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Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe

Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe

5.3 from 20 reviews

Italian Spaghetti Salad is a refreshing and colorful pasta salad that combines tender spaghetti with crisp veggies and a tangy Italian dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings, BBQs, or as a light lunch option, this salad is versatile and delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Thin Spaghetti Salad:

  • 16 ounces thin spaghetti, halved
  • 3 medium tomatoes, diced
  • 3 small zucchini, diced
  • 1 large cucumber, halved, seeded, and diced
  • 1 medium green pepper, diced
  • 1 medium red pepper, diced
  • 8 ounces Italian salad dressing
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 11/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
  • 11/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Cook the Spaghetti: Cook the thin spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, diced tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green pepper, and red pepper.
  3. Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Italian salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
  4. Toss Everything Together: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well coated.
  5. Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving, if desired.

Notes

  • If thin spaghetti is not available, you can substitute with regular spaghetti or angel hair pasta.
  • For a different flavor, you can experiment with alternative dressings like balsamic vinaigrette or Greek dressing.
  • Leftover salad should be refrigerated and consumed within a few days for the best taste.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian Spaghetti Salad, pasta salad, summer salad, BBQ side dish, Italian dressing