This tomato basil tortellini salad is ready to rock your next party or BBQ! We love this easy cheesy pasta salad as a sharable side dish or as a light weekday lunch.
Growing basil in a little pot on my office window sill is totally paying off!
Not only does it smell AMAZING, but it’s kept me with a steady supply of fresh basil all year long. It legit came from one of those little potted grocery store herb plants near the produce in the grocery store and has totally thrived despite my frequent neglect.
As a result, I’m adding basil to *EVERYTHING* and regret nothing!
Buckets of pesto and tomato basil soup are always a favorite around here but since it’s hotter than hades this summer, I’ve been tossing it in caprese style salads galore.
This easy Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad is one of my recent favorites and is a total must for all those ripe and juicy summer tomatoes!
Salad Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make this tasty tomato basil tortellini salad:
TOMATOES
Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, and they’re easily the star of this tasty tortellini salad! You can use cherry tomatoes like I did (halved or quartered) or try it with vine-ripened tomatoes, grape tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or any tasty variety you have on hand. You can even use my crazy popular Marinated Cherry Tomatoes.
BASIL
Fresh basil is a must for this pretty pasta salad! Basil is an excellent source of vitamins A and K and adds the most delicious flavor to salads and pasta dishes.
MOZZARELLA
Another must is mozzarella! I like using little mozzarella balls or pearls for this salad. You can keep them whole or cut them in half to get even more cheese in every forkful. I haven’t tried it yet with burrata but I imagine it would be beyond tasty!
TORTELLINI
There are three types of tortellini you can purchase readily made: fresh, frozen, and dried. For a fresh pasta salad like this, I find that the fresh refrigerated tortellini (usually found near the chilled sauces and cheeses in the grocery store) works best. As for the filling/type of tortellini, anything goes! I used plain cheese but there are so many delicious options like spinach and ricotta or sausage and parmesan.
DRESSING
To make an tasty and supremely easy dressing for this pasta salad, simply combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic, and spices. You can make it even zippier with a splash of red wine vinegar if you’re looking for a little extra acidity to brighten up the ingredients.
Pasta Salad for a Crowd
Need to make this pasta salad for a group? Fantastic! The recipe below is easily doubled or tripled as needed and makes a fantastic party, potluck, or picnic dish that comes together with very little effort. It’s a fantastic take-along option for Spring and Summer barbecues!
Serving Suggestions
This tasty tortellini pasta salad makes a great side dish for burgers, veggie burgers, grilled chicken or veggies, sandwiches of all shapes and sizes, and always tastes amazing nestled up to a creamy potato salad like my chipotle sweet potato salad.
Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad
Let’s get our tortellini on! When I bring this to a gathering I typically double it and when it’s just Paul and myself, I’ll make it as written and plan on having a leftover bowl for lunch the next day!
Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 9 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ¾ cup mozzarella pearls
- 2-3 TBSP thinly sliced basil to taste
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove fresh garlic minced
- ⅓ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ⅛-¼ tsp black pepper
- balsamic glaze for topping (optional but tasty!)
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to instructions. Prep and chop all other ingredients and set aside.
- Drain pasta in a colander and run under cold water to halt the cooking process and prevent soggy noodles.
- Add to a large bowl along with mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.. Pour over the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and add the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Toss the salad well to combine.
- To make an easy balsamic-kissed dressing, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk well and pour over pasta salad.
- Chill until ready to serve or serve it up room temperature if you prefer! It's great both ways. Toss before serving and drizzle with a little balsamic glaze. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you’re looking for a healthy and flavorful side dish to bring to your next gathering, this pretty pasta salad is where it’s at! It’s easy to make and a great way to enjoy all the fresh flavors of tomato season. I hope you love it as much as we do!
More Tasty Tortellini Recipes
- NEW! Spinach Tortellini Salad
- Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Italian Tomato and Spinach Tortellini Soup
- Creamy Mushroom and Spinach Tortellini
- Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
If you get a chance to try this Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad recipe, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
Huge hit for a BBQ, shared the recipe with everyone. Will make this again!
Thanks for sharing the recipe Melissa! 😃 DAY = MADE!
This came out really good!
Yay! So stoked to hear it, Cassie!