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Home » Recipes » Side Dish Recipes

Tortellini Pasta Salad

Published: May 26, 2022 Last Updated: Jun 4, 2021 by Marye 1274 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Perfect for summer! This easy Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is full of asparagus, olives, and fresh summer veggies in zesty Italian dressing. You can make it ahead of time - it's even better the next day!
Total time 2 hours 15 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Closeup of tortellini and asparagus salad with a text overlay for Pinterest.
Overhead view of the tortellini salad in a bowl with text overlay for Pinterest.

This easy recipe is full of fresh veggies and cheese tortellini covered in a tangy Italian dressing. Best of all it goes together in minutes!

Overhead view of a table with tortellini salad in a bowl in the center. Title text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 📖 Variations
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • Related recipes
  • 🍽️ Serve with...
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • Simple ingredients. Quick & easy!
  • Make it in advance!
  • Works as a main dish lunch or light dinner, too.
  • Make it your own signature recipe with your favorite ingredients.
  • It's even better the next day.

Move over classic pasta salad!

Change out the vegetables for whatever's fresh and in season at your local farmers market or grocery store and you'll want to eat this easy cheese tortellini salad all summer long.

All of the fresh ingredients give this side dish amazing flavor!

It's a potluck favorite and the perfect side dish for summer barbecues.

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Collage of step by step images showing how to make this recipe.
This tortellini pasta salad recipe is a cinch to make but SO good!
  1. Cook pasta and asparagus.
  2. Add remaining salad ingredients.
  3. Stir together.
  4. Add dressing and mix in gently.
Close up of a bowl of tortellini and asparagus salad.
Substitute different vegetables as they come in season to keep this cheese tortellini pasta salad at its best.

🥫 Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for five to seven days. It's actually better the second day.

Tortellini pasta salad does not freeze well!

📖 Variations

This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is so versatile - feel free to add your own favorite fresh veggies!

Possibilities include:

  • cherry tomatoes
  • black olives
  • artichoke hearts
  • fresh spinach leaves
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • sliced pepperoni
  • pepperoncini peppers
  • feta cheese
  • green onions
  • genoa salami
  • leftover grilled chicken
  • any fresh summer veggies like cucumber, raw zucchini, radish...

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: This is safer for a summer picnic or potluck than many summer side dishes because it doesn't have mayonnaise in it. Since it does contain dairy (the cheese filling) cover with plastic wrap and get it into the refrigerator within a couple of hours. If it's left out for more than three hours toss it. It's not worth the potential illness.

  • I get the big package of tortellini at Costco. It's fresh and I think it tastes better in tortellini pasta salad. Plus, it's very affordable. Whatever kind you use just cook according to package instructions.
  • I like zesty Italian dressing best in this cold pasta salad recipe - it gives it so much flavor. You can use what you like - even oil and red wine vinegar with a little Italian seasoning stirred in will work - but it's not my favorite.
  • I think tri-colored tortellini is really pretty for tortellini salad recipes if you can find it. If not use the plain kind.
  • Toss the tortellini with dressing while it's still warm. The pasta will soak up more of the flavor.
  • If you like the flavor of fresh basil don't be afraid to add more than called for in the recipe!
  • This makes a delicious main dish or a great side dish with grilled meats.

Try this easy green bean salad next.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Can you eat cold tortellini?

Absolutely! They are delicious in this easy pasta salad!

Is pasta salad supposed to be cold?

It's up to your tastes. I prefer my Italian pasta salad at room temperature but many people prefer them cold.

How long will tortellini pasta salad last in the fridge?

About five days- seven at the most.

Side view of a plate of the pasta salad ready to be eaten.
Tortellini pasta salad makes a delicious light lunch or dinner. Just add some sliced summer tomatoes!

Related recipes

  • Italian pasta Salad is similar to this but made with rigatoni and a homemade vinaigrette that's naturally fat free.
  • Potato Salad has all the creamy goodness you remember! This is the classic.
  • Macaroni Salad is another family favorite that we've been enjoying for decades!
  • Frito Corn Salad is a unique Tex-Mex salad with the crunch of corn chips.
  • Pea and Cheese Salad is full of sweet peas and cubes of Cheddar cheese with crispy bacon stirred in.
  • 20+ Best Cookout Side Dishes
  • Panera Pickled Onions
  • How to Make a Watermelon Basket
  • English Pea Salad Recipe

🍽️ Serve with...

Italian tortellini salad is good with so many different things!

  • Lipton onion soup burger
  • Grilled pear salad
  • Lemon bundt cake

📞 The last word

  • When I made this cheese tortellini pasta salad a day ahead of time it soaked up the dressing and I had to add more before serving.
  • Don't overcook the tortellini. If it's overcooked it will fall apart. Ask me how I know...

This is one of my favorite Italian pasta salad recipes - and definitely the one I turn to again and again during hot Texas summers.

Not only is is perfect for on the go, busy families but take a large bowl of it to any cookout or get-together -- it's a crowd pleaser!

Give this this creamy, crunchy broccoli cauliflower salad a try, too.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of Italian cheese tortellini salad with asparagus.
4.56 from 9 votes

Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad

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Perfect for summer! This easy Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is full of asparagus, olives, and fresh summer veggies in zesty Italian dressing. You can make it ahead of time - it's even better the next day!
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings:8
Calories:317
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 4 quart mixing bowl
  • Stock pot

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tortellini
  • 1 pound asparagus, Cleaned, trimmed, and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup zesty Italian dressing, may need more
  • 1 cup kalamata olives, drained
  • 1 cup bell peppers, diced
  • ½ cup red onion, (purple onion) diced
  • ½ cup Parmesan, grated
  • basil, chopped

Instructions

Step one

  • Cook the tortellini according to package directions.
  • Drain.
  • Cook the asparagus until crisp-tender.
  • Scoop out with a straining ladle or drain. Plunge into ice water.

Step two

  • Add the tortellini and asparagus to the large bowl.
  • Mix in the rest of the ingredients except the Parmesan and basil.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours or up to two days.

Step three

  • When you're ready to serve, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and take off the plastic wrap.
  • Stir the pasta salad to mix up the ingredients again and make sure there isn't a puddle of dressing on the bottom of the bowl.
  • If the salad seems dry add a little more dressing.
  • Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and chopped basil.
  • Serve.

Notes

Expert Tip: This is safer for summer potlucks than macaroni salad because it doesn't have mayonnaise in it but since it does contain dairy (the cheese filling) cover with plastic wrap and get it into the refrigerator within a couple of hours. If it's left out for more than three hours toss it. It's not worth the potential illness.
  • I get the big package of tortellini at Costco. It's fresh and I think it tastes better in this salad. Plus, it's very affordable. Whatever kind you use just cook according to package instructions.
  • I like zesty Italian dressing best for this salad but you can use what you like - even oil and red wine vinegar with a little Italian seasoning stirred in will work - but it's not my favorite.
  • The tri-colored tortellini is really pretty in this salad if you can find it.
  • Toss the tortellini with dressing while it's still warm. The pasta will soak up more of the flavor.
  • If you make this tortellini pasta salad a day or so ahead of time it could soak up the dressing and you might need to add more before serving.
  • Don't overcook the tortellini. If it's overcooked it will fall apart.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 903mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1138IU | Vitamin C: 28mg | Calcium: 184mg | Iron: 3mg

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    First published April 30, 2021. Last updated May 26, 2022 to make slight adjustments to wording and add information.

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

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    NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

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