Description
This Easy Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is a colorful, flavorful dish combining cheese tortellini, crisp vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or a light meal, it comes together quickly and is easy to customize.
Ingredients
- 20 oz cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup bell peppers (any color), chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup salami, diced (optional)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed mozzarella
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3/4 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell peppers, olives, salami, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese.
- Add the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the vegetables and meat.
- Pour the Italian dressing over everything and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then sprinkle fresh parsley on top.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- Chilling the salad enhances the flavor and texture.
- Feel free to swap in different proteins or veggies.
- Add a splash of dressing before serving if it seems dry after chilling.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
