Fresh Zesty Spaghetti Pasta Salad
Fresh Zesty Spaghetti Pasta Salad is a light yet flavor-packed dish that’s ideal for warm weather or whenever you need a quick make-ahead side. It’s loaded with crunchy vegetables, tossed with spaghetti noodles, and coated in a zippy Italian-style vinaigrette with poppy seeds and sesame seeds for added texture and flair.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces thin spaghetti halved
- 3 medium tomatoes diced
- 3 small zucchini diced
- 1 large cucumber halved, seeded, and diced
- 1 medium green pepper diced
- 1 medium red pepper diced
- 8 ounces Italian salad dressing
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ teaspoons sesame seeds
- 1½ teaspoons poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon celery seed
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked spaghetti with all diced vegetables.
- In a separate bowl, whisk dressing, Parmesan, sesame seeds.
- Poppy seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
- Pour dressing over the salad. Toss everything together until well coated.
- See full steps with tips & photos → https://mischacrossing.com/fresh-zesty-spaghetti-pasta-salad/
Notes
- Halving the spaghetti helps it mix better with the chopped veggies.
- Make sure to chill thoroughly—it tastes even better cold!
- For extra zest, add a splash of lemon juice or red wine vinegar before serving.