, tomatoes & cucumbers in a Greek yogurt dressing
    gyro pasta salad with sausage, olives, parsley, red onion, feta cheese, tomatoes & cucumbers in a Greek yogurt dressing

    More Hearty Homemade Salad Recipes

    Side Dishes — Sorted!

    For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper. Happy cooking!

    💌 Let's Stay Together

    There are so many great ways to receive all of our latest recipes, meal tips, and inspiration.

    Gyro Pasta Salad

    August 9, 2024

    • Serves:  10
    • Prep Time:  30 min
    • Cook Time:  15 min
    • Calories:  302
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Related Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 1 teaspoon ground thyme
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • ½ teaspoons kosher salt
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 12 ounces (fully cooked) Italian Sausage (chicken or pork), cut into ½ inch-thick slices
    • 1 pound dry pasta of your choice, cooked then cooled (we like penne)
    • 1 cup mixed Greek olives, pitted and halved
    • ⅓ cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
    • ¼ red onion, finely chopped
    • 4 ounces crumbled feta
    • 12 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 cup diced cucumbers (about 1 small cucumber)

    Dressing

    • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 large garlic clove, grated, plus more to taste
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
    • 1½ teaspoons dried dill
    • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

    Method

    1. In a large bowl, combine the thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil. Add the sausage and toss until fully coated.

      sliced Italian sausage being tossed with thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil

    2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage in a single layer and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Return the sausage to the large bowl.

      sliced Italian sausage tossed with thyme, granulated garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt, and olive oil cooked in a skillet

    3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a medium bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, dill, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper.

      creamy yogurt dressing made with Greek yogurt, Mayo, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, dill, granulated garlic, salt & pepper

    4. Add the cooked pasta, olives, parsley, red onion, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers to the bowl with the sausage and toss to combine. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until fully coated.

      Italian sausage, pasta, greek olives, parsley, red onion, feta, tomatoes, and cucumbers being combined in a bowl

    5. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

      gyro pasta salad with sausage, olives, parsley, red onion, feta cheese, tomatoes & cucumbers in a Greek yogurt dressing

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 302
    • Protein 9 g
    • Carbohydrates 31 g
    • Total Fat 16 g
    • Dietary Fiber 2 g
    • Cholesterol 15 mg
    • sodium 417 mg
    • Total Sugars 3 g

    Gyro Pasta Salad

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

    or

      Any questions?

      Need to change up some ingredients? Unsure about a step in the method? Click the Ask a Question button above. We’re here for you.

    • Michelle

      Where has this been all my life? 5 Stars! Loved adding all the spices to the sausage and the dressing was delightful.

      Thanks Michelle, we are so happy you loved it!