This Spaghetti Pasta Salad is a simple and vegetable-packed side dish with amazing flavors that will keep you coming back for more!
This is the last week of summer vacation for my kids and I have mixed feelings about it.
I’m happy to get the school year started and be in more of a routine since I work best with routines and staying busy. However, I also have enjoyed the fun activities I’ve done with my family this summer.
Although it’s still a bit hectic with a 6, 4 and 2-year-old, it’s much easier compared to last year with a 5, 3 and 1-year-old. Regardless, change is typically a good thing and I’m ready for it!
This recipe is one of those recipes that I talked about earlier in the month. It’s an example of how I us up all those extra garden veggies I receive from friends and family.
This recipe is so versatile that it could be called a “clean out your fridge pasta salad.”
Any veggies will do and it will still taste delicious! I used “zesty” Italian dressing this time and it had a bit too much kick for my kids liking. But at least Dan and I enjoyed the zest. Next time I’ll make it with regular Italian dressing so we can all enjoy the veggies 🙂
Dietitian’s Dish
Canned black olives are a staple in my house. I try to keep them on hand at all times.
I add them to pasta dishes like this spaghetti pasta dish, but also to more traditional warm pasta recipes and even add them to salads.
Olives are unique since they are one of the very few fruits (yes, they are technically a fruit) that contain fat. Ten black olives have about 50 calories and 5 grams of fat (mostly the healthy polyunsaturated fat).
Spaghetti Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb thin spaghetti pasta
- 1 red onion sliced thin
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 1 (3.8-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions. Rinse pasta in cold water.
- While pasta is cooking, add all vegetables to a large bowl.
- Once pasta is cooled, add to the vegetables along with Italian dressing. Stir until well coated.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if desired.
Here are a few of my other favorite veggie-packed side dishes found on Chocolate Slopes:
- 15 Simple Vegetable Side Dishes (10 minutes or less of Prep!)
- Roasted Vegetables with Apples
- Summer Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad
This Spaghetti Pasta Salad post first appeared on Chocolate Slopes.
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