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California Spaghetti Salad is a delicious pasta salad filled with fresh veggies and covered in a zesty Italian dressing. With all those flavors and colors making one beautiful and tasty side dish, there is no doubt this will be the hit of your next gathering!
I love delicious, cool salads in Spring and Summer like Creamy Pea, Cauliflower Broccoli, and Cucumber Tomato Salad. Enjoy your salad at your next BBQ!
Easy California Spaghetti Salad
As the weather begins to change and warm up at this time of year, I find myself looking for recipes with a fresher and lighter feel. I especially love quick and easy cold pasta salads! This California spaghetti salad only took 15 minutes to make, and it was a hit with my guests. It is vegan-friendly, so it is great to bring to a potluck.
This recipe is great to make ahead of time because it tastes better as it sits. It’s coated in a zesty Italian dressing (made from scratch) and all of the ingredients really soak up that flavor. All of the amazing veggies packed inside add so much texture, flavor, and color to the pasta. It is the perfect finishing touch to this pasta salad.
The Best California Spaghetti Salad Ingredients
These ingredients are simple and easy, and you probably already have most of them on hand. This recipe is great to make ahead of time so that the flavors can all blend together. Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all of the exact measurements.
- Spaghetti: Use thin linguine and break it into 1-inch pieces to make it easier to eat.
- Cherry tomatoes: Chopped them in half to make them more bite-sized.
- Cucumber: The cucumber gives this salad the fresh taste I love.
- Bell pepper: I used red, but swap for any color of pepper you prefer. Make this recipe your own!
- Red onion: If you don’t like biting into the raw onion, marinate them in the dressing first to lessen their strong flavor.
- Olives: The olives are very salty and delicious!
Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Italian salad dressing: Use any Italian dressing you love because you are going to amp it up with all the other seasonings to create your own version of this staple dressing. I love using this homemade version.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated and combined with the dressing to cover each part of the salad with its great nutty flavor.
- Sesame seeds: Add a rich, nutty flavor to the dressing.
- Paprika: Adds great color to this dressing and is the perfect addition to this California spaghetti salad.
- Celery seed: These little seeds pack all the powerful flavors of celery- earthy, grassy, and slightly bitter- that balance out this dressing.
- Garlic powder: The extra garlic powder helps the flavor stay strong even when chilled.
Let’s Make a Pasta Salad!
This California spaghetti salad comes together in less than 15 minutes, and then all you have to do is let it sit and soak up all of the flavors. Once your noodles are cooked and ready to go, you have to throw everything in and mix it all up!
- Cook the pasta: Make according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
- Combine all ingredients: Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green and red bell pepper, red onion and olives to the pasta in a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together Italian salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
- Toss the salad in dressing: Pour dressing over the salad and toss until coated. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
Tips and Variations
Here are a few different ways that you can change up this California spaghetti salad and make it unique every time!
- Vegetables: Get creative with this versatile dish and swap out vegetables. For example, try favorites like broccoli or yellow and orange bell peppers.
- Pasta: Use other pasta shapes. Some of my favorites, like Rotini or Farfalle, would work fantastic!
- Cooling Pasta: This pasta salad is best when it’s fresh out of the fridge. So, keep it cooling until right before serving.
- Make it Ahead: This is a great make-ahead recipe! It’s even better the next day, so I usually make it the day before and store it in the refrigerator overnight. This really gives all the flavors time to combine and soak into the pasta!
- Pasta Tip: After draining the salad, dunk the pasta in an ice bath (equal parts water and ice in a large bowl) to shock them. Then, your noodles will not soak up too much of the dressing and become gummy.
Storing Leftovers
This California spaghetti salad tastes just as good (if not better!) the next day! As long as you store it properly, this makes the perfect lunch all week long.
- In the Refrigerator: Store your salad in an airtight container in your fridge, which should last up to 5 days. Because the noodles soak up all the dressing, I like to keep some additional dressing on hand and add it to the salad just before serving. This makes it taste like you just made it!
More Pasta Salad Recipes to Try!
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California Spaghetti Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound thin spaghetti, broken into 1 inch pieces
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, chopped in half
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 can black olives, drained and sliced
DRESSING:
- 1 bottle Italian salad dressing 16 ounces
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain using a colander and rinse in cold water.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and olives in a large bowl.
To make the dressing:
- Whisk together italian salad dressing, parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder. Pour over salad and toss until coated. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Would fresh parm work instead of the powder stuff?
powdered? what is powdered parmesan?
Love the salad but next time I’m only going to use half of the dressing too oily for me. But still very good!
This recipe sounds wonderful and all the good stuff in it, must try to make this before summer is gone. My only change would be for using another type of more sturdy pasta for my taste, cant envision “sketti” in this, would try fusilli or more sturdy pasta and use whole grain which I believe would bring pasta more to forefront, just my tastes, not for everyone……love the dressing too…
What makes it California? Some things from cali aren’t always good, I prefer local. Really a basic recipe that anyone can modify with whatever ingredients and salad dressings they want. I can’t believe some people asked if they could add this or that, or don’t know how to add vegan protein. Hope you don’t get paid for this crap.
Can I make this a couple days ahead?
I would think it is ok to make a day ahead. 🙂
What are your thoughts about using Spaghetti Squash instead of regular spaghetti? Thanks!
What are your thoughts about using spaghetti squash instead of regular spaghetti? Thanks!
I would NOT use a bottled dressing. Fresh vegetables and bottled dressing – complete opposites.
Yes. Why not make the dressing from scratch? And I’d have to substitute the onions as raw, especially red onions, do not agree with me. Maybe I’ll use chives. Any suggestions? After I try the recipe, I will rate it.
I was wondering if I could swap Yellow Peppers for the Green?
Yep. You can customize it to your taste!
Has anyone tried this with feta cheese instead of parm or both?
I think both would taste great! You can definitely customize this to your taste!
This looks amazing – however, trying to do low carb so wondering if cooked spaghetti squash could be a substitute for he pasta??
Is that grated cheese that I see topping the salad in the picture?
Yes you can top with additional parmesan if you would like.
I made this and it was gone in two days! Absolutely amazing. The spices and flavors mingle together and make for an amazing salad. I added cooked shrimp as well, to add protein, and it was even better!
So glad to hear Ashley!
Hi, I was wondering if I could cook the vegetables first and add to the pasta?
Nope. You don’t need to cook them first. 🙂 Some will make it a few hours before to let the veggies soften in the dressing a bit.
I love this salad! Am very interested in vegan recipes that contain protein. Salads are great but I need to find recipes with protein…..since my familly is slowly going in that direction.
Can’t wait to try this with angel hair