Best Catalina Pasta Salad Recipe

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If you’ve never tried Catalina pasta salad, you’re in for a treat. Today we are sharing this spaghetti pasta salad recipe with Catalina dressing. It’s a delicious and original recipe that can be used as an easy side dish for any summer BBQ or potluck.

What Is Catalina Dressing?

Catalina dressing is a sweet and tangy dressing made with tomato puree, vinegar, onion, garlic, spices, and sugar. It’s most commonly used for salads or as a chicken marinade. Catalina dressing has a wonderful aroma and pairs perfectly with the vegetables and spaghetti in this pasta salad recipe.

Homemade Vs Store Bought Catalina Dressing

For this recipe, we use a store-bought Catalina dressing but you can make your own homemade Catalina sauce if you prefer.

What Does Catalina Dressing Taste Like?

Catalina dressing has a sweet and tangy flavor with hints of tomato, onion, and garlic.

Ingredients for Catalina Pasta Salad

Here are the ingredients for this Catalina dressing pasta salad:

• 1 (16 oz.) Box of Spaghetti
• 1 cucumber, peeled and cut into quarters
• ½ cup diced carrots
• 1 Roma tomato, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, or green pepper diced
• 1 16 oz. bottle of Catalina Dressing

How To Make Pasta Salad With Catalina Dressing

Cook the spaghetti in a large pot according to package directions and bring to boil.

Cooking time is around 8-10 minutes until the pasta is al dente.

Next drain the boiling water, rinse with cold water, and let cool. Place in a large mixing bowl whilst you prepare the vegetables.

Wash and prep all of the veggies.

In the large bowl combine the cooked spaghetti, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and bell pepper.

Drizzle the bottle of Catalina dressing over all the ingredients.

Use a tong to mix everything together until well combined.

Refrigerate until ready to serve and enjoy.

Catalina Dressing Recipe

If you want to make a homemade Catalina dressing recipe to put in your salad then you’ll need the following ingredients. It’s an easy recipe to make.

Recipe instructions for Catalina dressing:

-3/4 cup tomato puree

-1/2 cup white vinegar

-1 1/2 small onions, chopped

-1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

-1 teaspoon sugar

-1/2 teaspoon salt

-1/4 teaspoon paprika

In a blender or food processor mix all the ingredients together until smooth. You can store your Catalina sauce in a container in the fridge for up to 1 week and add it to all your favorite recipes or salads.

How Many Servings In this Catalina Pasta Dish?

This particular dish makes 4-5 servings per batch. If you’re going to a potluck dinner or family get-together you might want to double up the ingredients for more servings.

What Is The Prep Time For Catalina Pasta?

This Catalina pasta has a prep time of about 15 minutes, plus any additional time needed for the spaghetti to cool before mixing everything together.

Why You’ll Love This Catalina Pasta Salad Recipe

Not only is this Catalina dressing pasta easy to make, but it’s also packed with vegetables and bursting with flavor.

The sweet and tangy dressing pairs perfectly with the crunchy vegetables and spaghetti noodles. It’s a great side dish or main dish the whole family will love.

Can I Use Macaroni Pasta With Catalina Dressing?

Yes, feel free to substitute any type of pasta that you prefer. Other great options would be macaroni, penne or rotini pasta.

Can I Use Homemade Catalina Dressing?

If you have a homemade Catalina dressing recipe that you love, absolutely give it a try! Or, if you prefer a different type of dressing, feel free to use that instead.

Some other options could be Italian dressing, mayonnaise or ranch dressing.

Can I Add Other Ingredients To The Salad?

This Catalina pasta salad is very versatile and open for customization.

Feel free to add in some sliced black olives, diced red onion, or even grilled chicken for added protein.

Add in any other vegetables that you love as well, like broccoli or green bell pepper. You can also add olives, hardboiled eggs and cheese mixed into your salad for even more flavor. The options are endless!

Best Cheese To Add To Catalina Salad

Some great options for cheese to add into this Catalina pasta salad would be mozzarella, cheddar, or feta. Or, if you want a unique twist, try adding in some crumbled blue cheese. This will add extra depth to the noodles.

Have fun experimenting with different cheeses and finding your favorite combination.

How To Store Pasta Salad

Leftover Catalina pasta salad can be eaten on the same day or it may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Just give it a good stir before serving again. It’s also great as leftover cold lunches!

Does Pasta Salad Go Bad?

Yes, like any perishable food, pasta salad can go bad if not stored properly or left out for too long. It’s best to refrigerate the salad and enjoy within 2-3 days for optimal freshness.

Alternate Serving Suggestions For Catalina Dressing Pasta Salad

This Catalina dressing pasta salad is delicious served as a side dish at barbecues or potlucks. It also makes for a tasty cold lunch option.

You can also serve it as a main dish by adding in some grilled chicken or shrimp to make it more filling and substantial. Serve with some crusty bread on the side for a complete meal.

More Serving Suggestions For Catalina Pasta Salad

Here are a few more recipes you might like to pair or serve with Catalina pasta salad.

• Chili Mac Pasta
• Instant Pot Ribs
• Asian Pork Belly
• Steak Skewers
• Air Fryer Crusted Chicken

Serving Catalina Salad With Hardboiled Eggs

It has become increasingly popular to serve Catalina salad with hardboiled eggs, this not only adds protein to the salad but it also allows you to enjoy a meat-free salad option. Simply dice up some boiled eggs and stir them into the salad before serving. Enjoy!

Enjoy this delicious and easy Catalina pasta salad at your next BBQ or potluck. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Happy eating!