🥗🍝 California Spaghetti Salad
A fresh and colorful pasta salad loaded with crunchy vegetables, herbs, and a zesty Italian dressing. California Spaghetti Salad is a classic potluck favorite—refreshing, easy to make, and perfect for summer gatherings, BBQs, and picnics.
6
⏱️ Time
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Chill Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: About 2½ hours
- Servings: 10–12
🛒 Ingredients
🍝 Salad
- 1 pound spaghetti noodles
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1 can (2¼ ounces) sliced black olives, drained
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped small
- 1 cup cauliflower florets, chopped small
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
🧀 Optional Additions
- 1 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni
- ½ cup diced salami
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
🥣 Dressing
- 1 bottle (16 ounces) Italian dressing
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Cook the Spaghetti
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
- Toss lightly with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. Prepare the Vegetables
While the pasta cools:
- Chop tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
- Place all vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
3. Make the Dressing
Whisk together:
- Italian dressing
- Parmesan cheese
- Sesame seeds
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Italian seasoning
4. Combine the Salad
- Add cooled spaghetti to the vegetables.
- Pour dressing over everything.
- Toss gently until evenly coated.
- Add cheese or meats if using.
5. Chill
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is even better).
- Toss again before serving.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Perfect with:
- 🍔 Burgers
- 🌭 Hot dogs
- 🍗 Grilled chicken
- 🥩 Steak
- 🍖 BBQ ribs
- 🥪 Sandwiches
- Picnic and potluck meals
💡 Tips & Variations
- Break spaghetti noodles in half before cooking for easier serving.
- Use tri-color rotini or bowtie pasta instead for a fun variation.
- Add fresh basil for extra California-style freshness.
- For creamier pasta salad, mix a few spoonfuls of mayonnaise into the dressing.
- Add avocado right before serving for a creamy California twist.
- Reserve a little dressing to refresh leftovers the next day.
🧊 Storage
- Refrigerator: Store covered for up to 4 days.
- Stir before serving and add a splash of Italian dressing if it becomes dry.
- Not recommended for freezing due to the fresh vegetables.
🍴 Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: 330
- Protein: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fat: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
California Spaghetti Salad is crunchy, colorful, and full of Italian-inspired flavor—a refreshing pasta dish that’s always a hit at gatherings! 🍝🌿✨