Italian Spaghetti Salad is a simple, delicious dinner that is sure to fill you up while packing in plenty of veggies! 

All of my kids like this dinner, which is always a big positive!  We like to serve it with French bread or rolls on the side.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb spaghetti noodles (we often use the thin)
• 1 cucumber diced
• 1 red or yellow pepper diced
• 1/4 red onion diced
• 1 14 oz can olives sliced
• 1-2 tomatoes diced
• 8 oz cheddar cheese cubed
• Italian salad dressing
• Paprika

Supplies:

• Large pot to boil water for pasta
• Large bowl for mixing salad ingredients
• Small bowl for mixing sauce
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon
• Rubber spatula
• Pasta server (my favorite here!)

Step 1:

Fill a pot with water and heat to boiling.  Add spaghetti noodles and cook desired amount of time.

Step 2:

While spaghetti is cooking, prepare fresh veggies.

Dice cucumber, pepper, red onion, and tomatoes.  Slice olives.  Cut cheese and set aside for later.

Step 3:

Mix all of the vegetables in a large bowl, saving the cheese for later.

Step 4:

Make dressing by mixing 1/2 bottle of prepared Italian salad dressing with 1 tsp paprika in small bowl.  Whisk well.  Set aside.

Step 5:

When spaghetti is finished cooking, drain in colander and rinse with cold water.  After the pasta has cooled slightly, put into large bowl with mixed vegetables.  Mix together with spoon or spatula.

Step 6:

Drizzle prepared dressing mixture on top of salad.  Feel free to use however little or much you prefer for your family.

Step 7:  

Right before serving, stir in the cubed cheese.

Step 8:

Enjoy with sliced French bread or homemade rolls on the side!

This recipe is so simple and can honestly be made with whatever types of veggies your family likes or whatever you have on hand!  If you need a quick, healthy meal, Italian spaghetti salad is a great choice!

~ Rachel