I love a cold pasta salad packed with colorful produce straight from the farmer’s market or picked from the garden. This Farmer’s Market-Style Cold Spaghetti Salad is loaded with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp zucchini, sweet fresh corn, ripe peaches, fresh herbs, and shredded Parmesan all tossed in zesty Italian vinaigrette. It’s bright, fresh, and full of summer flavor in every bite.
This easy cold spaghetti salad is perfect for cookouts, backyard BBQs, potlucks, picnics, or light summer dinners. The combination of sweet peaches, crunchy vegetables, fresh basil, cilantro, and tangy dressing creates the ultimate refreshing pasta salad recipe that tastes like summer in a bowl.
Whether you’re trying to use up garden produce or looking for a crowd-pleasing side dish, this farmer’s market pasta salad is guaranteed to disappear fast.
More Amazing Pasta Salads
Why You’ll Love This Farmer’s Market Pasta Salad
- Loaded with fresh seasonal vegetables and herbs
- Sweet peaches add unexpected summer flavor
- Perfect make-ahead cold pasta salad
- Great for BBQs, picnics, and potlucks
- Light, colorful, and refreshing
- Easy to customize with your favorite produce
- Delicious served cold straight from the fridge
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced into half moons
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed
- 2 firm fresh peaches, diced
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
How to Make Farmer’s Market Cold Spaghetti Salad
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
Step 2: Prep the Fresh Produce
While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables and fruit. Slice the cherry tomatoes, zucchini, green onions, and dice the peaches and red bell pepper. Remove the corn kernels from the cob.
Step 3: Toss Everything Together
Add the cooled spaghetti to a large serving bowl. Toss in the tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, corn, peaches, green onions, basil, cilantro, and Parmesan cheese.
Step 4: Add the Dressing
Pour the Italian vinaigrette over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Step 5: Chill and Serve
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend together. Garnish with extra Parmesan, basil, and cracked black pepper before serving.
Tips for the Best Cold Spaghetti Salad
- Use firm peaches so they hold their shape in the salad
- Fresh sweet corn adds the best flavor and crunch
- Don’t overcook the pasta — al dente works best
- Rinse the pasta in cold water so it stays chilled and doesn’t stick together
- Let the salad chill before serving for even better flavor
- Add extra vinaigrette before serving if the pasta absorbs too much dressing
More Salads To Try
Variations
Add Protein
Turn this into a full meal by adding:
- Grilled chicken
- Shrimp
- Salami
- Fresh mozzarella pearls
- Chickpeas
Swap the Pasta
You can also use:
- Angel hair pasta
- Rotini
- Bowtie pasta
- Linguine
Try Different Vegetables
This salad is perfect for using whatever is fresh and in season:
- Cucumbers
- Yellow squash
- Avocado
- Arugula
- Roasted asparagus
What to Serve with Farmer’s Market Pasta Salad
This cold spaghetti salad pairs perfectly with:
Farmer’s Market Spaghetti Salad
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 SERVINGS 1x
Description
This fresh farmer’s market spaghetti salad is loaded with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, corn, basil, cilantro, Parmesan, and Italian vinaigrette for the ultimate refreshing summer pasta salad.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced into half moons
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed
- 2 firm peaches, diced
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Italian vinaigrette dressing
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package directions.
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
- Add the cooled spaghetti to a large serving bowl or platter.
- Toss in the cherry tomatoes, zucchini, red bell pepper, fresh corn, peaches, green onions, basil, cilantro, and Parmesan cheese.
- Pour the Italian vinaigrette over the salad and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for the best flavor.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan, basil, and cracked black pepper before serving if desired
Notes
- Use firm peaches so they hold their shape in the salad.
- Fresh sweet corn gives the best flavor and crunch.
- Add extra dressing before serving if the pasta absorbs too much while chilling.
- This salad tastes even better after a few hours in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish
- Cuisine: AMERICAN | BBQ | SUMMER
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this pasta salad ahead of time?
Yes! This salad actually tastes even better after chilling for a few hours in the refrigerator.
How long does cold spaghetti salad last?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can I use bottled Italian dressing?
Absolutely. Use your favorite Italian vinaigrette or homemade dressing.
Do I have to use peaches?
No. Nectarines or even strawberries would also be delicious in this summer pasta salad.
Final Thoughts
If summer at the farmer’s market could be turned into a pasta salad, this would be it. The combination of juicy peaches, sweet corn, fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and tangy Italian dressing makes this cold spaghetti salad fresh, colorful, and completely irresistible.
It’s the kind of easy summer recipe that looks beautiful on the table and somehow tastes even better the next day. Whether you’re serving it at a cookout, packing it for a picnic, or enjoying it as a light dinner on a hot evening, this Farmer’s Market-Style Cold Spaghetti Salad is one recipe you’ll want to make all season long.
