Description
This Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is a hearty dish made with cheese tortellini, salami, mozzarella pearls, fresh veggies, and a tangy homemade vinaigrette. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a make-ahead meal, this salad is loaded with vibrant Italian flavors!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta Salad:
- 1 (20 oz.) bag refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 9 oz. hard salami, cut into cubes
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped (red, green, yellow, or orange)
- 1 (6 oz.) can sliced black olives, drained
- 8 oz. mozzarella pearls
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, sliced thin
- ¼ cup red onion, sliced
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated (optional)
For the Italian Vinaigrette:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 1½ Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Vinaigrette: Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified. Refrigerate until needed.
- Cook the Tortellini: Boil tortellini according to package instructions, drain, rinse under cold water, and let cool completely.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine tortellini, salami, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, mozzarella pearls, basil, and red onion. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss until well-coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes. Toss again before serving and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.
Notes
- Adjust the ingredient amounts to suit your taste.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the salami and add marinated artichokes or roasted chickpeas.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Tossing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/8 of the recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg