Spaghetti Salad is a light and refreshing cold pasta salad that’s a popular dish at Luby’s Cafeteria. If you haven’t tried Luby’s Spaghetti Salad, you’re missing out on an amazing pasta creation. This easy-to-make dish features a variety of fresh vegetables, including crisp cucumbers, onions, and ripe tomatoes, which combine to create a fantastic salad. The unique dressing combines Italian dressing with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and aromatic spices, resulting in a flavor combination that tastes incredible.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Luby’s Cafeteria Spaghetti Salad
The magic lies in the unique dressing that combines Italian dressing with poppy seeds and sesame seeds, creating layers of flavor and interesting texture. Cooking the pasta in properly salted water ensures each strand is seasoned from within. The overnight chilling allows all flavors to meld together beautifully, while the fresh vegetables add crunch and brightness that balances the rich dressing.
Spaghetti Pasta Salad Ingredients
For the Pasta Base:
- Spaghetti – Provides the substantial foundation for the salad with perfect texture when cooled
- Italian salad dressing – Creates the tangy, herbaceous base for the unique dressing blend
For the Signature Dressing:
- Parmesan cheese – Adds sharp, nutty flavor and richness to the dressing
- Sesame seeds – Contribute nutty crunch and distinctive flavor
- Poppy seeds – Provides subtle crunch and mild, nutty taste
- Seasoned salt – Enhances all flavors with perfect salt and spice balance
- Paprika – Adds mild sweetness and vibrant color
- Black pepper – Delivers gentle heat and aromatic spice
- Garlic powder – Infuses savory depth throughout the dressing
- Cayenne pepper – Provides subtle heat and complexity
For the Fresh Vegetables:
- Cucumber – Delivers refreshing crunch and cool flavor
- Red onion – Adds sharp bite and beautiful color contrast
- Tomatoes – Contributes juicy sweetness and vibrant color
- Fresh parsley – Provides bright, herbaceous finish and visual appeal
How to Make Luby’s Spaghetti Salad
Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well.
Transfer cooked spaghetti to a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, cheese, seeds, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, and peppers.
Add diced cucumber and onion to dressing mixture. Stir to combine.
Pour dressing mixture over spaghetti. Toss to combine.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Top with diced tomatoes and chopped parsley before serving.
I think you will find that salad tastes even better the next day. I love to bring this salad to a potluck or a picnic. It is unusual, so I find this salad gets eaten quickly.
Tips for making the best Spaghetti Salad ever
- Be sure to cook the pasta in salty water. How salty? Add enough salt that the water tastes like saltwater like the sea
- Let the pasta cool off completely before mixing together
- Want to customize the salad? Add your own fresh vegetables that you prefer!
Love spaghetti? Try these recipes:
More Copycat Luby’s Recipes
- Jalapeno Cornbread
- Beef Tortilla Soup
- Stuffed Jalapenos
- Cafeteria Style Mac and Cheese
- Italian Chicken
- Cranberry Relish Salad
- Hawaiian Pie
- Butternut Brownie Pie
Be sure to look at my easy copycat restaurant salads and restaurant pasta recipes.
A fellow viewer sent in this recipe. Thanks to the Bratzy Gal for this one.
Luby’s Spaghetti Salad Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti broken in half
- 16 ounce bottle Italian dressing
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 diced cucumber
- 1 diced red onion
- 2 diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon parsley
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain well. Transfer to a large bowl. In a medium bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, cheese, seeds, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder and peppers until well blended. Stir in cucumber and onion. Pour over spaghetti and toss lightly to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Garnish with tomatoes and parsley sprigs.
Made this for the 4th with fresh tomatoes out of my garden, this was delicious!
I love this one. I make a half batch at a time since I’m the main one who likes it. (I could probably finish a whole batch in a couple of days so ….) I added chopped sweet mini peppers to the latest batch. Might add some mozzarella pearls. Easy to modify to suit your taste. The main ingredients are the italian dressing (I use Ken’s Italian with Aged Romano) and the spaghetti noodles. I think you could easily use other pasta as well. Great cold dish. The hardest part is letting it set for a couple of hours before eating it.
So glad you enjoy it! I sometimes vary the recipe a bit depending upon what I have in my refrigerator in terms of fresh vegetables.
Hi steph!
I used to work at Luby’s
Your recibe is delicioso, but at Lubys we didnt use italiano dressing; we used olive oÃl and tabasco.
What kind of olive oil please
This looks so fresh and delicious! I love finding new recipes, thank you!
Question: What is my favorite dish at luby’s?
Answer: Spaghetti salad
Thank you for the delicious recipes. Do you have a recipe for the Luby’s lime jello, cottage cheese salad? Was my favorite, more like dessert than salad, would love to taste it again.
what is coconut cream?
It is a coconut syrup you put in drinks.
I was looking for this recipe from years back eating it and believe me, its very good. I have made it for several gatherings and it’s a winner.
Thanks,
chef Harry