California Spaghetti Salad

 

California Spaghetti Salad

This vibrant California Spaghetti Salad is a refreshing, colorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light meal. Packed with fresh veggies, tender pasta, and a zesty Italian dressing, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make ahead!

---

Ingredients

• 1 lb spaghetti, cooked and drained
• 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 2 zucchini, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 can sliced black olives

For the Dressing:

• 1 bottle Italian dressing
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp celery seeds
• ¼ tsp garlic powder

---

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta: Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
2. Prep Veggies: In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, zucchini, green and red bell peppers, red onion, and black olives.
3. Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder.
4. Combine: Add the cooled spaghetti to the veggie mixture. Pour the dressing over and toss until everything is well coated.
5. Chill: Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to let the flavors meld.

---

Serving

Serve chilled as a side dish or light main course. Perfect for summer gatherings or meal prep!

Enjoy this fresh, flavorful salad!