A quick and easy to make delicious tortellini pasta salad with pesto is a perfect salad to bring to a potluck or serve as a side dish.
This pasta salad can be ready in just 15 minutes, making it perfect for last minute guests.
Why this recipe works
Ready made cheese tortellini comes together perfectly with basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and red onion slices. This tortellini salad is easy to make and is perfect for throwing together at the last minute.
The folds and tiny pockets of the tortellini are perfect for holding lots of tasty pesto.
Served chilled or at room temperature, the cheesy tortellini is perfect served as a side dish at barbecues or potluck dinners or as a quick meal for lunch.
My daughter also likes this salad warm. She takes the leftovers and heats it up in the microwave for 1 minute and eats it warm.
Key ingredients
- Cheese filled tortellini
- Basil pesto – homemade or store bought
- Fresh mini mozzarella
- Cherry tomatoes – yellow or red tomatoes. I used yellow because our garden is bursting with yellow tomatoes right now.
- red onions
- Parmesan cheese
- fresh basil
Step by step directions
- Cook tortellini according to package directions
- Rinse in cool water. Drain well and place in a large bowl
- Add pesto and stir gently until tortellini is well coated
- Add mozzarella, tomatoes and onions
- Stir gently until well distributed
- Add parmesan and fresh basil
- Serve right away or cover and refrigerate
recipe tips
- Use fresh or frozen cheese filled tortellini
- Do not overcook tortellini or it will become musky in the salad
- If you find red onions too pungent, soak the slices in cold water for 5 minutes before adding to the salad
- If you’ve chilled the prepared salad, allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving
variations
- Use meat filled tortellini
- Add chopped cooked chicken, sliced salami or pepperoni or diced ham
- Add sliced pepperoncinis
- Slice sweet bell peppers and add to salad
Recipe FAQs
When covered and stored in the refrigerator, this salad will last 2-3 days.
More delicious pasta dishes
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Be certain to check out all my salad recipes!
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Cheese tortellini covered in basil pesto and tossed with mozzarella, tomatoes and onions.
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Instructions
Cook tortellini according to package directions. Rinse under cool water and drain well. Place in a large mixing bowl.
20 ounces cheese tortellini
Add pesto and toss gently to coat tortellini
1 cup pesto
Add mozzarella, tomatoes and onions. Toss gently.
1 cup fresh baby mozzarella balls, 1 cup red onion slices, 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Add parmesan and fresh basil
¼ cup parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves
Serve right away or cover and refrigerate
Ratings
- Use fresh or frozen cheese filled tortellini
- Do not overcook tortellini or it will become musky in the salad
- If you find red onions too pungent, soak the slices in cold water for 5 minutes before adding to the salad
- If you’ve chilled the prepared salad, allow it to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving
- Use meat filled tortellini
- Add chopped cooked chicken, sliced salami or pepperoni or diced ham
- Add sliced pepperoncinis
- Slice sweet bell peppers and add to salad
Nutrition Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
calories: 395caloriesCarbohydrates: 36gprotein: 16gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 659mgPotassium: 73mgfiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 754UIVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 239mgIron: 2mg
