The Best Spaghetti Salad

Rating: 4.65 stars
31 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 22
  • 4 star values: 8
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0

Fresh vegetables and a rich variety of seasonings make this a great springtime or summer dish for a party or a family picnic. I used this recipe to feed over 100 people and it went over fabulously. It also makes a fabulous side dish.

By Natalie

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Recipe Summary

Servings:
12
Yield:
12 servings
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

12
Original recipe yields 12 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Directions

  • Cook spaghetti in a large pot with boiling salted water. Rinse with cool water, drain.

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  • Place grated Parmesan cheese, sesame and poppy seeds, seasoning salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chopped cucumber, onion, red and yellow pepper, tomatoes, and broccoli in a large bowl.

  • To large bowl add cooled pasta. Pour entire bottle of Italian dressing over pasta and vegetables. Mix well.

  • Refrigerate pasta salad for at least 2 hours. Serve.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
281 calories; protein 6.8g 14% DV; carbohydrates 38g 12% DV; fat 11.9g 18% DV; cholesterol 0.4mg; sodium 782.1mg 31% DV. Full Nutrition

Reviews (22)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

Hope
Rating: 5 stars
05/31/2008
I doubled this recipe and took it to a birthday party. The dad ate about 4 helpings. I then told them I'd leave the left overs. It did take a while to chop all the vegetables I added green pepper because the store was out of red and I forgot to add the tomato. Which was perfect because the mom does like them at all. I refrigerated this overnight and added a little extra italian dressing 1/2 hour before serving. Doubling doesn't really require 2 full bottles of dressing. Save it to zest it up right before serving. I'm making it again this weekend and I'm adding the red pepper and tomato. Read More
Helpful
(24)

Most helpful critical review

KASUE
Rating: 2 stars
02/03/2010
I substituted linquine for the spaghetti omitted the poppy seeds (didn't have any) and used only 2/3 bottle of Italian salad dressing because the salad would have been drowning in dressing if I'd used the full amount. Even so we didn't care for this salad. It was a very pretty salad but we felt the flavor of the cayenne pepper overwhelmed the other flavors and not in a good way. Read More
Helpful
(3)
31 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 22
  • 4 star values: 8
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Hope
Rating: 5 stars
05/31/2008
I doubled this recipe and took it to a birthday party. The dad ate about 4 helpings. I then told them I'd leave the left overs. It did take a while to chop all the vegetables I added green pepper because the store was out of red and I forgot to add the tomato. Which was perfect because the mom does like them at all. I refrigerated this overnight and added a little extra italian dressing 1/2 hour before serving. Doubling doesn't really require 2 full bottles of dressing. Save it to zest it up right before serving. I'm making it again this weekend and I'm adding the red pepper and tomato. Read More
Helpful
(24)
BIZONYA
Rating: 5 stars
05/09/2004
Easy and fast. I omitted the peppers changed grated Parmesan cheese to 2 tbls reduced salt to 1 tsp. added 1/4 tsp. garlic salt & 1/2 tsp. celery seed used "1 1/2 cups" chopped broccoli and used Zesty Italian dressing. Delicious:) Read More
Helpful
(23)
ABBYCM
Rating: 5 stars
05/24/2005
I've notice this and it sounds delicious I just wanted to add that instead of spaghetti...it would be interesting to use linguine and maybe even add Salad Supreme...it's flavorful. Read More
Helpful
(22)
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Sparkkl
Rating: 5 stars
12/03/2007
This is excellent and a nice change from "regular" pasta salad. Made it for my coworkers and was asked for the recipe many times. Will definitely make again. Read More
Helpful
(12)
erinlynn2
Rating: 5 stars
06/30/2009
Ok this salad is WONDERFUL! Ever since making it for the first time (at my wedding reception) I have been asked to bring it to every gathering. I have changed it a little for the taste buds in my house. I omit the poppy seeds and sesame seeds and I use whole wheat thin noodles fat free italian dressing cherry tomatoes (they don't get everything else tomato tasting) and I add whole black olives. Natalie thank you for bringing such a wonderful addition to my recipie box! Read More
Helpful
(11)
GinAndTonic1231
Rating: 4 stars
08/27/2009
This was a really great recipe. I did not use spaghetti I used Cavatappi pasta instead as I think long noodles and oil dressing is a recipe for a stained shirt! Read More
Helpful
(7)
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gderr the dysfunctional
Rating: 5 stars
08/10/2009
i love pasta and i love veggies. throw anything in this from your garden and let it marry a couple hours or more and grab a fork! Read More
Helpful
(6)
Opera Chef
Rating: 5 stars
08/27/2009
I loved this dish. There's not much to it which is a positive for me. I used whole wheat pasta organic italian dressing and tons of veggies. I feel so healthy and it's so tasty too. Read More
Helpful
(5)
Mrs.Fugrim
Rating: 5 stars
09/24/2009
Wonderful! My husband hates broccoli normally but loves italian dressing -- but this dish even had him wanting seconds. Read More
Helpful
(5)
KASUE
Rating: 2 stars
02/03/2010
I substituted linquine for the spaghetti omitted the poppy seeds (didn't have any) and used only 2/3 bottle of Italian salad dressing because the salad would have been drowning in dressing if I'd used the full amount. Even so we didn't care for this salad. It was a very pretty salad but we felt the flavor of the cayenne pepper overwhelmed the other flavors and not in a good way. Read More
Helpful
(3)
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