Tortellini Pasta Salad

My simple tortellini pasta salad is packed with fresh vegetables, salty cheese, and tender cooked pasta. The homemade red wine vinaigrette is the perfect finishing touch. 

This cold tortellini pasta salad is one of my all-time favorite summer recipes, right up there with Corn, Avocado & Cilantro Salad, 3-Ingredient Strawberry Icebox Cake, and Grilled Chicken Kabobs. I love that I can make it in advance, pack it up and bring it to picnics, pool parties, and barbecues.

It actually gets tastier as it sits, as the dressing soaks into every bite of tortellini and veggies. Everyone always asks me for the recipe and, of course, I am happy to oblige! 

Classic Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

My tortellini pasta salad recipe starts with cooked cheese tortellini. I like to use rainbow-colored tortellini, which makes the salad look extra tasty. But don’t worry if you can’t find colored pasta, there are plenty of eye-catching ingredients in the recipe! Red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives all add an array of pretty colors to the bowl, making it look just as good as it tastes. 

The second part of this tortellini salad recipe is the homemade dressing. I whisk up a red wine vinaigrette with basil, parsley, and garlic powder. The blend of herbs and spices is perfect when paired with crunchy veggies and soft cheese-filled pasta. I promise that this easy tortellini pasta salad will be a recipe you love and make again and again! 

(Looking for more pasta salad recipes? Try my Deviled Egg Pasta Salad and Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad, too!)

Ingredients for Tortellini Pasta Salad

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

• Olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Dried basil – Freshly chopped basil will also work well. Use one tablespoon of freshly chopped basil in place of dried basil.
• Dried parsley – Two teaspoons of freshly chopped parsley can be used in place of dried parsley.
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• Cheese tortellini – Fresh tortellini cooks in about 2 minutes, so it is my favorite. However, you can use frozen tortellini or dried tortellini to make this pasta salad as well. Just be sure to follow the cooking directions on the tortellini package!
• Cherry tomatoes – You can also use two large chopped tomatoes, but try to choose a sweet variety. Heirloom tomatoes have the most flavor and should be readily available in the summer. 
• Red onion
• Red bell pepper – Red bell pepper is sweeter than green or yellow, so it is always my go-to pepper choice. 
• Cucumber – Leave the peel on the cucumber to keep that pretty green color. 
• Black olives
• Grated parmesan cheese – Freshly grated cheese has the best texture.
• Mozzarella pearls
• Salami – Salami is optional, but I like the extra salty flavor it adds to the tortellini pasta salad. Skip the salami if you want a vegetarian tortellini pasta salad. 

Variations

Here are a few ingredient substitutes and recipe tweaks that will work well.

• Use sliced, fresh mozzarella in place of mozzarella pearls. Cut the mozzarella into bite-sized pieces and toss it into the salad just as you would add the pearls. 
• Use balsamic vinegar in place of red wine vinegar to give the salad a whole new flavor. Balsamic also goes well with the Italian-style tortellini pasta salad.
• Use shell pasta or penne pasta in place of the tortellini to make a classic pasta salad. While the tortellini does make the salad extra filling, it is also great with plain noodles. 

How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

1. Make the dressing: Whisk together the ingredients for the salad dressing, then set the bowl aside. 
2. Cook the tortellini: Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. All tortellini will need to be boiled in water, but the time may vary based on the type of tortellini you use. Once the tortellini is cooked, drain the water and rinse the pasta under cold water to chill. 
3. Add the dressing: Pour the dressing over the tortellini in a large bowl and toss to coat the pasta in the dressing. 
4. Add the mix-ins: Add all of the remaining salad ingredients to the bowl with the cooked tortellini and toss everything together well.
5. Chill: Let the tortellini salad chill for at least an hour, allowing the flavors to develop. Then, enjoy cold! 

Serving Suggestions

Tortellini pasta salad goes well with cookout and picnic favorites like Easy Grilled BBQ Chicken, Italian Chicken Sandwiches, and Broccoli Salad.

How to Store Tortellini Pasta Salad

If you have leftover pasta salad, store it in an airtight container or in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap. Keep the salad in the fridge for 4-5 days. Enjoy straight from the fridge or try it heated in the microwave. It is delicious cold or hot! 

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