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Tortellini Pasta Salad – Sustainable Cooks


This Tortellini Pasta Salad is a straightforward and simple meal that you may throw collectively in quarter-hour or much less. Good as a quick aspect, principal dish, or fast lunch, this chilly tortellini salad will develop into a household favourite.

a cold pasta salad in a white bowl.

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Meet your new favourite go-to meal or aspect dish! Made in a flash with quick-cooking cheese tortellini, and infinitely customizable, this chilly tortellini pasta salad is the proper back-pocket recipe.

Recipe Substances

bowls of tortellini, chopped veggies, meat, olives, and other ingredients on a white marble board.

This recipe has:

  • Cheese tortellini – I used storebought from the fridge part
  • Veggiesasparagus, bell pepper, and grape tomatoes (although cherry tomatoes will work as effectively)
  • Italian dressing or French dressing – I used storebought however the printable recipe card on the backside has notes in case you want/need to make your personal.
  • Pesto – use storebought or make your personal (associated: Pesto With out Pine Nuts or Vegan Pesto)
  • Olives – I used sliced black olives, however use your favourite
  • Parmesan cheese – finely grated, please, and thanks
  • Protein – I used sliced pepperoni, however salami works as effectively

How To Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

*I’ll stroll you thru it right here with some photographs and suggestions, and also you’ll additionally discover a printable recipe card on the backside of the put up with precise measurements, and many others. You’ll be able to click on “leap to recipe” to skip down.

Carry a medium saucepan of water to a boil and cook dinner the tortellini in line with the packaging. Most tortellini wants about 3-7 minutes in gently boiling water.

When the tortellini has completed cooking, drain and rinse it in a strainer with cool water. Put aside.

The veggies are tremendous customizable for this recipe, however I like grilled asparagus in mine. I roasted it in my air fryer at 390˚F for 7-9 minutes. You should utilize your oven, a grill, and even add it uncooked.

Whereas the asparagus and tortellini are cooling, it’s time to work on the remainder of the components. Chop the peppers, slice the olives, slice the grape tomatoes in half, and chop the pepperoni or salami.

In a big mixing bowl, mix the dressing and pesto and whisk till mixed.

Add the tortellini and veggies, and gently stir all the things to mix (I used a silicone spatula). For the very best outcomes (and also you need the very best outcomes, proper?), let all the things sit for no less than an hour within the fridge.

2 photos showing the process of making a cold pasta salad.

Recipe FAQs

Is This Recipe Served Chilly?

Sure, I like to recommend serving this cheese tortellini pasta salad chilly or at room temperature. That makes it excellent to convey to a potluck, BBQ, luncheon, and many others.

Can I Make This Forward Of Time?

Completely! This tacky tortellini salad is made higher by sitting within the fridge for no less than 1 hour. It offers the dressing and components time to meld, which brings out all of the scrumptious flavors.

Are Ravioli And Tortellini The Identical?

Nope, ravioli and tortellini will not be the identical factor. Each are varieties of stuffed pasta, however ravioli is flat and the dough tends to be extra delicate in contrast with tortellini.

You should utilize ravioli in lieu of the tortellini on this recipe, however be additional cautious when stirring all of the components collectively. The ravioli is fragile and may simply tear.

How Ought to The Pasta Be Cooked For This Recipe?

Tortellini ought to be cooked in salted water that’s going at a delicate boil. A tough/rolling boil can overcook or harm the tortellini in the course of the cooking course of.

Knowledgeable Suggestions

  • This recipe serves ~3-4 in case you’re utilizing this as a principal dish, or ~6-8 in order for you it as a aspect.
  • For greatest outcomes, reduce the veggies into considerably comparable sizes. It makes it a lot simpler to eat.
  • A serrated bread or cheese knife makes the cleanest cuts for slicing the small delicate tomatoes in half.
  • Once you rinse the tortellini (step 2 under), ensure you rinse with chilly water. This halts the cooking course of and can go away you with al dente tortellini, as an alternative of over-cooked.
  • If in case you have leftover pesto, take a look at my tutorial on Easy methods to Freeze Pesto.

Recipe Variations

You’ll be able to add all types of scrumptious and seasonal veggies like zucchini, inexperienced beans, roasted butternut squash, peas, crimson onion, spinach, or kale to the dish.

Cheese – Parmesan, pecorino, or asiago are all scrumptious. Search for grated and never shredded cheese.

Protein: by means of in some grilled hen, fish, or white beans.

Add in some solar dried tomatoes, pepperoncini, and/or toasted pine nuts to really feel additional fancy.

To make this recipe vegetarian, omit the pepperoni/salami, and use a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese.

Storage Directions

Storing Leftovers: Permit the tortellini and any roasted veggies to completely cool earlier than storing it in an air-tight container within the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating Leftovers: This salad is greatest if eaten chilly, however you may reheat it for 60-90 seconds within the microwave.

Freezing Leftovers: I don’t advocate freezing this pesto tortellini pasta salad recipe.

What To Serve With This Recipe

Use it as a aspect dish to a dry brine hen or an air fryer cornish hen.

Or ramp up the wow issue and serve it in a buffet of do-it-yourself salads like On the spot Pot Potato Salad, Chopped Cabbage Salad, Artichoke Salad, and/or a Wholesome Pea Salad.

Or go for extra carbs (sure please) and serve it alongside Tacky Garlic Bread, Stuffing Biscuits, or Frozen Biscuits within the Air Fryer.

Extra Scrumptious Pasta Recipes You’ll Love

a white bowl with tortellini pasta salad and gold silverware on a white board with a dark grey napkin.

Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook dinner Time5 minutes

Chilling time (beneficial)1 hour

Complete Time1 hour 15 minutes

This cheese tortellini pasta salad is a straightforward and simple meal that you may throw collectively in quarter-hour or much less. Good as a quick aspect, principal dish, or fast lunch, this chilly tortellini salad will develop into a household favourite.

  • Cook dinner tortellini in salted boiling water in line with the directions on the bundle (normally 3-7 minutes relying on the model).

    20 oz cheese tortellini

  • Drain tortellini and rinse with chilly water.

  • In a big mixing bowl, add pesto and salad dressing and whisk till mixed.

    3/4 cup Italian salad dressing, 2 tbsp pesto

  • Add all the opposite components to the bowl, together with the cooked/cooled tortellini, and stir gently to mix.

    1 cup roasted asparagus, reduce into 1-inch items, 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced, 1/4 cup sliced olives, 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half, 1/2 cup pepperoni or salami, reduce into 1/2-inch items, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 20 oz cheese tortellini

  • Permit salad to sit down within the fridge for 1+ hours earlier than serving.

I roasted my asparagus within the air fryer at 390F for 7 minutes. You may also grill it, roast it within the oven, or sub in your favourite seasonal greens.

  1. This recipe serves ~3-4 in case you’re utilizing this as a principal dish, or ~6-8 in order for you it as a aspect.
  2. A serrated bread or cheese knife makes the cleanest cuts for slicing the small tomatoes in half.

Selfmade Italian Dressing
Mix: 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp white or crimson wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp dried parsley, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/8 tsp floor black pepper, 1/2 tsp dried basil, 1/4 tsp dried tarragon, (elective) pinch of crimson pepper flakes.

  • Vitamin values are an estimate solely.

Vitamin Information

Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

Quantity Per Serving (1 cup)

Energy 352
Energy from Fats 108

% Each day Worth*

Fats 12g18%

Saturated Fats 4g25%

Trans Fats 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fats 0.4g

Monounsaturated Fats 2g

Ldl cholesterol 37mg12%

Sodium 400mg17%

Potassium 125mg4%

Carbohydrates 44g15%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 693IU14%

Vitamin C 15mg18%

Calcium 144mg14%

Iron 2mg11%

* P.c Each day Values are primarily based on a 2000 calorie eating regimen.

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