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This easy Tortellini Pasta Salad brings a fun twist to a classic side dish! This cold pasta salad with Italian dressing has just 6 ingredients and is oh so tasty!
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When summer rolls around, I always look forward to all the outdoor activities and countless cookouts! I think of burgers, baked beans, fresh fruit, pasta salad and cold drinks….the epitome of summer in the midwest. This pasta salad is a breeze to whip up and is sure to become your go-to side dish!
Ingredients Needed (amounts in Recipe Card below)
Cheese Tortellini – You can use frozen, refrigerated or the dry packaged tortellini. More details on that below!
Fresh Vegetables – I like to use peas, yellow or red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes and died red onion. However, the options are limitless! See below for more ideas.
Dressing – You can use store-bought or make your own simple homemade dressing with lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil and spices.
Optional Add-Ins
I love how customizable this pasta salad is! Use your family’s preferences to make the pasta salad to fit your taste! Here are a few ideas….
- Veggies
- Black Olives or Kalamata Olives
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes (chop into very small pieces)
- Diced English Cucumbers
- Diced Artichoke Hearts
- Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Feta Cheese
- Cubes of Mozzarella Cheese
- Fresh Mozzarella Balls
- Meat
- Diced Salami
- Diced (or mini) Pepperoni Slices
How to Make this Easy Pasta Salad
Start by boiling the cheese-filled pasta until al dente. Drain the hot water then rinse the pasta with cold water until the pasta is cool.
Pour the pasta into a large mixing bowl.
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until combined.
Refrigerate the cold pasta salad until ready to serve.
If the salad needs a bit more dressing when it’s time to serve, stir in a little more dressing and enjoy!
Tortellini Pasta Salad Variations
Pesto Tortellini Salad – Add a couple spoonfuls of fresh basil pesto into the dressing before adding it to the pasta and veggies! It adds a fun boost of flavor!
Greek Tortellini Salad – Use a Greek salad dressing and for the veggies, use tomatoes, olives, cucumber and onion. Sprinkle with feta when ready to serve.
Zesty Italian Tortellini Salad – Use Zesty Italian Dressing and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little added heat!
Can I use refrigerated or dry tortellini?
Yes! If you’re using the refrigerated kind, simply follow the instructions for cooking the tortellini to al dente, then rinse in cold water. If you’re. using the dry packaged kind, cook them according to the package instructions (these will need to be boiled longer than the other options). Again, rinse with cold water and continue as the recipe states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Once you’ve mixed the salad, go ahead and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll stay good 5 days in the fridge and the leftovers are delicious!!
Pasta salad is best after it has some time for the flavors to soak into the pasta, so making it a 12-24 hours in advance is great! When you’re ready to serve the pasta salad, give it a stir. If it needs a little more dressing, add a couple tablespoons at a time until it it’s got enough for your liking.
I don’t recommend it. It’ll change the texture of the pasta (make it mushy) and the texture and color of the vegetables.
Other Cold Salads You’ll Love
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- One 14 ounce bag frozen cheese-filled tortellini pasta
- 1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1 red or yellow bell pepper diced
- 3/4 cup Zesty Italian dressing**
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cold water; drain.
- Add the pasta, peas, tomatoes, onion and peppers to a large bowl.
- Add the dressing and stir.
Notes
Nutrition
Love alot of her recipes. I love to cook for family & friends!