This Italian Spaghetti Salad with Spinach is packed with robust Italian flavors. For this dish, al dente spaghetti noodles are tossed in a prepared Italian dressing with cubes of salami, mozzarella cheese, ripe olives, peppers, scallions and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Toss in fresh baby spinach and it's practically a meal in itself. This spaghetti salad is spectacular served warm, at room temperature or chilled making it ideal for entertaining or light meals.
Italian Spaghetti Salad with Spinach Recipe
My kids love pasta in any form, but vegetables can sometimes be a bit harder for them to embrace. Salads like this one help incorporate some of the things they like with the ingredients they need to eat so, it's a win-win for me. I use cubes of hard salami in this dish but, ham or pepperoni would be tasty, too. I also recommend adding the spinach while the spaghetti is still warm allowing the spinach to wilt just a tad and become fully coated with the Italian dressing. Adding leafy greens to pasta salads like this spaghetti salad and my fusion BLT macaroni salad give me the chance to add even more nutrients to the menu which is always a plus.
How to Make the Best Italian Spaghetti Salad with Spinach Recipe
This recipe is one that I love to refer to as a double duty dish. You can serve it as a side dish or as a light meal on a busy day. It's a fun salad to make and serve and doubles as a light meal on a hot summer day.
- Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Spaghetti Salad: Cooled al dente spaghetti, a quality bottled or prepared Italian dressing, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, green onions, black olives, dried Italian seasoning, garlic salt, crushed red pepper flakes, grated Parmesan cheese, fresh baby spinach leaves, salami and cubed mozzarella cheese.
- To keep things simple, use a quality prepared Italian salad dressing for easy prep plus, it also gives the cook the opportunity to adjust the flavors at will.
- You could add cubed pepperoni to the spaghetti salad recipe in place of salami or in addition to salami. ½ to 1 cup should work but this is one of those moments it's fine to eyeball the amount.
- When doing so, keep in mind you may need to adjust the seasonings according to the dressing used.
- Using an oil based dressing allows the spaghetti salad to hold up much better at picnics and outdoor events than a mayonnaise based pasta salad.
- Store leftover spaghetti salad in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Southern Style Salad Recipes to Make
There are few occasions that wouldn't be the perfect launching pad for adding a salad to round out the meal. More salad recipes you may like to try:
- Homestyle Macaroni Salad is a warm weather favorite.
- Oh so easy 5 Bean Salad is an old fashioned refrigerator salad that everyone will love.
- Cherry Tomato Onion Cucumber Salad is good and good for you.
- Italian Penne Pasta Salad is another option that can serve as a complete meal on a busy day.
- You may like to try is this Potluck Spaghetti and Tuna Salad from The Reluctant Entertainer.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Italian Spaghetti Salad with Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 lb package spaghetti, cooked to al dente
- 1 16 oz bottle quality Italian salad dressing
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach leafs loosely packed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- 8 oz hard salami cubed
- 1 4 oz can sliced ripe olives
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoon dry Italian seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese cubed
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti in salted water per the package instructions until al dente. Drain well then let cool slightly in colander until steam has dissipated.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the warm pasta with the salad dressing. Mix until fully coated.
- Add the remaining ingredients reserving the cubed cheese. Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Set into the fridge to cool for 30-60 minutes. Mix in the cheese.
- Cover and chill thoroughly for several hours or overnight.
Nutrition
My name is Melissa and I'm the Creator of Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen. Cooking, baking, developing recipes and kitchen tips is my passion. I love sharing my dishes and connecting with people through the food that I create.
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Jill
I made this today for tonight’s dinner. Too hot to eat anything else. Oh boy is it yummy!!
Melissa
Thanks so much!
Gayle
I mixed olive garden salad dressing with a tiny bit of lemon basil sauce e and EVOO with a wedge of lemon. I used few cucumber chopped. Green olives with garlic chopped, and black olives. Also.1/2 piece of deli smoked ham1/2 inch thick chopped. Roma tomatoes cored and chopped. Shredded mozzerella, parmesean, and very little red onion. Also a mix ofspinach.and more arugula for a nice peppery flavor. I added white pasta cut in half boiled al dente.. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. I will make again and again. Deliciosa
Lisa
I haven’t made this but I’m getting ready. Thought I had all of the ingredients but forgot the spinach. Is it a big deal?
Melissa
You can omit it. sure!
Diana
You might try Jovial Cassava Pasta. Gluten-free and I can't tell the difference.
Jan
Do you think you could use spaghetti squash instead of regular spaghetti
Melissa
I haven't tested it, but it could likely be adapted, sure.
Joan
Do you use 16 oz pkg of spaghetti??
Melissa
From the recipe "1 lb package spaghetti, cooked to al dente." One pound is equal to 16 ounces, yes.
Armida
What other cheese can I use instead of mozzarella cheese? Thank you!
Melissa
Provolone, fontina, white cheddar whatever flavor you enjoy most.
MAC
Is there something else you can use instead of italia n dressing..... My family hates italia n dressing but would like everything else! Mayo maybe?
Melissa
Do they like Caesar dressing? That would be tasty in this. You could certainly adapt with mayo, too.
Debbie K.
So good, the family has an allergy to onions and some don’t care for black olives. I used freshly grated shaved parmigiana in it. What a summer treat, and there was enough to feed the neighborhood!
Melissa
Awesome, and yes it makies plenty. Thank you!
banazer noor
GOOD RECIPES WEBSITE I LOVE IT WELL DONE.
I TRY LAST NIGHT MY KIDS SAY YUMMY.
JOYCE DICKERSON
I am knew at this can we print your recipes I don't know how to save?
Thanks,
Joyce
Melissa
Hi Joyce, sure. Choose the print button in the recipe template and another page will pop up with just the recipe and one picture.
Teajaejae
Never had this with spinach or salami but I bet it's a nice addition to this tasty salad. My mama used to add thin slices of red onion or purple onion as some folks call it, and something about that just amped up the flavor. I have made this since mama passed, it was one of her favorites. I think I'll have to now ????????
Melissa
Thinly sliced red onion is very tasty in this salad. Make and enjoy some in her memory, no one cooks like Momma.♥