The ultimate cookout dish
When it comes to summer side dishes, few recipes deliver comfort and bold flavours quite like my blue cheeseburger pasta salad. This dish is guaranteed to become a favourite for cookouts, potlucks and family dinners.
There is something irresistible about the combination of rich blue cheese, savoury beef, crisp vegetables and tender pasta. It captures everything I love about a hamburger stuffed with bluecheese, but transformed into a cold, picnic friendly dish that I can throw in my bag pack and bring with me on my bike excursions all summer.
Inspired by the popularity of cheeseburger-style salads and pasta dishes. This recipe brings bold burger flavours into a refreshing format that is easy to make ahead and even easier to enjoy.
What makes this pasta salad stand out is the blue cheese. Tangy, sharp flavours adds a gourmet twist that takes the dish beyond a traditional cheeseburger salad. Pair the salad with a rich, creamy blue cheese dressing to tie together the flavours and textures. The dressing adds a delicious depth that transforms a simple pasta salad into something memorable. The creamy dressing balances the richness of the meat while adding a cool, refreshing element that makes the salad perfect for warm-weather gatherings.
One of the best things about blue cheeseburger pasta salad is its versatility. You can make it for a casual family dinner, pack it for lunch throughout the week, or bring it to your next cookout. It is hearty, refreshing and packed with the bold cheeseburger inspired taste that keeps everyone coming back for another scoop.
Substitutes
I deliberately left out the kind of pasta to use for this recipe, as I usually use what I have at home. When making a pasta salad I often use leftover pasta from yesterday’s dinner or stacked in the freezer from last month’s dinner.
For a different version, add my easy chicken fingers instead of the hamburger to add to the salad. The chicken fingers goes perfectly well with the creamy blue cheese dressing as well.
Freezable
As I mentioned above, I often take the pasta from the freezer and use it in pasta salads. The same for the blue cheese burger which freezes very well.
However, once the salad is assembled it does not freeze very well, but it stays fresh in the fridge for about three days.
Big Batch Cooking Tips
Make the hamburgers in the oven, where you can fit several patties at the same time. Then freeze flat for an easy meal prep.
Other recipes for you to enjoy
My pasta salads stem from this basic pasta salad that I make all the time, using whichever vegetables I have at home.
For more summery salad recipes, check out my pinterest board dedicated to just that.
This salad feels special enough for entertaining but simple enough for a weeknight meal. Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue, attending a neighborhood potluck, or preparing lunches for the week. This recipe delivers satisfying flavour in every forkful.
Blue cheeseburger pasta salad
Ingredients
Pasta salad base
- 350 g uncooked pasta
- 1 cucumber
- 1 shallot or two small
- 2 bell peppers
- 250 g Tomatoes plum and cherry
- 200 g fresh spinach or other green leaves
Blue cheese hamburger patties
- 250 g minced meat
- 90 g blue cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ onion
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
Blue cheese dressing
- 150 g blue cheese
- 200 ml Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Pasta salad base
- Cook 350 g uncooked pasta according to instructions on package.
- Drain the pasta in a colander. Then rinse in cold water which will help speed up the process of mixing the salad. See notes below.
- Slice and quarter 1 cucumber
- Peel and dice 1 shallot or two small
- Chop 2 bell peppers
- Cut 250 g Tomatoes in half.
- Rinse and drain 200 g fresh spinach
- Mix all vegetables with the pasta and set aside.
Blue cheese hamburger patties
- Take out 250 g minced meat and let it come to room temperature.
- Chop 1/2 onion
- Mix the minced meat with the chopped onion and 1 egg
- Slice 90 g blue cheese in five equal pieces.
- Form five hamburger patties of 100g each.
- Put one pieces of blue cheese on each hamburger patty and cover with mince meat.
- Add 1 tbsp cooking oil to a hot pan and cook your hamburger patties for about five minutes on each side, press down with your spatula to make them flatter.
- If you are unsure if they are cooked all the way through, put the patties in a hot oven for a few minutes.
- Leave to cool before adding to the salad. See tips below.
- Once cooled cut the blue cheese hamburgers and add to your pasta salad.
Blue cheese dressing
- Crumble 150 g blue cheese in a bowl.
- Add 200 ml Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp mayonnaise and A pinch of salt
- Mix thoroughly. Chill until need it.
- Mix the dressing with the completed pasta salad
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