This addictive Tortellini Pasta Salad is tossed with a flavorful homemade dressing and is sure to vanish quickly at your next party or BBQ!
Despite the fact that a good number of us are still relying on our heater for warmth, it’s Spring, glorious Spring!
I’ve always secretly wished that the first day of this much-awaited season fell on April 1st. That way, mother nature can sneak in an epic “Oh, you were expecting spring? APRIL FOOLS!” when she dumps snow on us one last time.
Hopefully it’s warm where you are; I’ll come visit. Well, until it gets a bit too warm, and then I’m out of there! I seem to hold very high temperature standards and North Carolina only feels comfortable to me for a good 2-3 months out of the year.
Once it gets too hot or too cold I start to longingly stroke my passport and curse society for not delivering on those flying cars I was promised as a kid. I’m still waiting on that people. It’s 2013. Make it happen.
While I await my flying car and robot sidekick, you should hop in the kitchen and make some pasta salad. Yes I’m peddling that stuff again.
It’s hard not to break out the pasta salad each week when your husband looks at you like you’re a sparkly unicorn every time you make it.
He lights up like a bird with a french fry, grabs a fork, and gets to work on that bowl like it’s the last thing he might ever eat. I guess some people react that way to cake or ice cream… but for Paul? It’s pasta salad. I love that man.
Apologies for the ramble, let’s talk pasta salad. With tortellini. Duh.
Q: What vegetables are good in pasta salad?
Ever find yourself with a crisper full of vegetables to use up? Pasta salad makes the perfect opportunity for using up all those veggies! Grab your favorites and add them to this recipe.
- bell peppers
- olives
- tomatoes
- red onion
- sweet mini peppers
- sweet corn
- banana peppers
- marinated artichokes
- chopped avocado
- spinach
- arugula
- kale
- broccoli
- cucumber
- and so much more!
special diets and pasta salad swaps
Vegan Pasta Salad
Veganize by using regular pasta in place of the tortellini (or snagging vegan tortellini – it’s a thing!) and then skip the cheese (like this) for a classic plant-based pasta salad that’s full of flavor!
T-Rex Tortellini Salad
Feel free to add bacon or roasted chicken/turkey/ham if you’d like! I make a mean Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad with chopperoni and/or salami. So good!
Craving a creamy pasta salad? Mix the above Italian dressing recipe with your favorite homemade or store-bought caesar dressing. The combo is AMAZING!
Cheesy Tortellini Pasta Salad
This recipe pretty pasta salad recipe is perfect for 2 main dishes or 4 small sides and is easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd!
Make this as an addition to one of my awesome veggie burgers or serve it up all on it’s own! This tasty tortellini pasta salad is perfect for cheese addicts whom, as you know, are some of the best type of addicts.
Other than veggie addicts, of course. You always get extra credit for veggies!
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 9-10 oz cheese tortellini (the fresh refrigerated variety)
- 1-2 cups chopped veggies
- ¼ cup cheese of choice (sharp cheddar, mozzarella, feta)
- 1-2 tsp finely grated Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
TASTY VEGGIE OPTIONS
- tomatoes
- bell peppers
- red onion
- sweet mini peppers
- broccoli
- marinated artichokes
- sweet corn
- chopped avocado
- banana peppers
- cucumber
- olives
- broccoli
- spinach
- arugula
- kale
HOMEMADE ITALIAN DRESSING
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 TBSP white vinegar
- 1 TBSP Italian Seasoning blend (Mrs. Dash is my favorite!)
- ½ TBSP garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
- Add your tortellini and reduce heat to gently cook the pasta, according to package instructions, to either tender or al-dente.
- Once you think they’re done, grab a noodle to taste-test and remove from heat.
- Strain/drain in a colander and pour into a medium-large serving bowl.
- Toss in your chopped veggies and cheeses and pour the dressing [see below for instructions] over the noodles.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate to chill the pasta and allow the flavors from the dressing to soak into the salad. It acts almost as a marinade and infuses the noodles, veggies and cheese with flavor.
- When you’re ready to dig in, feel free to drizzle a little extra dressing over the top and dust the entire bowl with parmesan romano cheese and dig. on. in.
- For the dressing: Whisk all ingredients together and allow to sit. Giving the dressing some time to mingle will not only infuse flavor into the oil/vinegar but also soften the dry herbs and seasoning. After letting it set, whisk once more and pour over your salad! It should keep in your fridge for about a week, if needed. If you’re making this salad to serve the following day [it tastes awesome the next day!] feel free to follow my lead and make extra dressing so you can drizzle some extra over the salad just before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
This tortellini salad is seriously the best! It had been way too long since I’ve last made it, so when the pilot came home to a big bowl it was licked clean within the hour. Clearly I need to put this dish on heavy rotation this Spring and Summer. We miss it so fiercely in the colder months!
Hope you kids a fantabulous holiday weekend! <3
more tasty tortellini recipes
If you need a few more ways to use up a package of tortellini, try my super tasty Tortellini Soup or whip up a pot of Instant Pot Tortellini!
For my T-Rex friends, Katerina’s One Pot Italian Chicken Tortellini recipe looks amaaazing!
Put a fun twist on this tortellini pasta salad with my Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad – love it so!
If you get a chance to try this quick and easy tortellini pasta salad recipe, let me know! Leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your tasty creations.
Easy and delicious
Thank you Nancy!
Loved this! Perfect for a potluck!
So glad you enjoyed it Sharon! Thank you!
Loved this! Perfect for potluck!
I was wondering which olives you used, green or black olives?
Hi Valerie! I’ve had some readers mention they added olives but they didn’t specify which kind! I’d say if you’re a big fan of olives just use a little of your favorite? I’m more of a banana pepper girl so when I want something briney/vinegary to add to salads I beeline for those!
I’ve been looking for a new way to spice up my traditional pasta salad and I think I found it! So beautiful and so delicious!
Dooooo it! xoxo
This is one of my favorite salads! So fresh, full of so much flavor and perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ours too! You can’t go wrong with tortellini in pasta salad!
Looks great. Can I make it a day ahead? Thanks.
Hey Cindy! You can absolutely make this the day before! I like to save half of the dressing for the next day to drizzle over before serving, as the pasta soaks most of it up if dressed in advance.
What a delicious combination! I’m going to make this all summer long—everyone loves it!
Tortellini is my favorite! This is SO GOOD.
A great recipe to have on hand during busy weekdays. My family adores the Mrs. Dash seasoning mix!
i bought tortellini at the store this morning then came across this PIN. I wii be making this tomorrow. The pic looks yummy. Can’t wait to try it.
Thanks! Hope you love it as much as we do!!! 🙂
I just made this last night for my family, and it was gone in maybe 3 minutes max. Great, easy recipe!! The dressing is YUMMY and I love putting cheese on my cheese.
Hi. I made this salad this weekend for my son’s bday party. I added green peppers, cherry tomatoes, Gorgonzola and Parmesan cheese. It was a hit. Thanks for the recipe.
That sounds tasty, but just wanted to say you are so funny!! Flying cars and lights up like a bird with a French fry! Lol I love your writing.
I made this over the weekend for a group. Everyone loved it!
Thanks!
Lauren
Yayy!!!! Glad you guys liked it, Lauren! Thanks!
Made this last night and it was so good! I served it over baby spinach and added cucumbers to get some extra veggies in. 🙂
You get 1000000 bonus points for extra veggies! AND a gold star! <3 Thanks Dani!
This looks so good. I love it.
this looks so good! i’m always looking for easy side dishes and this will be perfect. we’re having friends over sunday and i think i’m going to have to try this!
Your tortellini salad looks delicious! It’s great that you made your own dressing for it–and that Mrs. Dash could play a part. Before your next purchase, be sure to download a coupon from our website:
http://www.mrsdash.com/Save-50-Cents-Coupon.aspx
You guys rock! Thanks!
I made your Tortellini Salad for a bridal shower. It was a huge hit! We’ll be making this often! Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe!
I love Mrs. Dash on everything – but cheese + pasta may take the cake 😉
right? It’s magical!
That Mrs. Dash seasoning is super amazing!!! I do LOVE that blend!
This sounds so tasty!! I didn’t try tortellini for the first time until recently (I know, how is that possible?!), and I’m kind of in love with it now. Do you have a recommended brand for the tortellini?
Thanks Caroline! I can’t recall the brand Sams Club carries but it’s delicious! I also *love* the buitioni brand tortellini – the fresh kind from the refrigerated section in the store beats the frozen and shelf stable ones hands down!
I just pinned this bad boy! My husband and sons thank you! 🙂
Happy Easter!
Looks so gooooood’nn
I was just telling my fiancee yesterday that tortellini is the one thing I miss about being gluten free. I need a substitute that doesn’t taste like cardboard. Maybe I’ll just eat this anyway and feel sick later. It’s worth it sometimes…
Yum … love this one. This would be great to make for a party!!
Ahhh, I recognize those pics! 😉 Love it! I seriously want to just put my face in that big serving bowl! I don’t know why, but I have NEVER bought the cheese tortellini (which just took me THREE tries to spell…sheesh!) and now I seriously need to get to the store for that Dash blend…I swear I should own stock in that company for as much business as they get from me! Their chipotle seasoning is my FAVE!
Happy Easter babe! Hope it warms up a bit for ya…it’s been yucky and rainy here all week! I totally second the whole flying car gig! Or at LEAST some sort of hologram! C’mon people…get with it!
Oh my goodness. I need to make this asap. Looks so good! My mom makes a similar one but its with different pasta.
We must hangout. You can make the Italian dinner and I’ll bastardize an Italian dessert (PB cannoli… on a bagel for the baby-bagel?).
Since I am a cheese and veggie addict, this is just perfect. It looks fabulous.