Elevate your pasta game with this vibrant and refreshing Spaghetti Salad, a crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, or light lunches. Bursting with the crisp crunch of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, and enhanced by the savory punch of black olives, red onion, and grated parmesan, this chilled pasta salad is beautifully balanced by its zesty Italian dressing. With just 20 minutes of prep time, this easy-to-make recipe combines classic Mediterranean flavors with the satisfying texture of al dente spaghetti. Topped with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, it’s a versatile, make-ahead dish that’s as visually appealing as it is delicious. Serve chilled for a delightful burst of flavor in every bite! Keywords: Spaghetti Salad, easy pasta salad, Italian dressing, Mediterranean-inspired recipe, quick summer recipe.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside to cool completely.
While the spaghetti cools, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Peel and dice the cucumber. Dice the red bell pepper. Thinly slice the red onion. Slice the black olives if they are whole.
Finely chop the fresh parsley and set it aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled spaghetti with the prepared vegetables: cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and black olives.
Pour the Italian dressing over the spaghetti and vegetables. Add the salt and black pepper. Using tongs or a large spoon, toss everything together until evenly coated.
Add the grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, and gently toss again to combine.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve the spaghetti salad chilled, garnished with additional parsley or parmesan if desired. Enjoy!
Calories |
1327 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 55.2 g | 71% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.8 g | 79% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 13.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 44 mg | 15% | |
| Sodium | 3461 mg | 150% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 168.9 g | 61% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 17.1 g | 61% | |
| Total Sugars | 36.5 g | ||
| Protein | 44.9 g | 90% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 727 mg | 56% | |
| Iron | 15.8 mg | 88% | |
| Potassium | 1924 mg | 41% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.