Description
This vibrant Spaghetti Salad is a perfect dish for summer picnics, potlucks, or BBQs! It’s a refreshing and satisfying cold pasta salad featuring tender spaghetti noodles, colorful vegetables, and a tangy dressing. Easy to prepare and full of flavor, this salad can be customized with your favorite add-ins like olives, cheese, or meats. A great side dish or light meal for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 8 oz (about 1/2 box) spaghetti pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced (optional)
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional, for sweetness)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
Instructions
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Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down quickly. Set aside.
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Prepare the Vegetables:
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion. Set aside along with the olives and feta cheese (if using).
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Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey (if using), minced garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
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Combine the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped vegetables, olives, and feta cheese (if using). Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss everything together until evenly coated.
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Chill:
- Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. You can make this salad up to a few hours in advance.
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Serve:
- Before serving, toss again and garnish with fresh parsley for added color and flavor. Enjoy your chilled spaghetti salad as a refreshing side dish or light meal!
Notes
- This salad can be customized with different veggies, such as bell peppers, cucumbers, or even artichoke hearts.
- For added protein, you can toss in grilled chicken, tuna, or shrimp.
- If you prefer a creamier dressing, you can substitute some of the olive oil with mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.
- This salad keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days, making it great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Lunch
- Method: Mixing, Chilling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg