Cold Spaghetti Pasta Salad
As the warm weather approaches, our cravings shift towards light and refreshing dishes that can be enjoyed at summer gatherings, potlucks, or a simple family meal. This Cold Spaghetti Pasta Salad recipe contains garden vegetables, a simple dressing and seasoning mix, and thin spaghetti noodles. Not only is this pasta salad easy to prepare, but also bursting with flavors and colors that are sure to have your guests asking for the recipe.
We love a good summer salad at our house. This salad was definitely inspired by a combination of different recipes, including the grinder pasta salad, the sweet macaroni salad, the Italian antipasto salad, and the pepperoni pizza tortellini pasta salad.
Ingredients for Spaghetti Pasta Salad
The ingredients for cold spaghetti salad are easy to adjust to your liking or even what you have available in the garden.
- Thin Spaghetti: I prefer thin spaghetti, but regular spaghetti can work, too.
- Cherry tomatoes: Sweet cherry or grape tomatoes are easy to slice in half and toss in this salad.
- Cucumber: Any size cucumber can work, I love the smaller ones so I can just slice them and toss in salads.
- Celery: Dice up celery for extra crunch in this salad. I love the flavor celery leaves gie to the salad too.
- Carrots: Any size of carrots works for this salad, but I always have petite carrots in the fridge, so that is what I used for this salad.
- Bell peppers: Green and red peppers have different flavors and if you don’t think they do, you can use just one color. I used both green and mini red, yellow, and orange peppers.
- Red onion: Red onions are the best onions raw in salads.
- Radishes: Not everyone loves radishes
- Black olives: Make your life easier and by a can of the sliced olives, drain and toss them in.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated parmesan cheese that comes in the plastic jar is perfect but shredded parmesan cheese can also be used.
- Italian Salad Dressing: Our go-to Italian dressing recipe is the Olive Garden Italian dressing. You can use your favorite salad dressing or make your own Italian Dressing.
- Perfect Pinch Salad: This bottle of supreme salad seasoning is a flavorful seasoning with Paprika, Poppy Seed, Celery Seed, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, and Sesame seeds.
- Herbs: You can add fresh herbs like basil, parsley or oregano to the salad too.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Spaghetti Pasta Salad?
Start making this Italian pasta salad by cooking the spaghetti according to the package instructions until it reaches an al dente texture. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the spaghetti is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumbers, celery, carrots and bell pepper, slice the radishes, and finely chop the red onion.
- Make the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled spaghetti, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion. Pour the Italian dressing over the vegetables.
- Season and Toss: Sprinkle the salad supreme over the top, and toss until everything is well coated.
- Combine and Chill: Then add the halved tomatoes, black olives, and parmesan cheese. Toss to combine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
Serve and Enjoy: Give the salad a good toss to redistribute the dressing before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve chilled and enjoy this refreshing dish!
This cold spaghetti Salad is a versatile and delicious side dish that brings together the freshness of summer vegetables and the heartiness of pasta. Perfect for any occasion, it’s sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
Hint: Spaghetti pasta salad tastes even better when made a few hours ahead or the day before, as the flavors have more time to develop.
Substitutions
Here are some great substitutions for the ingredients in the Spaghetti Pasta Salad recipe to accommodate various preferences and dietary needs:
Pasta Substitutions
- Gluten-Free Spaghetti: Use a gluten-free variety to make the dish suitable for those with gluten intolerance.
- Whole Wheat Spaghetti: For a healthier, fiber-rich option.
- Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles): A low-carb alternative.
- Other Pasta Shapes: Such as penne, rotini, or bowtie pasta for a different texture.
Vegetable Substitutions
- Cherry Tomatoes: Use grape tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or diced regular tomatoes.
- Cucumber: Substitute with zucchini or celery for a similar crunch.
- Red Bell Pepper: Use any color of bell pepper (yellow, green, or orange), or try roasted red peppers for a smoky flavor.
- Red Onion: Substitute with green onions (scallions), shallots, or sweet onions.
- Black Olives: Use green olives, Kalamata olives, or omit them if you’re not a fan.
Cheese Substitutes
- Parmesan Cheese: Use feta cheese, goat cheese, mozzarella balls (bocconcini), or shredded Italian cheese for a different but complementary taste.
- Dairy-Free: Use a dairy-free feta alternative or omit the cheese altogether.
Feel free to mix and match these substitutions to cater to your preferences and dietary requirements. The beauty of a pasta salad lies in its versatility and ability to adapt to whatever ingredients you have on hand. Enjoy experimenting and creating your perfect version of this delightful Spaghetti Pasta Salad!
Variations
Exploring different variations of the Spaghetti Pasta Salad can make this dish even more exciting and tailored to specific tastes. Here are some creative ideas to diversify your salad:
1. Mediterranean Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Add artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and capers.
- Cheese: Use crumbled feta cheese or fresh mozzarella balls.
- Herbs: Incorporate fresh oregano and mint.
- Dressing: Enhance the dressing with a splash of lemon juice and a teaspoon of dried oregano.
2. Greek Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Include sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and bell peppers.
- Cheese: Use feta cheese.
- Herbs: Add fresh dill and mint.
- Dressing: Mix in some Greek yogurt to the dressing for a creamy texture.
3. Antipasto Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Include marinated artichokes, olives, roasted red peppers, salami, pepperoni, and thinly sliced prosciutto.
- Cheese: Use mozzarella balls or shaved Parmesan.
- Herbs: Fresh basil and oregano.
- Dressing: Add a splash of balsamic vinegar and a teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
4. Southwestern Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Add black beans, corn, diced avocado, and cherry tomatoes.
- Cheese: Use crumbled cotija or shredded cheddar cheese.
- Herbs: Include fresh cilantro.
- Dressing: Replace the red wine vinegar with lime juice and add a teaspoon of cumin and chili powder.
5. Asian-Inspired Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Add shredded carrots, bell peppers, edamame, and chopped peanuts.
- Cheese: Omit cheese or use a small amount of shredded mozzarella.
- Herbs: Use fresh cilantro and mint.
- Dressing: Create an Asian-style dressing with soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and a touch of honey or brown sugar.
6. Caprese Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Add cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and fresh basil leaves.
- Cheese: Stick with mozzarella.
- Herbs: Use plenty of fresh basil.
- Dressing: Drizzle with a balsamic reduction and olive oil.
7. Protein-Packed Spaghetti Pasta Salad
- Ingredients: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein.
- Cheese: Stick with your favorite cheese, such as feta or Parmesan.
- Herbs: Use a blend of fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and chives.
- Dressing: Keep the original dressing or add a tablespoon of Greek yogurt for creaminess.
See this spicy version of this recipe on my website! (placeholder for in-content link)
Pasta Salad Essentials
The right kitchen equipment and ingredients to make the cold spaghetti pasta salad are all in the Amazon store front. Checkout my favorite knives, seasonings, and serving bowls.
Storing Pasta Salad
This recipe keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The flavors enhance each day.
Top tip
Cool Pasta Completely
- Why: Mixing warm pasta with other ingredients can cause them to wilt or become soggy.
- How: After rinsing the pasta under cold water, let it drain thoroughly and cool completely before combining it with other salad components.
FAQ
Yes! Any pasta can be used for a pasta salad. This recipe shows you how to make a spaghetti pasta salad recipe.
For the best pasta salad, you want to cook the pasta al dente, which is normally accomplished when you cook the pasta for a minute or two less than the package instructions.
More Salad Recipes
Looking for other salad recipes like this? Try these:
Summer Grilling Recipes
These are my favorite summer entree recipes to serve with this cold spaghetti salad:
Cold Spaghetti Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound Thin Spaghetti
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 whole red onion
- ½ cup celery
- ½ cup carrots
- 1 cup cucumbers
- 1 cup bell pepper
- 6 radishes
- ½ cup block olives
- 24 ounces Italian Dressing Salad Dressing
- 2 tablespoons Salad Supreme Seasoning
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions minus one to two minutes and then chill with cold water as soon as it is cooked. While the pasta cooks, cut up the vegetables.
- Place the cooked pasta in a large bowl.
- Top with chopped cucumbers, peppers, onions, celery, carrots. Toss
- Pour Italian dressing over the top, sprinkle with the salad supreme seasoning and toss salad to coat the salad in the dressing.
- Add the black olives, halved tomatoes, and parmesan cheese to the salad. Stir to combine.
- Cover the bowl with a lid or saran wrap and refrigerate over night or for a few hours before serving.
Nutrition
- Spicy Street Corn Chili with Ground Pork – Easy Street Corn Soup - March 1, 2025
- Crispy Dry-Rubbed Smoked Chicken Wings (The Baking Powder Secret!) - February 9, 2025
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Ravioli Bake - February 3, 2025
What size bottle of Italian dressing?
This was a 24 ounce bottle.