Anyone else get excited when they see Spaghetti Pasta Salad at a barbecue or potluck? I do! I love it! In this recipe, the Salad Supreme Seasoning is the secret to making it extra delicious. The dish itself is super simple and can be adapted to what you have on hand. This salad is a perfect recipe to add to your summer potluck and barbecue repertoire. Classic Macaroni Salad is another side dish that’s always hit at a barbecue.
Shortly after my husband and I got married, I had this salad for the first time. We were at his family’s house for dinner, and it was one of the dishes served. I loved it! My mother-in-law is a good cook and has given me many great recipes. In fact, my sisters-in-law put together an awesome cookbook filled with my mother-in-law’s recipes and some of their own, and they gave it to us as a wedding present. It’s a treasure!
Best Salad Recipes for Barbecues and Potlucks
- Classic Broccoli Salad
- Mediterranean Cous Cous Salad
- Potato Salad with Old Bay and Bacon
- Frog Eye Salad
- Classic Macaroni Salad
- Orange Fluff Jello Salad
There’s one simple step that makes this such a quick and easy recipe: As soon as the noodles are done cooking, rinse them in cold water until they’re cool. This is great for two reasons: First, it keeps the noodles from continuing to cook a little as they cool, keeping them nice and al dente. Second, it makes it possible for you to mix the salad up super fast. If you take the time to chop the veggies while the pasta is cooking, you can quickly stir it all together as soon as you get those noodles rinsed and cooled. You can have it totally done in about 30 minutes.
Photos for How to Make Spaghetti Pasta Salad
You can typically find Salad Supreme at your favorite grocery store. If you can’t find it there, you can order it on Amazon. Salad Supreme is a great topping to sprinkle on breadsticks, too. My mom used to make them that way, and they were delish!
Frequently Asked Questions About Spaghetti Pasta Salad
Can I use other types of pasta for this recipe?
If you don’t have spaghetti noodles, you can use a different type of pasta. Spirals or penne would be great options. However, part of what makes this recipe unique is that it is made with spaghetti noodles. So I definitely recommend using regular spaghetti, if you can.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. This salad is best if made at least 8-24 hours before serving. It gives the Italian salad dressing a chance to marinate the noodles and chopped veggies. You can make this salad up to two days in advance of serving. Makes it a great recipe for family reunions and camping trips. If are adding salami or pepperoni, wait to add it until right before serving, if you are making it two days ahead.
What type of Italian Salad Dressing is best to use?
My very favorite Italian salad dressing comes from a packet but has a little twist. I got this recipe/tip from my friend, Toni, back when I lived in NJ. Toni is Italian and her family used to have an Italian restaurant. At the restaurant, they made a super popular Italian dressing. She said the shortcut for making an Italian dressing that tastes almost identical to their family recipe is to use the Good Seasons Italian Salad Dressing packet and to use Seasoned Rice Wine Vinegar (she recommends this one with the red lid) instead of regular vinegar when mixing it. It gives it such a delicious and zesty flavor. I can’t go back to any other kind of Italian dressing now. It makes pasta salads extra delicious!
Is there anything I can substitute for Salad Supreme if I don’t have it?
There isn’t really anything that can be substituted, but there are some knockoff recipes that are really close to the real thing. This one from Food.com looks legit.
Chef’s Tools:
Serve with...
- 1 lb spaghetti noodles, cooked al dente, drained and rinsed with cold water until cooled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped (Any color you prefer. I use orange or yellow.)
- 1½ cup cucumber, quartered and sliced
- ⅓ cup red onion, thinly sliced or finely chopped
- ½ cup black or green olives, sliced
- ½-1 cup sliced or cubed salami, pepperoni or cheese (optional)
- 1 cup Italian Salad Dressing (See frequently asked questions to see what type I prefer.)
- 1-3 tbsp Salad Supreme (see picture) I start by tossing the salad with about 1½ tablespoons and then add more to lightly cover the top before serving.
- Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl and toss.
- Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight before serving for best flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days.
- Enjoy!
And for dessert, don't miss these...
#julygivaway
I love this salad. I use pepperoni. For olives, I use kalamata olives. Cubed cheese, and shreaded parma. If I didn’t control myself, I eat the whole bowl myself. Yummy!
Yum, yum, yum The things you use in it sound delicious!! Now I’m craving this! 🙂
I have been looking every where for this recipe. My Mother had it and she use to make it. We would make a meal out of it.
I went through a lot of recipes on Pintrist. But they didn’t look right. Your recipe looks exactly like hers. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am so glad you found it! I hope it taste just like hers!
This recipe reminds me of my mom and the 70’s when I was growing up. When she made it, I just knew it was summertime!
Thank you. I love it!
So glad you love it! There is something so nostalgic about making recipes that your mom made.
RIGHT? I’ve been searching Pinterest, I’ve been searching Reddit, Google; you name it.
Thankfully I finally Googled the correct phrasing to get here. I’m so excited to make this because it looks just like my mom’s but she did omit some of the things.
Do you add more dressing before serving?
I don’t, but you definitely can, especially if it has really soaked in overnight.
I marinate my veggies and olives in the salad supreme overnight and then before serving I add the spaghetti, salad dressing, and parmesan. The salad supreme seems less overpowering that way.
What a great idea! Thank you!
Back in the 80s – the jar of McCormick’s Salad Supreme had a label on the back which you could peel off. It showed their (ORIGINAL) recipe for “Linguini Salad”. Is that the recipe your mom used – except she might have substituted Spaghetti for Linguini? Also, I remember the recipe called for “Robusto Italian” salad dressing.
I’m trying to find McCormick’s ORIGINAL recipe for Linguini Salad, because I remember how delicious it was when my mom & my grandma made it when I was growing up.
Any help & feedback from you will be greatly appreciated.
Hi Angela, I am not sure, but that would make a lot of sense. This recipe is actually from my mother-in-law.
Hi I think the ” robusto” dressing you mentioned was made by Wish Bond. They used to sell it in “dry pack” where you just added the vinegar and oil but I haven’t seen it in stores for some years. I think they may have sold it in a bottle also but it definitely was “Wish Bone Robusto Italian Dressing”
Food Lion sells the bottled Wishbone Robusto Italian dressing. I just bought 3 bottles.
Cool, thanks for the heads up!
Best spaghetti salad e er. Favorite in our home. Especially summer time when you are looking for something nice and cool. AND not heat the house up on those extra hot days.
I totally agree!
I made this recipe early today and just had 2 bowls at midnite. Did not have spaghetti so I used rotini. That’s how desperate I was.
Ohhhhh soooo good. I feel happy. Goodnite
I love hearing that Elaine!