Description
This Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is a quick, vibrant, and delicious dish combining tender cheese-filled tortellini with crisp vegetables and a tangy Italian dressing. Perfect for light summer lunches, family dinners, or potlucks, it offers an effortless preparation in under 20 minutes while delivering a fresh, flavorful balance of textures and colors. This versatile salad can be customized with proteins, different herbs, or dairy-free options, making it both family-friendly and meal-prep ready.
Ingredients
Pasta
- Cheese Tortellini – 12 ounces (about one standard package)
Vegetables & Herbs
- Cherry Tomatoes – 1 cup, halved
- Cucumber – 1 medium, diced
- Black Olives – 1/2 cup, sliced
- Fresh Basil – 1/4 cup, roughly chopped
- Red Onion – 1/4 cup, thinly sliced
Dressing & Toppings
- Italian Dressing – 1/2 cup (store-bought or homemade)
- Parmesan Cheese – 1/4 cup, freshly grated
- Salt and Pepper – to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prep the Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and roughly chop the fresh basil. Drain and slice the black olives if needed.
- Toss Together: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled tortellini with all the prepped vegetables and fresh basil. Add the Italian dressing and toss everything gently but thoroughly to ensure every bite is coated with flavor.
- Add Finishing Touches: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top for an extra layer of savory richness. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if desired, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Notes
- Avoid overcooking tortellini to maintain firmness in the salad.
- Use fresh basil for the best herbal flavor instead of dried.
- Chill the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to enhance flavor balance.
- Add dressing gradually to prevent sogginess.
- Customize texture by adding toasted pine nuts or crunchy bell peppers if desired.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing is not recommended as fresh vegetables and dressing can become mushy.
- Serve cold or at room temperature; no reheating necessary.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Italian tortellini pasta salad, cheese tortellini salad, Italian pasta salad, summer pasta salad, easy pasta salad, family-friendly pasta salad, gluten free pasta salad