Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
Light and fresh, enjoy this cold spaghetti salad, Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe. A spaghetti salad recipe with Italian dressing, and other fresh garden ingredients. Use your favorite pasta and Parmesan cheese, and add either salami or pepperoni is delicious. Serve cold, great for any potluck! Watch the video!
Friends, we’ve been trying to get together with some good friends from out of town.
It’s hard to get a date on the calendar sometimes, and it takes work and intention to make it happen.
Cold Spaghetti Salad
Just in time, we got a date on the calendar for friends to join us for dinner. Of course, because it’s spring and summer entertaining season, this cold spaghetti salad is perfect to serve with this pepperoncini steak.
This a a spaghetti salad recipe with Italian dressing, and other fresh garden ingredients. Everyone loves it.
Our son asked, are you going to go to your favorite restaurant, mom?
I said, no way. It’s way more authentic in our home, easy, less-expensive, and … I love this plaque.
Stay awhile.
People feel more inclined to sit back, relax, and …stay awhile when we make a home-cooked meal.
Here’s what I love about summer cooking: COOK EXTRA.
Eating at home on a regular basis doesn’t mean you need to cook every night.
Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
For the best flavor, it’s best to make salads the night before, and an easy one that is delicious as a leftover is this Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe!
So light, fresh, and made with fresh garden veggies.
I buy DeLallo’s Italian dressing–the flavor is so amazing. But you can buy your favorite dressing (or make it).
You can even add the dressing right before serving.
This time we used gluten-free pasta for our friend Ashley, who has celiac disease. It was super good! Normally we use a whole grain pasta though.
The secret to pasta is you do not rinse it. My mom always rinsed pasta; did yours?
Cook in salted water (no oil), and rinse.
Super yummy served as leftovers!
Set the table (I’m a daisy lover, are you?), heat up the grill, serve a few side salads, and you’ll have the BEST summer barbecue! (Gray plates from Target, napkins from IKEA, chargers from Simon Pearce, tablecloth from IKEA).
And don’t forget to tell your guests … Stay Awhile!
ENJOY!
Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 package (16 ounces) thin spaghetti, halved (we buy DeLallo)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup (5 oz) thin salami slices, cut into small pieces (or pepperoni)
- 1 medium green pepper, diced
- 1/2 small red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup black olives, thinly sliced
- 1 bottle (8 ounces) Italian salad dressing (we buy DeLallo brand)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, usually 1 minute less in time (el dente); drain. Add a drizzle of olive oil so pasta does not stick together. Refrigerate until cool.
- Place in a large bowl; add tomatoes, cucumber, salami, pepper, red onion, and olives.
- Combine remaining ingredients; pour over salad and toss to coat. Add the Parmesan cheese; gently stir together. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours; serve!
We love these clear glass serving / mixing bowls!
More summer salads: Easy Pad Thai Salad, BEST Potato Salad, Carrot Prune Fresh Parsley Salad, Avocado Pasta Salad, and Cowboy Pasta Salad.
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Love a good pasta salad…I never thought of using Spaghetti. I love that plaque too. Last saturday my hubby and I were invited to a co-workers house for dinner. It was one of those nights where the food was drawn out and we just visited instead of feeling rushed. we ended up staying about 4 hours. It was nice to get to know them better.
Am looking for the DeLallo brand salad dressing and found two types Sweet Italian and Classic Italian. Does it matter which one is used in this recipe. Never heard of Sweet Italian salad dressing.
I think either would be great flavor, Jean!
This looks good! Got any nutritional info?
Is there any substitute for the salami? Just don’t care for that, all other sounds great! Thanks
Hi there, you could add bacon, or just leave it out? Still delish!
Made this for my son’s birthday party on Saturday and everyone love it. I did not add salami and it tasted great. I will definitely use Italian spaghetti salad receipt again!!
Help, I must be slow. Does this recipe call for 8 oz. of spaghetti or 16 oz of spaghetti broken in half? It looks delicious and would like to make it for a lunch with friends this week.
Thanks!
16 oz. then break in half :)
This salad is so good. I also add summer sausage, pepperoni, quite a few different things and always good. It’s one of those try it you’ll like it.
Can this be refrigerated over night and still be good?
Yes! But add the dressing before serving!
This is such a cool recipe! I love Italian food, so this would be really cool to try. I really like the idea of making a pasta salad with spaghetti. It is probably a really great dish for the summer! I will have to give it a try.
Excellent recipe…Made it many times and had many compliments. I use Ken’s Steak House Italian Dressing.
Can you use cooked spaghetti squash in place of the pasta?
I’ve never tried it in this recipe, Laura. Let me know if it worked for you! :)
I’ve been making this for years & my family loves it….my children especially LOVE it!!! When taking to an adult dinner I switch it up & use mini farfalle….as always it’s a hit! The ingredient options with this are endless & never a fail!
Absolutely delicious! Where to find the salad dressing?
It’s so good! Use your favorite Italian dressing. We prefer DeLallo but not every store carries it :)
Just made it. Tastes great. I used all the original ingredients and hubby ate it like it was health food.