Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
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Looking for a simple but tasty dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or summer picnics? This tortellini pasta salad is just what you need! It’s packed with yummy veggies, cheese-filled pasta, and a tangy dressing that brings everything together. The best part? You can make it ahead of time and it tastes even better the next day!
Pasta salads are the definition of summer simplicity. I used to buy a pasta salad in a box until I realized how easy it is to make one you can be proud of. It’s so easy to double or triple this recipe to serve a large gathering. Let me show you how to make this easy pasta salad and variations you can make so it becomes one of your favorite summer side dishes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’ll fall in love with this quick tortellini pasta salad recipe because it comes together in just 20 minutes, making it perfect for busy families on the go. The colorful Mediterranean vegetables and cheese-filled pasta create a crowd-pleasing dish that works for meal prep, potlucks, and summer BBQs. Kids and adults alike enjoy the familiar Italian flavors, and the make-ahead convenience means you can prepare it the day before your gathering for even better taste. This easy cold pasta salad is truly a time-saving solution that doesn’t sacrifice flavor!
Key Ingredient Notes
While you’ll find the full ingredient list in the recipe card below, I wanted to highlight a few important ingredients:
- Tortellini: Frozen works great, but refrigerated or even dried tortellini can be used too. We love the cheese-filled in our Italian pasta salad.
- Vegetables: Make sure to chop everything into bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
- Artichoke hearts: The ones packed in water work best (drain them well). Chop them if they’re in large chunks.
- Fresh basil: Don’t skip this! It adds so much flavor to the salad. Feel free to add more if you’re like us, who love a fresh basil pasta salad.
Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad Instructions
Cook the tortellini: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook according to package directions (usually about 3-5 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
Prep the veggies: While the pasta cooks, chop all your veggies and place them in a large bowl.
Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, mix together all the dressing ingredients. Whisk well or shake the jar until everything is mixed together.
Combine everything: Add the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the veggies. Pour the dressing over everything and toss gently to coat.
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Finish and serve: Sprinkle the parmesan cheese and fresh basil over the top. Toss one more time and serve!
Pro Tips for Making The Perfect Tortellini Salad Recipe
This pasta salad is perfect for making ahead. Here’s some tips for planning the recipe.
- Make the day of: Even though this pasta salad can be made and served fresh, it often tastes even better after the flavors have had time to mix together in the fridge. So if you’ve got the time, make it 2 to 3 hours ahead of time and refrigerate it.
- Make 1 day ahead: Prepare the entire salad, cover it tightly, and refrigerate. The pasta will soak up some of the dressing, so you might want to save a bit of extra dressing to toss in just before serving.
- Make 2-3 days ahead: For the freshest taste, you can prep all the components separately and assemble right before serving:
- Cook and refrigerate the tortellini (toss with a tiny bit of oil to prevent sticking).
- Chop all the veggies and store in containers.
- Make the dressing and keep it in a jar.
- Combine everything and chill.
Storage Tips
Best Way To Store
This salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days in a covered container. The pasta will soak up some of the dressing, so you might want to add a little extra dressing or a squeeze of lemon juice before serving leftovers.
Can You Freeze This Pasta Salad?
I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad. When thawed, the veggies will become mushy, and the dressing might separate. The good news is that it keeps well in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, so you can still prep it in advance!
If you really need to freeze something, you can:
- Freeze just the cooked tortellini by itself (without dressing or veggies).
- Thaw in the refrigerator overnight when ready to use.
- Add fresh veggies and dressing after thawing.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this tortellini pasta salad recipe, you’ll want to try these other delicious pasta dishes too! Our creamy shrimp pasta with spinach makes a hearty weeknight dinner that’s ready in under 45 minutes. For another option, the Italian tomato mozzarella salad is always a hit at gatherings. Families love our one-pot garlic parmesan chicken pasta, while the Mediterranean orzo salad with feta is another delicious cold salad that is perfect for summer gatherings.
I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe as much as we do. Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to give it a star rating. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Your comments and ratings help others decide if this recipe is for them too.
Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 19 ounces frozen cheese tortellini pasta
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup quartered artichoke hearts
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp basil julienned
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup red wine
- ¼ cup avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp coarse kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the frozen tortellini. Cook for only 3 minutes.
- Immediately remove, drain, and rinse the pasta with cold water until the pasta is completely cool. Set aside to allow the pasta to fully drain.
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a large bowl. Mix until combined.
- To the bowl add the salad ingredients. Mix until combined.
- Taste to see if you want to add more vinegar or salt. If you add more of either just add ⅛ of a cup or an ⅛ of a teaspoon at a time.
- Top with basil. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutritional Disclaimer
This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.
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