Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
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Light and fresh, enjoy this cold spaghetti salad. Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe is a spaghetti salad with fresh veggies and Italian dressing. Watch the video!
Using your favorite pasta and Parmesan cheese, add either salami or pepperoni for this cold, Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe. Serve this salad with Best Grilled Chicken Thighs (so good). And friends, I want to tell you about my new book out this year, Big Boards for Families! You can preorder it now!
Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
This salad is great for any potluck or summer party.
Make homemade Italian dressing, or optional to buy store-bought, when you’re in a pinch for time!
You may have also tried my Potluck Spaghetti Tuna Salad Recipe or Easy Italian Pasta Salad Recipe.
Italian Spaghetti Salad
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.
On the menu? This potluck favorite: Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
How do you make Cold Spaghetti Salad
Pairing well with any barbecue, this cold spaghetti salad is perfect to serve with this pepperoncini steak.
- Cook the spaghetti pasta according to package directions.
- Rinse and drain and cool.
- Add the ingredients; coat with dressing.
- Optional to make homemade dressing, or you can use a good variety of store-bought.
What goes in a spaghetti salad?
This a a spaghetti salad recipe with Italian dressing, and other fresh garden ingredients. Everyone loves it.
These are our favorite ingredients that go into a spaghetti salad:
- Pasta – use spaghetti
- Veggies – green pepper, red pepper, cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes – add your favorites!
- Meat – salami or pepperoni
- Black olives & delicious cheese!
- Your favorite dressing – YUM!
Homemade Italian Dressing
Optional to make your own Italian dressing. Here are the ingredients:
- Red wine vinegar
- Dried basil and oregano
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Relaxing at home
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.
Double the spaghetti salad recipe
Here’s what I love about summer cooking: COOK EXTRA. Double the recipe for any party!
Eating at home on a regular basis doesn’t mean you need to cook every night, too. So leftovers are great!
How do you make Spaghetti Salad with Italian Dressing?
For the best flavor, it’s optional to make this salad the night before!
So light, fresh, and made with fresh garden veggies.
I sometimes use 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.
Spaghetti Salad Recipe
This time we used gluten-free pasta for our friend Ashley, who has celiac’s. It was super good! Normally we use a whole grain pasta though.
Cook in salted water (no oil), and rinse and cool!
Super yummy served as leftovers!
Set the table
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!
Happy Hosting!
More summer salads: Easy Pad Thai Salad, BEST Potato Salad, Carrot Prune Fresh Parsley Salad, Avocado Pasta Salad, and Cowboy Pasta Salad.
Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz pkg thin spaghetti, halved
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup Salami slices (or pepperoni, or both), cut into small pieces
- 1 medium green pepper, diced
- 1/2 small red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup black olives, drained, thinly sliced
- 1 bottle Italian salad dressing, OR MAKE YOUR OWN (recipe below)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
Homemade Italian Dressing
- 1 1/2 cups Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1 TBSP dried oregano
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 TBSP fresh squeezed lemon, plus more to taste
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 TBSP Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions, usually 1 minute less in time (el dente); drain and rinse. Add a drizzle of olive oil so pasta does not stick together. Refrigerate until cool. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
- 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!
Video
Notes
We love these clear glass serving / mixing bowls!
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68 Comments on “Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe”
I am going to try this with spaghetti squash
I love spaghetti. Thanks for the recipe.
I haven’t made this yet. I will return with a review though.
My question is how far in advance is okay to make this salad? I won’t be needing it for at least 2-3 days. If I make it that far in advance and keep it tightly covered will the toppings and pasta go mushy? I plan on dressing it the day I will serve it. It’s for company so could really use an answer ASAP as they come tomorrow.
Thank you. Don’t mean to push. 😁
Hi, Terry. I would make it up in the AM and serve that night, but never 2-3 days for this salad. Hope it turned out for you!
If you want to make the dish vegetarian, what would you replace the salami with?
More veggies … artichoke hearts, peppers, etc.
One word…….”Outstanding “
Do you think artichokes and chopped pepperoncini would be good in this salad as well?
Yes, that would be amazing!
It’s such a delicious salad! The spaghetti noodles give it such a better flavor than lettuce.
We absolutely love this recipe!! I use whatever pasta I have on hand just out of convenience. The only thing I change is we do 1/2 salami and 1/2 pepperoni. Again only because I usually have both on hand. It’s so easy and delicious!
Indeed, a perfect summer and quarantine dish. I loved it as it was so yummy and quick. I am a spice lover, so I added a lot of jalapenos, red chili flakes, and some green chili chopped. I had made it last night, but couldn’t resist myself and ate it all in the few minutes of making. Thank you for sharing such a scrumptious salad recipe.
Fine recipe
I use creamy Italian dressing sometimes. Everyone seems to like it. Also Green olives for those who don’t like black ones.
I made this and it was great I give this 5 stars
Thank you Karen, can you mark the 5 stars? thank you!
Although, I have used farfalle pasta rather than spaghetti, this has become my (and my family’s) absolutely favorite pasta salad! Really really good. Thank you!
I make similar pasta salad and we absolutely love it! It’s great for entertaining at home!
You mentioned a gluten free pasta…. do you remember which one you used? Thanks!
Yes! DeLallo brand is the BEST! You can buy it online or in most grocery stores.
I make this recipe and use a whole bottle of Schilling Salad Supreme along with a bottle of Italian dressing. I use good season Italian.
This Italian Spaghetti Salad is so perfect for summer! I think I might make this for the Fourth of July!
Do you use the classic DeLallo Italian Dressing?
Yes, I’ve used that. DELISH!
Cannot wait to serve this for my bridge luncheon. Other than a nice crusty bread, any ideas for sides or are they even needed?
Yes, nice crunchy bread and I’d serve a side of fruit, too :) Have fun!
YES!!! This salad looks way too good! Such an interesting recipe. My family will love this.
I made this for dinner tonight. It is delicious!!!! Thank you for the recipe!