Tortellini Pasta Salad

Looking for a delicious and easy pasta salad recipe? Look no further! Tortellini pasta salad is bursting with flavor and can be whipped up in no time. This cold pasta salad is a mouth-watering mix of cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, red onion, pepper and pearl mozzarella tossed in Italian dressing.

Pasta salads are kind of my thing. There are just so many combinations of pasta, veggies, sauces, cheeses and seasonings that you can put together! You can never run out of good pasta salad ideas. That’s why I came up with this perfectly cheesy and tangy Italian tortellini pasta salad. The combination of cheesy pasta and crunchy veggies is to die for!

I think my favorite part about this recipe is actually the Italian dressing it’s tossed in. The little bit of tang it adds is so yummy and goes well with everything. If you need a quick side dish that everyone will enjoy, then this recipe will definitely be a win!

Why You’ll Love this Tortellini Pasta Salad

• This is a fabulous make-ahead recipe. In fact, you have to make it ahead of time so that it has plenty of time to chill! Then store it until you need it.
• Make this easy tortellini pasta salad as the perfect dish to bring to potlucks or a backyard BBQ. It pairs well with anything, so it’s a great easy dish to bring.
• Easily adapt this recipe to use what you have on hand or add more tasty ingredients. You can use this as the base recipe and add things on!

Ingredients for Tortellini Pasta Salad

• Red bell pepper – Diced red bell pepper adds the perfect crunch to this tasty pasta salad.
• Pearl mozzarella – A lot of pasta salads use crumbled cheese, but these little balls of mozzarella goodness are perfect for this recipe.
• Red onion – I recommend using red onion since the flavor is more bold. However, if you’re not a fan of a strong onion flavor then feel free to use white onion or yellow onion.
• Italian dressing – Use some Italian dressing to bring the pasta salad together. It makes the best “sauce” to coat everything! Feel free to use store-bought or homemade Italian dressing.
• Cherry tomatoes – Cut cherry tomatoes in half to have a burst of tomato in every bite!
• Salami – Dice up some salami and mix it in with this yummy tortellini salad. The spicy flavor of this deli meat adds a nice touch.
• Cheese tortellini – Oh how I love cheese tortellini! Turning it into a loaded pasta salad is just a total game changer.
• Green bell pepper – Using both red and green peppers not only give the salad flavor and crunch, but it makes the colors so pretty and appealing.

How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

There aren’t many steps to make this pasta salad, but here’s a run down of everything you’ll need to do:

1. Start by filling a medium pot with water and bring it to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook it according to the instructions on the package.
2. Pour the cooked pasta into a colander and cool it completely by running it under cold water.
3. Combine all of the pasta salad ingredients in a large bowl, then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
4. When you’re ready to serve, give the tortellini pasta salad and good stir and then enjoy!

How to Store Tortellini Pasta Salad

For best results, transfer leftover pasta salad to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can also cover the bowl of salad tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator that way!

What to Serve with this Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe

It would be easier to tell you what doesn’t go with pasta salad! This easy tortellini pasta salad is a favorite side dish because it really goes with so many amazing dishes.

Serve it up alongside marry me chicken, pork schnitzel, or baked chicken thighs. It’s even great for really easy meals like air fryer burgers and air fryer chicken breast.

It’s a tasty side to serve with dishes like parmesan crusted tilapia or air fryer chicken parm too.

Does pasta need to cool before making pasta salad?

It is important to get your pasta completely cool before mixing it with the other ingredients. This is why I recommend running the al dente tortellini under cold water once strained so that it cools quickly and you can move forward and finish making the pasta salad!

Can you freeze tortellini pasta salad?

Yes, you can freeze this pasta salad. However, it is important to consider the fact that the texture of the pasta and veggies could be different once thawed.

For best flavor and texture, I recommend just making a fresh batch! But if you have leftovers that you don’t want to go bad, then just pop it into the freezer in an airtight container! Store for 2-3 months.

What can I add to this Tortellini pasta salad recipe?

There are tons of flavorful additions that would be great with the other ingredients in this delicious pasta salad! A few yummy add-ins would be:

• Garlic cloves or minced garlic
• Fresh basil
• Black olives
• Diced cucumber
• Feta cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Diced zucchini

Dig into a bowl full of veggie pasta goodness and you’ll see what all the hype is about!

More Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes!

• This Tuna Pasta Salad is one of those yummy dishes that you just can’t get enough of!
• Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a fun twist on the classic salad. So flavorful and addictively delicious!
• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is loaded with creamy goodness and is a crowd favorite recipe for so many different reasons.
• Make Macaroni Salad when you want a quick recipe that uses simple ingredients.