Summer Spaghetti Salad :: Perfect Side for Your Next Game Night!
Hey there, fellow moms! If you’re anything like me, deciding what to serve at your next gathering can be a challenge. This month, I’m hosting my friends for our Pokeno club game night, and I’ve got a fantastic recipe to share with you all—Summer Spaghetti Salad. It’s light, refreshing, and a fun twist to serve alongside those easy summer meals.
Pokeno nights are all about fun, laughter, and yes, a little bit of friendly competition. The food is important, but let’s be real, it’s all about those prizes! So, I love serving dishes that are delicious yet not too heavy, keeping us light on our feet for the game. This Summer Spaghetti Salad fits the bill perfectly.
Here’s what you need:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound thin spaghetti, broken into pieces
- 1 cucumber, diced (I go heavy on the cucumber)
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (heavy on the parm too!)
- 1 bottle Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked spaghetti, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and pour in the Italian dressing.
- Toss everything together until well mixed. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
Tips for the Perfect Summer Spaghetti Salad
- Fresh Ingredients: Use the freshest vegetables for the best flavor.
- Chill Time: Allowing the salad to chill for a few hours helps the flavors to blend perfectly.
- Customizable: Feel free to add other favorite veggies or proteins like grilled chicken.
- Practice Your Chopping Skills: The most time-consuming part of this recipe is chopping all the veggies. It’s a great opportunity to practice your knife skills, but don’t worry—this salad is really simple and can be adjusted to your liking. The secret is letting the noodles cool before mixing and finding an Italian dressing that you love.
For our Pokeno night, I served this salad with Crack Chicken Sliders and Strawberry Tea. It was a hit! The salad is really easy to make—the most time-consuming part is chopping everything and letting it sit. The freshness of the veggies combined with the tangy Italian dressing makes it a crowd-pleaser.
So, are any of you part of a Pokeno club or have regular game nights? What’s your go-to dish to serve? I’d love to hear about your favorites in the comments below!
Until next time, happy cooking and good luck with your game night!
