Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Cheese-filled tortellini with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for picnics, potlucks, or fresh meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz fresh cheese tortellini

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced

→ Cheese & Herbs

07 - 1/3 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare the cheese tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, and sliced black olives.
03 - Add the halved mozzarella balls and torn fresh basil leaves to the vegetable mixture.
04 - Add the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the vegetables, cheese, and herbs.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
06 - Pour the dressing evenly over the salad. Gently toss to coat all ingredients thoroughly.
07 - Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The tortellini stays perfectly tender even after chilling, never getting mushy or gummy
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in under 10 minutes
02 -
  • Rinse the cooked tortellini thoroughly under cold water or the residual heat will make the vegetables wilt and the cheese melt
  • Let the dressed salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the flavors can really mingle and develop
03 -
  • Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the vegetables after rinsing so water does not dilute the dressing
  • Cut all the vegetables to a similar size so you get a little bit of everything in each bite

Go Back