California Pasta Salad

This California Pasta Salad is a delicious salad for your next BBQ. Full of healthy vegetables. You will never eat Macaroni Salad again.

I don’t think I have ever been to a BBQ that didn’t have macaroni salad, potato salad or some coleslaw. Those are the type of cold side dishes you would expect at a summer BBQ. But this California Pasta Salad is my new favorite salad to bring to a BBQ.

This recipe is a nice variation for your typical pasta salad. I made this for a potluck recently and got rave reviews. Make sure you refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours before serving to allow the dressing marinate the pasta and veggies.

If this pasta salad is not your thing, you need to check out all my other pasta salad recipes here.

How to Make California Pasta Salad.

1- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a large serving bowl.
2- Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green and red bell pepper, red onion and olives to large pasta bowl. Mix well.
3- Make the dressing by whisking together Italian salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
4- Pour over salad and toss until everything is well coated.
5- Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

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5 from 1 vote

 

California Pasta Salad

This California Pasta Salad is a delicious salad for your next BBQ. Full of healthy vegetables. You will never eat Macaroni Salad again.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins

Total Time3 hrs

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: olives, pasta, tomatoes, zucchini

Servings: 12

Calories: 363kcal

Author: Chef Rodney

Ingredients

SALAD

• 1 lbs Thin Spaghetti
• 1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes
• 2 Zucchini, Diced
• 1 Large Cucumber(s), Sliced
• 1 Red Bell Pepper, Diced
• 1 Green Bell Pepper, Diced
• 1 Red Onion, Diced
• 2 Cans Black Olives, Chopped

DRESSING

• 16 oz Italian Salad Dressing
• 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated
• 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1/2 Tsp Celery Seed
• 1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder

how to make this recipe

• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in large serving bowl.
• Add cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green and red bell pepper, red onion and olives to large pasta bowl. Mix well.
• Make the dressing by whisking together Italian salad dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed and garlic powder.
• Pour over salad and toss until everything is well coated.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1429mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1005IU | Vitamin C: 37.1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1.7mg

Any nutritional information provided on this site is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with your nutritionist.

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