Description
A vibrant and refreshing Confetti Salad featuring tender spaghetti, crisp vegetables, and a creamy tangy dressing. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light lunch, this colorful pasta salad combines red pepper, cucumber, celery, corn, and red onion with a flavorful homemade dressing of mayo, sour cream, Parmesan, and spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 1 (16 oz) package spaghetti
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 3 stalks celery, diced
- 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, thoroughly combine mayonnaise, sour cream, grated Parmesan cheese, white vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well blended.
- Cook the Pasta: Break the spaghetti into 1-2 inch pieces and boil in salted water until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and let it cool for 15 minutes to room temperature.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Place the cooled pasta into a large salad bowl. Add the diced red pepper, red onion, cucumber, celery, and drained corn. Gently mix to evenly distribute all the vegetables.
- Add the Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss everything together carefully to coat the pasta and vegetables completely with the creamy dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This resting time allows the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.
Notes
- Breaking the spaghetti into shorter pieces makes this salad easier to eat and serve.
- Make sure the pasta is cooled before adding the dressing to prevent it from becoming watery.
- You can substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the sour cream for a lighter version.
- Add fresh herbs like parsley or dill for extra freshness if desired.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste after chilling, as flavors develop and intensify.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Confetti Salad, Pasta Salad, Spaghetti Salad, Creamy Salad, Picnic Salad, Easy Pasta Salad, Summer Salad
