Cold Spaghetti Salad is a classic potluck pasta salad made with thin spaghetti noodles, Italian dressing, and Salad Supreme seasoning. It’s the kind of easy, make-ahead side dish that’s been showing up at family cookouts and church potlucks for years, and for good reason.
Cold Spaghetti Salad
What I love most is that this spaghetti salad is packed with fresh veggies and comes together fast. The Salad Supreme seasoning mixed into the Italian dressing is what gives it that signature flavor everyone recognizes. It makes a big batch, so it’s perfect for BBQs, pool parties, or any time you’re feeding a group.
Ingredients & Equipment
- Thin spaghetti noodles
- Restaurant style Italian dressing
- Salad Supreme seasoning
- Mini cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Yellow bell pepper
- Green olives
- Parmesan cheese
Full measurements for each ingredient can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
You’ll also need a few things from your kitchen:
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large pot
- Spaghetti spoon
- Colander
- Large bowl
- Cutting board
- Knife
Step By Step Directions
This recipe makes 8-16 servings. It takes 10 minutes of prep time and 12 minutes of cook time, plus 1 hour of chill time.
Step 1. Chop the veggies.
Step 2. Cook the noodles in a large pot according to package directions, until al dente.
Step 3. Drain and rinse the noodles in cold water.
Step 4. In a large bowl, stir the dressing and Salad Supreme Seasoning with the noodles.
Step 5. Add the veggies and cheese, toss to combine.
Step 6. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
Step 7. Toss again before serving.
Variations
- Add pepperoni or salami: Chopped pepperoni or diced salami gives this cold spaghetti salad a meatier, more Italian flavor.
- Switch up the veggies: Diced red onion, sliced black olives, diced red or green bell peppers, or chopped celery all work great depending on what your family likes.
- Use a different cheese: Cubed mozzarella or shredded Italian blend cheese are both tasty swaps for the parmesan.
- Try it with angel hair pasta: Angel hair works just like thin spaghetti and cooks even faster if you’re short on time.
- Add artichoke hearts: Chopped marinated artichoke hearts stirred in give it a Mediterranean twist that’s really good.
- Make it with regular spaghetti: Thin spaghetti works best for twirling and mixing, but regular spaghetti is fine if that’s what you have on hand. Just break the noodles in half before cooking for easier serving.
Leftovers & Storage
Store leftover cold spaghetti salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. This is one of those recipes that honestly tastes even better the next day after the noodles have soaked up all the Italian dressing and seasoning. Just toss it well before serving and add a splash of Italian dressing if it needs freshening up.
Tips & Tricks
- Cook the spaghetti to al dente. You don’t want mushy noodles in a cold pasta salad. Al dente holds up much better once everything is chilled and tossed together.
- Rinse the noodles well with cold water. This stops the cooking and cools them down so they don’t warm up the veggies or absorb too much dressing too fast.
- Use restaurant style Italian dressing. It’s thicker than regular Italian dressing and clings to the spaghetti noodles better. It makes a big difference in this recipe.
- Toss the dressing and seasoning with the noodles before adding the veggies. This makes sure the noodles are evenly coated so you get flavor in every bite.
- Break the spaghetti in half before cooking if you prefer. It makes the salad easier to serve and eat, especially for kids.
- Give it a good toss right before serving. The noodles settle as they chill, so a quick toss redistributes the dressing and veggies evenly.
Recipe FAQs
What is Salad Supreme seasoning? Salad Supreme is a seasoning blend made by McCormick that has paprika, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, celery seed, garlic, and other spices. It’s what gives this spaghetti salad with Salad Supreme its signature flavor. You can find it in the spice aisle at most grocery stores.
Can I make cold spaghetti salad the night before? Yes, and I actually recommend it. The flavors get better as everything sits together. Just give it a good toss and add a little more Italian dressing before serving if the pasta has soaked it up.
Can I use a different type of Italian dressing? Restaurant style Italian dressing works best because it’s thicker and has more flavor. Regular Italian dressing is thinner and won’t coat the noodles as well, but it’ll still work in a pinch.
Can I use a different pasta shape instead of spaghetti? You can, but the spaghetti noodles are really what make this recipe. They twirl and tangle with all the veggies in a way that other shapes don’t. If you do swap, thin linguine is the closest match.
What if I can’t find Salad Supreme seasoning? It’s worth tracking down, but if you can’t find it, you can mix together some paprika, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic powder, and celery seed as a substitute. It won’t be exact but it’ll get you close.
How many people does this serve? It makes a big, party-sized bowl. As a side dish at a BBQ or potluck, it easily serves 16 people. For a smaller family dinner, you’ll have leftovers for days, which is honestly a bonus.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
- Cowboy Pasta Salad
- Bruschetta Pasta Salad
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Caesar Pasta Salad
- Sausage Pasta Salad
- Mexican Pasta Salad
- Grinder Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 oz thin spaghetti noodles
- 16 oz restaurant style Italian dressing
- 3 tbsp Salad Supreme seasoning
- 3 mini cucumbers sliced and halved
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup sliced green olives
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan
Instructions
- Chop the veggies.
- Cook the noodles in a large pot according to package directions, until al dente.
- Drain and rinse the noodles in cold water.
- Into a large bowl, stir the dressing and Salad Supreme Seasoning with the noodles.
- Add the veggies and cheese, toss to combine.
- Cover and chill for 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Toss again before serving.
Notes
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