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.
Pesto pasta salad
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.
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. If you love the convenience of prepared cheese tortellini, you'll also want to check out this baked tortellini recipe.
Key ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Tortellini - Cheese filled tortellini
- Basil Pesto - homemade or store-bought
- Fresh mini mozzarella - Also called pearl mozzarella. You can usually find in the deli section
- Cherry tomatoes - If they're small you can leave them whole or you can cut them in half
- Parmesan cheese - Use your favorite parmesan, grated or shredded
Making tortellini salad
In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- 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 the tortellini or it will become mushy 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 pepperoncini peppers
- Slice sweet bell peppers and add to salad
Recipe Faqs
When covered and stored in the refrigerator, this salad will last 2-3 days.
Yes, frozen tortellini can be used! Just cook it still frozen and boil until cooked through.
More delicious pasta dishes
- Italian pasta salad
- Chicken baked pasta
- Stuffed pasta shells
- Orzo pasta salad
- Pasta and pea salad
- Thai pasta salad
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Be certain to check out all my salad recipes!
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound cheese tortellini (1 package)
- ¼ - ½ cup pesto
- ¾ cup fresh baby mozzarella balls (cut in half)
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup red onion slices
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (shredded)
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves (roughly chopped, optional)
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package directions. Rinse under cool water and drain well. Place in a large mixing bowl.1 pound cheese tortellini
- Add pesto and toss gently to coat tortellini¼ - ½ cup pesto
- Add mozzarella, tomatoes and onions. Toss gently.¾ cup fresh baby mozzarella balls, ¼ cup red onion slices, ¾ cup cherry tomatoes
- Add parmesan and fresh basil2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves
- Serve right away or cover and refrigerate
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cheese filled tortellini
- Do not overcook tortellini or it will become mushy in the salad
- If you find red onions too pungent, soak the slices in cold water for 5 minutes before adding to the salad
- Start with the ¼ cup of pesto and add more if needed
- If the salad becomes too dry as it sits, add a bit more pesto. The tortellini does absorb some of the sauce as it sits.
- 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
Nutritional 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.
Dawn says
We love pasta salad and this one looks like a winner! How fun to use tortellini too! This one needs to happen soon. 🙂
David @ Spiced says
We just made a similar pesto pasta as a side dish for grilled chicken, and both of us commented that we should make it more often. I love the addition of fresh mozzarella here as well as tortellini instead of bowtie pasta. I'm making this version before the summer is over!
Kathy says
So many options for a great pasta salad!!! Enjoy 🙂