Description
Tortellini Pasta Salad is a perfect blend of fresh, savory, and tangy flavors that makes for a delicious and satisfying dish. This easy-to-make salad features soft, cheesy tortellini paired with vibrant vegetables, salty olives, and savory meats, creating a well-balanced meal or side dish. Whether you’re making it for a summer picnic, BBQ, or as a meal prep option, this salad is a crowd-pleaser that’s both refreshing and filling. It’s also customizable to suit your taste, so feel free to mix it up with your favorite ingredients.
Ingredients
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
- 1/2 cup chopped turkey pepperoni or chicken salami
Instructions
1.Cook the tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions, usually about 2-3 minutes for refrigerated tortellini. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the veggies and meats: While the tortellini is cooling, prepare the vegetables and meats. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and chop the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, chop the kalamata olives, and cut the fresh mozzarella balls into halves or quarters. Chop the turkey pepperoni or chicken salami into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled tortellini with the chopped vegetables, olives, mozzarella, and pepperoni or salami.
- Add dressing: Drizzle your favorite dressing over the salad. A simple balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing works great, but you can use any dressing you prefer.
- Toss and serve: Toss everything together until the salad is well mixed and evenly coated with the dressing. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for 1-2 hours to let the flavors meld together.
Notes
- Add greens: Toss in some spinach, arugula, or mixed greens to add extra crunch and freshness to the salad.
- Add more veggies: Customize the salad by adding ingredients like bell peppers, olives, artichokes, or roasted red peppers.
- Make it creamy: For a creamier version, add some mayo or Greek yogurt to your dressing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
