Description
This vibrant Spaghetti Salad combines fresh, colorful vegetables with smoky turkey bacon and creamy plant-based cheese for a satisfying and hearty meal. Perfect for lunch, picnics, or light dinners, this easy-to-make salad offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures with a simple, natural dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Base
- 8 oz cooked and cooled spaghetti
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Protein
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
Cheese
- 1/2 cup plant-based cheese, cubed or crumbled
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tsp honey (natural)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook and Cool the Spaghetti: Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the noodles.
- Prepare the Veggies: Dice the bell peppers, cucumber, and red onion into bite-sized pieces; halve the cherry tomatoes. Chop fresh basil finely to release its aroma.
- Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a pan over medium heat, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp. Remove, let cool, and chop into small pieces for mixing.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar (natural), honey (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and pepper until emulsified and flavorful.
- Combine Everything: In a large bowl, toss cooked spaghetti with vegetables, bacon, and plant-based cheese. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently toss to coat evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente to maintain texture when chilled or mixed with dressing.
- Chill the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
- Use fresh herbs like basil for the best flavor impact.
- Drain vegetables well to avoid a watery salad.
- Toss gently to prevent breaking pasta strands or crushing ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: Spaghetti Salad, turkey bacon salad, plant-based cheese, fresh vegetable salad, easy pasta salad, picnic salad
