Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is the perfect dish for summer! Filling, fresh and full of flavor, it’s a dish that is perfect for a weekend barbeque, weeknight dinner or even a quick afternoon snack!
Nothing says summer quite like pasta salad. It’s a filling dish, served cold, that can be enjoyed as a side, main dish or just a snack on its own.
I love making a simple 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad, but adding the fresh flavor of Easy Pesto Sauce (made with pine nuts, walnuts or even Pistachio Pesto) really takes pasta salad to the next level!
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is an even further step up. It’s packed with flavor from fresh pesto, cheesy tortellini, sun dried tomatoes and smoked salami. It’s so filling and delicious and still takes only minutes to prepare.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy make ahead meal that’s perfect for hot summer months, you’ve got to make this pasta salad!
Why Make This Recipe
- Fresh Flavors: Basil pesto, sun dried tomatoes and smoked salami provide such delicious and savory flavor that is satisfying with every bite!
- Make Ahead: This is a great recipe to make ahead for meal prep, potlucks or to enjoy whenever the craving hits!
- Perfect for Warm Days: This versatile, crowd-pleasing dish is served cold with vibrant ingredients that make for a refreshing option during summer months.
Key Ingredients to Make this Recipe
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Cheese Tortellini: You can use any brand you prefer; I opted for Trader Joe’s Cheese Tortellini. You could also opt for chicken or spinach tortellini for even more flavor. If necessary, you can switch the tortellini out for bow ties, penne or rotini.
- Pesto: You can use pesto from a jar or make your own Easy Pesto Sauce. (Save the leftovers for Instant Pot Pesto Chicken or Creamy Pesto Pasta).
- Mozzarella pearls: You can usually find these near the deli in your local grocery store. You can find them plain or marinated.
- Red Onion: Be sure to soak your onions in cold water for a few minutes to help release some of the intense flavor.
Recipe Variations
This Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe is easy to adjust to your liking! Here are a few ideas for even more flavor:
- Add Veggies: You can add in some fresh cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, diced red peppers or even roasted red peppers or banana peppers.
- Sprinkle with Spice: Add a dash of chili pepper flakes for a hint of spice
- Extra Cheesy: Add some flaked parmesan cheese for even more cheesy goodness!
- Add more Protein: Some shredded or grilled chicken or crumbled Italian sausage would taste great in this pasta salad!
- Add some Texture: Toasted pine nuts or some pistachios would add a delicious crunch to this pasta salad
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Cook your tortellini just until al dente. Add all your cooked and chopped ingredients to a large bowl.
Step Two: Toss gently to coat everything in the sauce and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
This pasta salad, like most pasta salads, is very easy to make ahead and serve later. Just be sure you do not overcook your tortellini or it will become mushy as it sits.
Store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve so the cheese stays cold.
You can store this pasta salad in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. Give it a stir before serving in case any oil separates from the pesto.
This pasta salad is meant to be served cold, but you could serve it warm if you prefer. I would recommend heating just the pesto by itself before adding to the rest of the ingredients. It’s important not to get the mozzarella balls too warm or they will melt. If your pasta looks dry after sitting, stir in some olive oil or warm water to add some moisture back into the dish.
You can use any kind of pesto for this recipe! It’s delicious with a simple basil pesto but you could experiment with sun dried tomato pesto, pistachio pesto, spinach pesto or any version you have on hand.
It’s possible to make this pasta salad vegetarian. You can substitute chickpeas or extra roasted veggies instead of the salami.
This salad can be eaten all by itself or as a side with grilled chicken, garlic bread, or a fresh green salad for a complete meal.
Did you enjoy this recipe for Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad? If so, check out these other recipes I’ve chosen just for you:
If you tried this Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 20 oz Cheese Tortellini
- 1 cup pesto
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup Sun Dried Tomatoes, drained
- 3 oz Smoked Salami, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup diced red onion, soaked in ice water for about 10 minutes
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions. Drain once cooked, and add to a large bowl.
- Add the pesto, mozzarella pearls, sun dried tomatoes, salami, and diced red onion into the bowl. Mix until the pasta is fully coated. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Cheese Tortellini: You could also opt for chicken or spinach tortellini for even more flavor. If necessary, you can switch the tortellini out for bow ties, penne or rotini.
- Pesto: You can use pesto from a jar or make your own Easy Pesto Sauce.
- Mozzarella pearls: You can find them plain or marinated.
