Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
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.
- Author: reem
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
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
- 1–1/2 teaspoons sesame seeds
- 1–1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cook the Spaghetti: Cook the thin spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, diced tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green pepper, and red pepper.
- 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.
- Toss Everything Together: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until well coated.
- 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
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 cup)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 3mg
Keywords: Italian Spaghetti Salad, pasta salad, summer salad, BBQ side dish, Italian dressing