Description

This Tortellini Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish perfect for warm weather gatherings or as a refreshing side. Featuring cheese tortellini, fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and a tangy balsamic dressing, this salad combines creamy, tangy, and savory flavors in every bite. It’s easy to prepare and best served chilled to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Cheese

1 (20 oz) package cheese tortellini, cooked and cooled
½ cup mozzarella pearls (or diced mozzarella)
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Vegetables and Herbs

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup black olives, sliced
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
½ cup cucumber, diced
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

Dressing

⅓ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Cook the tortellini: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the tortellini and rinse under cold water to cool it down and stop further cooking.
Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
Combine salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled tortellini, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, mozzarella pearls, and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.
Toss with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly until every ingredient is evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
Chill and serve: Sprinkle freshly chopped basil over the salad. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and enhance the overall taste.

Notes

For a dairy-free version, omit the mozzarella and Parmesan or substitute with plant-based cheese alternatives.
You can add additional vegetables like roasted red peppers or artichoke hearts for more flavor and texture.
This salad is best served chilled but can be brought to room temperature if preferred.
Make ahead and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
If you prefer a tangier dressing, increase the amount of balsamic vinegar slightly.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Tortellini Pasta Salad, Cheese Tortellini Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, Cold Pasta Salad, Summer Pasta Salad, Easy Pasta Salad Recipe