Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
This Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for lunch, picnics, or potlucks. Featuring tender cheese tortellini tossed in vibrant pesto, cherry tomatoes, marinated mozzarella balls, and red onion, this salad is fresh, colorful, and ready in just 10 minutes. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 minute 30 seconds
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 20 ounce bag cheese tortellini
Salad Mix
- 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
- Boil the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the cheese tortellini and cook for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Take care not to overcook, as the tortellini should be tender yet firm.
- Cool the Tortellini: Drain the cooked tortellini and immediately rinse under cold running water until the pasta is completely cooled. This stops the cooking process and helps the tortellini hold its shape for the salad.
- Combine Ingredients: Transfer the cooled tortellini to a large serving bowl. Add in the pesto sauce, sliced cherry tomatoes, marinated mozzarella balls, and diced red onion. Toss everything well to evenly coat the pasta with the pesto and distribute all ingredients.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the pasta salad immediately for the freshest taste, or cover and refrigerate it for up to 3 days to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature as desired.
Notes
- Do not overcook tortellini; it should remain firm to avoid mushy salad.
- Use good quality pesto for best flavor or make your own for a fresh twist.
- Chilling the salad overnight enhances the flavors.
- This salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- For additional crunch, consider adding toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts.
Find it online: https://dishcooks.com/easy-pesto-tortellini-pasta-salad-recipe/
