Tortellini Pasta Salad

This tortellini pasta salad features al dente tortellini mixed with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, red onion, and basil, all coated in a vinaigrette dressing.

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About Tortellini Pasta Salad

With delicious tortellini, fresh veggies, and a simple homemade vinaigrette, dishes like this tortellini pasta salad are made for traveling (potlucks and cookout galore!) or as a simple side dish to any meal.

What is tortellini pasta salad?

To keep it short and sweet, tortellini pasta salad is a bowl of cooked and cooled pasta mixed with vegetables and an oil-based dressing. It’s essentially a salad… with pasta. A perfect side dish for pasta and salad lovers alike.

How long is this pasta salad good for?

Once prepared, tortellini pasta salad can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Before serving, be sure to check the consistency of the sauce; the pasta will absorb the liquid from the dressing over time, so you might need to add a dash more oil and vinegar to keep the salad from being tacky.

Can you freeze tortellini pasta salad?

Yes, you can, but keep an eye on the dressing. The oil and vinegar might separate during the process of freezing and thawing, but you should be able to mix the ingredients again to get the dressing to incorporate once more.

Once prepared, tortellini pasta salad can be stored in the freezer for one to two months.

What kind of tortellini should you use?

This recipe suggests using three cheese tortellini, but you can use any flavor, filling, or brand that you’d like. The dressing and vegetables are mild and should complement any type of tortellini.

What can you serve with pasta salad?

Salads like this do well with protein-heavy and potluck-favorite main dishes, such as:

• Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken
• Teriyaki Chicken Wings
• Baked Stuffed Flank Steak
• Jerk Chicken Skewers
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
• Homemade Corn Dogs
• Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
• Sweet Crock Pot Pulled Pork
• Breaded Dijon Chicken Skewers
• Brown Sugar Italian Chicken

Notes & this for this pasta salad

• If you don’t already have one, you’ll need an extra large bowl to mix all of the ingredients together.
• Red onions can pack a bit of a bite, so if you’re looking for a milder flavor, try soaking the onions first. To do this, submerge the red onion in a bowl of ice cold water and let it soak for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the onions, pat them dry, and then use in the recipe as directed. 

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How to make tortellini pasta salad

This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.

Step 1 – Prepare the tortellini per package instructions, then rinse well with cold water. Set the pasta aside for now.

Step 2 – In an extra large mixing bowl, add the extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, salt, and black pepper. Whisk well until dressing is combined.

Step 3 – Add the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, red onion, and basil to the bowl, then use a spatula to toss to coat well in the dressing.

Step 4 – Serve and enjoy!