This Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad combines cheese-filled tortellini with fresh vegetables, mini pepperoni, and arugula to create a flavorful pasta salad that's perfect for potlucks or light meals.
Tortellini Pasta Salad With Italian Dressing
My favorite part of the warm-weather months is the grilling and all of the sides that come with it. I'm such a sucker for pasta salads of all shapes and sizes, but I have a particular love for this classic Italian Pasta Salad with Tortellini.
This salad is tossed in zesty Italian dressing, chilled to let flavors meld, then topped with shredded parmesan just before serving. It's a make-ahead dish that holds up beautifully if you want to bring this to the lake, to a party, or over to a friend. Not only is it beautiful, but it tastes great too and has fun contrasting textures.
This pasta salad would be perfect served alongside this Slow Cooker Italian Beef recipe!
Why You'll Love This Dish
- Quick to Prepare - Involves minimal cooking and easy assembly!
- Make‑Ahead Friendly - Benefits from chilling for enhanced flavor.
- Balanced Texture and Flavor - Combines tender pasta, crisp veggies, peppery greens, savory pepperoni, and salty cheese.
- Adaptable - Swap ingredients to suit preferences or seasonal availability!
- Crowd‑They Love It - Vibrant, flavorful, and ideal for buffets or casual dining.
Try our classic Italian Pasta Salad with rotini, too!
Italian Pasta Salad With Tortellini Shopping List
Wondering if you have to hit the grocery store or if you have all the ingredients you need for this? Check out this list! For the full ingredients list, including the amounts you'll need, make sure to scroll to the bottom and view the recipe card.
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini - I love using tortellini for pasta salad! It holds up well and tastes amazing, and makes the salad a bit more filling.
- Red onion - Adds sharp crunch and bite. If you don't like onions, feel free to omit or substitute a milder-flavored onion.
- Cherry tomatoes - Juicy sweetness and vivid color. You can also use fresh Roma tomatoes that have been seeded and diced.
- Bell pepper - Crisp freshness and mild sweetness. Use multi-colored peppers to add variety!
- Italian parsley - Fresh only, please! Dried parsley is trash and tastes entirely different than fresh parsley.
- Baby arugula - Peppery greens to balance all the rich elements. It also adds great color! If you don't like arugula, sub in baby spinach.
- Mini pepperoni - Meaty, savory flavor and chewy texture. If you can't find the mini version, just cut the normal-sized pepperoni into quarters.
- Italian dressing - Tangy vinaigrette that ties everything together. Zesty Italian works so well for this!
- Shredded parmesan - Salty, nutty cheese finishing the dish. Optional, and not pictured here, but add it if you're a cheese-lover!
Try our Tuna Pasta Salad next!
How To Make Tortellini Pasta Salad
Looking to see what you're getting into here? Below is a general overview of the recipe steps. When you're cooking, make sure to use the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full instructions.
- Cook the tortellini according to package directions, drain, and rinse under cold water.
- Halve tomatoes, slice onion, julienne bell pepper, and chop parsley.
- In a large bowl, combine tortellini, vegetables, arugula, pepperoni, and parsley.
- Pour in half the dressing, toss well, and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
- Right before serving, add the remaining dressing and sprinkle with parmesan, then toss to coat.
This Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is my favorite!
Cold Italian Pasta Salad With Tortellini FAQ
Stored in an airtight container, it stays good for up to 4 days. Toss before serving to redistribute dressing.
Absolutely. Assemble ahead, chill, then add remaining dressing and parmesan just before serving.
This salad is best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature. Reheating isn't recommended since it can wilt the greens and alter texture.
Yes. Try salami, cooked chicken, or roasted chickpeas for a vegetarian twist.
Serve This With...
- Garlic bread or crusty focaccia
- Grilled chicken, shrimp skewers, or cold roasted meats
- A simple green salad or marinated mozzarella balls
- A crisp white wine or sparkling water with citrus
Eat More Pasta Salad
If you enjoy this tortellini salad, you might like these!
- Smoked Greek Chicken Pasta Salad - Smoked chicken with Greek flavors and vegetables
- Smoked Chicken Gorgonzola Pasta Salad - Bold smoked chicken paired with tangy gorgonzola cheese
- Ham and Pea Pasta Salad - A light, satisfying mix of ham, peas, and pasta
- Caprese Pasta Salad - Fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and pasta in a light dressing
- BLT Pasta Salad - Bacon, lettuce, tomato with pasta for a fun twist on a classic
These options offer a nice variety of flavors and ingredients while keeping the easy‑prep, make‑ahead vibe you already love.
PIN FOR LATER!
Recipe
Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad
This easy Tortellini Pasta Salad is perfect for all of your warm-weather BBQs! We love to serve this with grilled meats, or for quick meal prep in the off-season.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cheese tortellini
- 1 small red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 medium bell pepper (julienne)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 2 cups baby arugula
- ½ cup mini pepperoni
- 12 ounces Italian dressing
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
Instructions
- Prepare the tortellini according to package directions.
- Drain well and rinse in cold water.
- Combine everything except the dressing and shredded parmesan in a large serving bowl.
- Toss in half the dressing and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
- Immediately before serving, toss with the remaining Italian dressing.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 497Total Fat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 1282mgCarbohydrates: 47gFiber: 2gSugar: 9gProtein: 18g
