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June 15, 2019

Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

This Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is ready in about 10 minutes! Made with just basic 5 ingredients you probably have in the kitchen right now! This is the perfect side dish for Summer parties, picnics, or potlucks!!!

Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

If you like easy pasta salad recipes, you’re going to love today’s new recipe! Because this pesto tortellini salad is one of those recipes you’ll find yourself making over and over again. We brought it to a 4th of July party last year and it was one of the first dishes to go!

Pesto Tortellini Salad

Ingredients:

  • Cheese Tortellini: Any brand you enjoy will work here!
  • Pesto: You can use homemade or store bought basil pesto. Or try my super healthy spinach basil pesto, which is vegan and made without parmesan cheese.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: But in a pinch, chopped whole tomato or even sundried-tomatoes will work!
  • Red Onion: Finely diced. If you’re not a fan of onion, feel free to omit. Or replace it with red bell pepper or even roasted red peppers. Another option is cucumber!
  • Mini Marinated Mozzarella Cheese Balls: You can usually find these in the cheese case at the grocery store. If you can’t find the marinated the variety marinated in olive oil, the ones in water will work. Just drain them well.

How to make Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

  1. Bring a large pot of water a rolling boil. Add in the tortellini. Do NOT cook tortellini according to package instructions. Instead, boil for exactly 1 and 1/2 minutes. Then drain and rinse with cold water.
  2. Place drained tortellini in a large bowl. Add in the pesto, tomatoes, onion, and mozzarella. Toss to coat.
  3. Serve at once, or cover and place in the fridge until needed.

Pasta Salad Ingredients in bowl.

What to Serve with?

This is delicious and heartier enough to serve on its own! But you can also pair it with fruit, grilled veggies, sandwiches, meat, or even fish. Below are a few of our favorite recipes to pair tortellini salad with:

  • Italian hoagies
  • Easy Baked Meatballs
  • Chicken Caprese Burgers
  • Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad in Glass Bowl

Can pasta salad be made ahead of time?

It sure can be! As long as you don’t overcook the tortellini, this pasta salad is very make ahead friendly. Because it contains dairy, it should be stored in the fridge until needed. You can eat it cold or at room temperature.

How long will pasta salad last?

This pesto tortellini salad will keep, out of the fridge, for about 2 hours. Just be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight, and toss it once in a while to keep it looking fresh.

If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, store them in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 5 days. We love making a batch at the beginning of the week so we can enjoy a bowl everyday for lunch! Sometimes we toss grilled chicken or shrimp on top for a heartier meal. I think roasted chickpeas would also be a delicious addition!

Pro Tips: I do not recommend freezing this recipe. If it’s kept out of the fridge for more than 2 and 1/2 hours, I’d recommend discarding any leftovers.

More Summer Salad Recipes:

  • 20-Minute Greek Pasta Salad
  • Avocado BLT Pasta Salad
  • 20-Minute BLT Easy Pasta Salad

AND IF YOU TRY THIS RECIPE FOR EASY PESTO TORTELLINI PASTA SALAD, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW, AND DON’T FORGET TO SNAP A PIC AND TAG IT #BAKERBYNATURE ON INSTAGRAM! SEEING YOUR CREATIONS MAKES MY DAY ♥

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Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad

Prep 8 mins

Cook 2 mins

Total 10 mins

Author Ashley Manila

Yield 8 servings

This Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is ready in about 10 minutes! Made with just basic 5 ingredients you probably have in the kitchen right now! This is the perfect side dish for Summer parties, picnics, or potlucks!!!

Ingredients

  • (1) 20 ounce bag cheese tortellini
  • 1 cup pesto
  • 1 and 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 
  • (1) 12 ounce container marinated mozzarella balls, drained 
  • 1/4 cup red onion, diced 

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add tortellini and cook for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Do not over cook! 
  • Drain and rinse under cold water until cool. 
  • Place tortellini in a large serving bowl. Add in pesto, tomatoes, cheese, and onion. Toss well to coat. 
  • Serve at once, or cover and place in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Courses Dinner

Cuisine American

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Filed Under: Dinner, Savory, Side Dishes, Summer Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ahbree says

    June 28, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    Why do you only cook it for 1.5 minutes? I plan on making it tonight!

    Reply
    • bakerbynature says

      July 3, 2019 at 3:46 pm

      Because you don’t want to overcook the tortellini 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen says

        September 15, 2019 at 7:16 pm

        So are you saying that all package instructions have you seriously over -cooking the pasta? My instructions say 7 minutes.

        Reply
        • bakerbynature says

          September 18, 2019 at 5:58 pm

          For pasta salad, yes. They will be too soft and mushy after 7 minutes.

          Reply
  2. Dale B says

    July 3, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    made this for a bbq and it was the first dish to go! so easy too. 5 stars~

    Reply
  3. Karmen | The Healthy Cuisine says

    August 1, 2019 at 10:14 am

    As a pasta-lover, I’m over the moon about this recipe. I made it over the weekend, and despite very slightly overcooking the tortellini, the dish still came out amazing. Thanks for putting this together!

    Reply

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Meet Ashley

Hey! I’m Ashley, a creative spirit with a major sweet tooth. Most days you can find me in my happy place: the kitchen. If I’m not there, I’m probably snapping photos of food, planning a party… or dreaming about my next trip to Paris (AKA my favorite place in the entire world). I’m a story teller, recipe developer, and photographer who firmly believes that a homemade life is a happy life. Learn More.

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