This easy vegetarian Garden Veggie Tortellini Pasta Salad is tossed with a flavorful homemade dressing and is sure to vanish quickly at your next party or BBQ! Even better? You can make it in advance!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword Veggie Tortellini Pasta Salad
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time 7 minutesminutes
Total Time 17 minutesminutes
Servings 8servings
Calories 269kcal
Author Jenn Laughlin - Peas and Crayons
Ingredients
9ozfresh cheese tortellini
9ozfresh spinach + cheese tortellini
1green bell pepper
1red bell pepper
1/2-1cupcorn(steamed from frozen/fresh or canned)
1heaping cup grape/cherry tomatoes
4ozcheddar cheesecubed
parsley and/or green onionto garnish (optional but delish!)
Bring a medium-large pot to boil over high heat and cook tortellini per package instructions.
Tortellini Tip: when cooking fresh chilled tortellini, start with a rolling boil on high, add pasta, then decrease heat to medium-low simmer to prevent pasta breakage.
While your pasta cooks, whisk together your dressing by combining the ingredients and whisk (or pop it in a mason jar and shake) until well combined. Ingredients will separate naturally, simply whisk/shake again before pouring and you're good to go!
Chop your peppers and tomatoes and prep your corn. If using canned corn, simply drain and rinse. Fresh or frozen will require a quick steam and you're good to go!
Once tortellini is tender and al-dente, strain in a colander and rinse briefly with cold water. Pour into a large bowl and add your veggies, cheese, parsley.
Stir or shake dressing well and pour HALF the dressing over your salad. Cover and allow to chill. This step allows your pasta and veggies to soak up some of the delicious flavor from the dressing which almost acts as a marinade here.
Ready to eat? Drizzle a little extra dressing over the salad (both will keep in an airtight container for approx. 4 days) and give it a taste. Add extra if desired or dive right in!
Notes
Any Italian seasoning blend may be used here, you can even make your own! but keep in mind if your blend already includes salt (mine doesn't) you'll want to skip adding the salt in this recipe until you've tasted the dressing.I used a combination of Cabot white cheddar and sharp cheddar, but feel free to use your favorite cheese for this salad! It also works great with a sprinkle of Parmesan!If you're making this salad to serve the following day (the leftovers are amazing!) feel free e to follow my lead and reserve dressing for drizzling later. Nutrition facts below are an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Values calculated pre-dressing. Depending on whether you use the recipe above or your own dressing; adjust as needed.