Classic Pasta Salad

What We're Cooking

Classic Pasta Salad

If there’s one dish that always disappears first at a cookout, potluck, or summer dinner table, it’s a classic pasta salad. This version is simple, nostalgic, and packed with bold Italian flavor thanks to a few pantry staples we always keep on hand. It’s the kind of recipe you can throw together quickly, customize endlessly, and make ahead for busy weekends.

The base is tender spaghetti pasta tossed with zesty Italian dressing and the unmistakable flavor of McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning. From there, the add-ins are completely up to you, which is one of the reasons we love this recipe so much. Our favorite combination is juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp English cucumber, and thinly sliced red onion for the perfect fresh crunch in every bite.

Whether you’re serving it alongside burgers at a backyard barbecue or pulling it from the fridge for an easy lunch, this pasta salad is always a crowd favorite.

The Ingredients:

by weight

  • 1 lb box of Spaghetti Pasta
  • 15 oz bottle Italian or Zesty Italian Dressing
  • 40 grams McCormick Salad Supreme Seasoning
  • 4 oz Cherry Tomatoes, halved or quartered
  • 6 oz English Cucumber, diced
  • 2 oz Red Onion, diced

Instructions

  • 1. Cook pasta as directed on package. Rinse under cold water & drain well.
  • 2. Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.
  • 3. Add in Italian Dressing & Salad Supreme seasoning and toss until evenly coated.
  • 4. Mix in Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber, & Red Onion.
  • 5. Allow pasta to chill for at least 1 hour before serving for the best flavor.
  • 7. Serve up & enjoy!

Why We Rinse the Pasta with Cold Water

One of the most important steps in making a great pasta salad is rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking. While you normally wouldn’t rinse pasta for hot dishes, pasta salad is completely different.

Rinsing the spaghetti with cold water does two things:

  • It immediately stops the cooking process so the pasta doesn’t become too soft or mushy.
  • It quickly brings the temperature down, making it ready to mix with the dressing and fresh vegetables.

Cooling the pasta first also helps keep the vegetables crisp and fresh instead of warming them up when everything is tossed together. The result is a perfectly chilled, flavorful pasta salad with the ideal texture in every bite.

Tips for the Best Pasta Salad

  • Don’t overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta holds up best after chilling.
  • Pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so feel free to add a little extra before serving.
  • Make it your own with extras like pepperoni, black olives, cheese cubes, bell peppers, or broccoli.
  • This easy classic pasta salad is proof that the simplest recipes are often the best. With minimal ingredients and tons of flavor, it’s a recipe you’ll find yourself making all summer long.

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