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–+ servings
A bowl of spaghetti, olives, and tomatoes.
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4.79 from 19 votes

Italian Spaghetti Salad

Italian Spaghetti Salad is a simple twist on classic pasta salad with tender spaghetti, crunchy veggies, olives, and zesty Italian dressing. It's perfect for cookouts, potlucks, and easy summer dinners, and it tastes even better the next day.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Refrigerate4 hours
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Author: Kristin Maxwell

Ingredients

  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 2 medium sized cucumbers seeded and diced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes quarted
  • 1 (12 ounce) can black olives drained and sliced in half
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 1/2 cups zesty Italian dressing more or less, to taste
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook spaghetti to just shy of al dente according to package directions, in generously salted water. Drain, then rinse under cold water until cool. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper, then add the cooled spaghetti and toss gently to combine.
  • Pour 1 cup of Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss to coat, taste, and add more dressing as desired.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Just before serving, top with freshly grated Parmesan and additional minced parsley.

Notes

  • Salt the pasta water generously. Unseasoned pasta tastes flat once tossed with dressing.
  • Slightly undercook the pasta. Pulling it just shy of al dente keeps the noodles from going mushy as they sit.
  • Rinse the pasta. Cold pasta salads are the one time rinsing is right. It stops the cooking and chills the noodles fast.
  • Make ahead up to 24 hours. Flavors meld and improve as it sits.
  • Storage. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  • If it seems dry, add a splash more dressing or a drizzle of olive oil and toss to refresh.
  • Add protein like salami, pepperoni, or rotisserie chicken to make it a light meal.
  • Try a sprinkle of McCormick Salad Supreme for an extra tangy bite, a classic spaghetti salad add-on.
  • Pasta swaps. Linguine, fettuccini, or angel hair all work well in place of spaghetti.

Nutrition

Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 1159mg | Potassium: 425mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 637IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2mg

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