Easy Homemade Spaghetti Salad

What Is Spaghetti Salad?

Spaghetti salad is a crowd-pleasing pasta dish rich in vegetables and tossed in with a zesty dressing perfect as an appetizer or main dish. It is great for pasta lovers hoping to add some extra nutrients into their diet, or vegan/veggie lovers looking to add some flare to a boring pasta dish.

Ingredients:

Pasta:

1.5 to 2 cups of spaghetti

1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cucumber, diced

1 zucchini, cubed

1 green pepper, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 red onion, diced

1 cup black olives, halved

Dressing:

1 bottle of Italian sauce
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon of celery seeds
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions, then strain it and rinse with cold water to quickly cool them down.

2. Chop all vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, red onions, cucumbers, and black olives) and place them in a large mixing bowl.

3. To make the sauce, whisk in Italian dressing, sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder in a separate mixing bowl.

4. To finish, toss the cooked pasta with all the chopped vegetables, then pour the marinade over it and mix well.

5. Cover the pasta in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.

spaghetti salad mom used to make before she died — Courtesy of Michelle Lenchanko

About This Recipe

My mom, Sandy Lenchanko, went in with pneumonia last March and had a sudden cardiac arrest two days later. She battled valiantly against Smoldering Myeloma (blood cancer) for 3 years. We spent a week in the ICU and finally let her go. In the time after her passing, I found great comfort in posting her recipes on Facebook. People loved it, and I felt it was a way for her to live on through her cooking. It made the loss a little softer.

This is her special recipe, and my personal favorite, for California spaghetti salad. I hope you enjoy this easy salad. It is very nutritious and rich, and kids will also love it because of the colorful vegetables!

mom and daughter having fun together — Courtesy of Michelle Lenchanko

Homemade Spaghetti Salad Recipe

Veggie-rich spaghetti tossed in with a zesty dressing.

Pasta

1.5-2 cups spaghetti
1.5 cups cherry tomatoes ((halved))
1 cucumber ((diced))
1 red pepper ((diced))
1 red onion ((diced))
1 cup black olives ((halved))

Dressing

1 bottle Italian dressing
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbs sesame seeds
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp celery seeds
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Cook the noodles according to package instructions, then strain it and rinse with cold water to quickly cool them down.
Chop all vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, red onions, cucumbers, and black olives) and place them in a large mixing bowl.
To make the sauce, whisk in Italian dressing, sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder in a separate mixing bowl.
To finish, toss the cooked pasta with all the chopped vegetables, then pour the marinade over it and mix well.
Cover the pasta in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.

Main Course, Salad, Side Dish

Californian, Italian

pasta, salad, spaghetti, veggies

This story was submitted to Love What Matters  by Michelle Lenchanko. Submit your own story  here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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