Spaghetti Pasta Salad is light, chilled and full of zesty flavor. The noodles and vegetables are coated in a tangy Italian dressing, so it’s great for summer dinners, potlucks or BBQs.
Summer salads are some of my favorite recipes. Two that my family loves are my Apple Carrot Slaw and my Antipasto Misto Salad.
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Why this Spaghetti Pasta Salad Recipe is a Keeper
I love this side dish because it’s a quick, easy and absolutely delicious. It’s the perfect summer pasta salad to accompany weeknight dinners or backyard potlucks.
- Easy Side Dish: Simple ingredients and easy prep make this a reliable favorite.
- Perfect for Entertaining: Feeds a crowd and travels well for parties.
- Fresh Flavor: Italian dressing and crisp vegetables keep every bite flavorful.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Tastes even better after chilling.
- Serve With: Serve this cold spaghetti pasta salad recipe with Spicy Roasted Chicken Legs or BBQ Chicken Sliders.
How Do you Keep Spaghetti Salad Recipe from Drying Out?
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The most common culprit for a dry pasta salad is not enough dressing. You really want to add a good amount of dressing to keep everything moist and flavorful.
Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not overcook the spaghetti. Slightly firm pasta holds up much better after chilling and mixing with dressing.
Easy Pasta Salad Ingredient Notes
This cold pasta spaghetti salad uses easy, fresh ingredients that pack a punch of flavor.
This is an overview of key ingredients. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Thin Spaghetti: This recipe specifically uses al dente spaghetti noodles, but you could use a different pasta shape like rotini pasta.
- Fresh Vegetables: You will need Roma tomatoes, broccoli, cucumber, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and red onion. You will also need black olives, but those come in a can.
- Italian Salad Dressing: Use your favorite Italian salad dressing. This will be the base for your cold pasta salad dressing. Try it with a delicious italian dressing recipe Zesty Italian Dressing.
Variations and Substitutions to Make this Spaghetti Salad
Feel free to use different ingredients to experiment with flavors.
➡️ Add Protein: Toss the pasta with diced salami, grilled chicken, or pepperoni.
➡️ Swap Fresh Veggies: Try it with cherry tomatoes, white onion or carrots to switch it up.
➡️ Boost Flavor: Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley, or seasoning blends like McCormick salad supreme seasoning or Italian Seasoning. You can also add in cubed cheddar cheese.
➡️ Make It Creamy: Mix in a small amount of mayo for a creamy homemade Italian dressing.
Kitchen Tools To Make Spaghetti Salad Easier
California spaghetti salad can be made much faster and easier if using the right tools.
- Large Mixing Bowl: Makes tossing long noodles easier without spilling.
- Salad Spinner: Helps vegetables stay crisp and dry before mixing.
How to Make Easy Spaghetti Salad with Italian Dressing
This Italian spaghetti salad recipe comes together in 3 quick and easy steps. It’s so good, it quickly became a picnic favorite.
These are just highlights. Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Cook the Spaghetti & Add Veggies: Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water, and set aside for later. Add the diced tomatoes, broccoli, cucumber, bell peppers, onion and olives to a large bowl.
- Make the Dressing: In another bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, All Purpose Seasoning, paprika and celery seed.
- Assemble & Chill: Add the cooked and cooled spaghetti to the veggie bowl, and pour the dressing. Toss to make sure everything is well coated before you cover and let chill to serve cold.
Prep Ahead and Short Cut Tips for Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
When I prepare ingredients ahead of time, it can help save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner.
➡️ Cook Spaghetti Early: Refrigerate cooled spaghetti noodles ahead of time for faster assembly.
➡️ Chop Vegetables Ahead: Chop tomato, cucumber and onion. Store separately until mixing.
➡️ Reserve Dressing: Freshen the salad before serving with extra dressing.
➡️ Use Pre-Cut Vegetables: Saves prep time for busy days.
Alternate Cooking Methods for Cold Spaghetti Pasta Salad
You can serve this easy spaghetti salad recipe another way by making it gluten-free or into individual servings.
- Use Whole Wheat Pasta: Adds extra fiber while maintaining texture.
- Try Gluten-Free Pasta: Chill carefully and avoid overmixing since gluten-free noodles can break more easily.
- Serve in Individual Cups: Great for parties and cookouts.
Can Cold Spaghetti Salad Recipe be Made Ahead?
Yes, feel free to make this easy cold spaghetti salad a day or so ahead so that the flavors have time to marinate together.
Store and Use Leftover Pasta Salad with Spaghetti Noodles
- Storing: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Using Leftovers: Refresh leftovers with a splash of dressing before serving again.
Expert Tips for Making Easy Spaghetti Pasta Salad
➡️ Rinse Briefly: Cooling the pasta quickly stops cooking and prevents sticking.
➡️ Dress While Slightly Warm: Pasta absorbs flavor better before fully chilled.
➡️ Cut Evenly: Uniform vegetables improve texture and presentation.
➡️ Don’t Oversoak: Too much dressing at once can soften vegetables.
➡️ Chill Thoroughly: The flavor improves after resting in the refrigerator.
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Summer Spaghetti Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
Salad
- 1 pound Spaghetti, broken in half
- 3 Rroma tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 2 cups Broccoli florets
- 1 Cucumber, diced
- 1 Green bell pepper, diced
- 1 Red bell pepper, diced
- 1 Red onion, diced
- 4.5 ounces Black olives, 2 cans, 2.25 ounces each; drained
Dressing
- 16 ounces Italian salad dressing
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Celery seed
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, add tomatoes, broccoli, cucumber, bell peppers, onion and olives.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together Italian salad dressing, parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, House Seasoning Blend, paprika and celery seed.
- Pour over salad and toss until coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
Christina’s Notes
- Cool Pasta: Rinse the pasta in cold water to quickly stop cooking and prevent sticking.
- Add Dressing While Warm: Warm pasta absorbs dressing better than chilled.
- Even Veggies: Cut the vegetables evenly to improve texture and presentation.
- Chill Thoroughly: Let the salad chill in the fridge for a while so the flavor can improve.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.