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+ servings

Spaghetti Salad with Italian Dressing

320kcal
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 10 minutes
Total 30 minutes
A refreshing and vibrant spaghetti salad tossed with colorful vegetables and a zesty Italian dressing, perfect for picnics or as a side dish.
Servings 4 servings
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients

For the Salad
  • 8 oz spaghetti uncooked
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup cucumber diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper diced (any color)
  • 1/2 cup red onion finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup black olives sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
For the Italian Dressing
  • 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 tsp salt to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper to taste

Method

Cook the Spaghetti
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. This helps to season the pasta as it cooks.
  2. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Once cooked, drain the spaghetti in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
Prepare the Vegetables
  1. While the spaghetti is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, finely chop the red onion, and slice the black olives.
  2. Place all the chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
Make the Italian Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper.
  2. Whisk until well combined and emulsified. This dressing can be adjusted to taste by adding more salt or vinegar if desired.
Combine the Salad
  1. Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl with the vegetables.
  2. Pour the Italian dressing over the spaghetti and vegetables.
  3. Toss everything together gently until the spaghetti and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
  4. Add crumbled feta cheese and chopped parsley, then toss lightly to combine.
Serve
  1. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning if necessary. You can add more salt, pepper, or vinegar to suit your preference.
  2. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld together before serving.

Nutrition

Serving1servingCalories320kcalCarbohydrates40gProtein8gFat15gSaturated Fat3gPolyunsaturated Fat2gMonounsaturated Fat10gCholesterol10mgSodium400mgPotassium300mgFiber3gSugar3gVitamin A1500IUVitamin C20mgCalcium100mgIron2mg

Notes

This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will deepen as it sits.

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