California Spaghetti Salad
This California Spaghetti Salad is a fresh and vibrant dish packed with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and black olives, all tossed with spaghetti in a zesty Italian dressing. It's a perfect side dish for any meal and easy to make ahead for gatherings.
Servings: 8
Calories: 376kcal
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cucumber diced
- 1 cup bell pepper red, yellow, or green, diced
- ½ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup Italian dressing store-bought or homemade
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
- Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl with the vegetables. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Video
Notes
- Go for the freshest, ripest veggies you can find for the best flavor.
- Rinse the spaghetti under cold water after cooking to keep it from sticking and stop the cooking process.
- Feel free to make the salad a day ahead; just wait to add the dressing until right before serving so everything stays nice and crisp.
- Mix it up by adding other veggies like zucchini, carrots, or broccoli – whatever you love!
- Leftovers? No problem. Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, and they’ll be good for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 319mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1.036IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 2mg
