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Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad

Modified: Jul 6, 2023 by Kori Butler · Published: Jul 8, 2023

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This creamy tortellini pasta salad is so delicious and quick to make (less than 15 minutes). You'll LOVE the creamy herb and vinegar dressing tossed with cheesy-filled tortellini and colorful fresh vegetables! The perfect side salad or make it a light meal and add diced chicken. Tip: make it low carb and keto by using cauliflower florets in place of the pasta! 😉

A clear bowl full of cheese tortellini pasta salad with colorful vegetables.Pin

The Best Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad 

Creamy and delicious! The dressing in this pasta salad is like a creamy vinaigrette that is super flavorful from the herbs de Provence and red wine vinegar. I like adding mayo to my dressings to make them creamier and stick to the noodles and veggies even more.

Ready in 15 minutes. This recipe is super simple and easy to whip together for an easy side dish - or main dish! Boil your pasta and chop your veggies, whisk your dressing, and then toss altogether when your pasta is done.

Serve immediately, or I find it is best when served chilled for at least 30 minutes.

Make it a low carb keto pasta salad. You can easily turn this into a low carb and keto recipe by swapping out the pasta for crisp-tender cooked cauliflower. Be sure to use a keto-friendly mayonnaise. Add some protein to make it into a complete meal. Salami, cubed ham, or chicken make great additions!

Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad Ingredients

Ingredients needed for making pasta salad on a white wooded board.

Here are the ingredients you will need to make tortellini pasta salad:

  • Frozen Cheese Tortellini: substitute with a different flavor tortellini or use plain pasta. Use cauliflower florets to reduce carbs.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: start with a cup cherry tomatoes, and you can always increase the amount based on preference.
  • Bell Pepper: you can use any variety or color of bell pepper you like. Red bell pepper, orange and yellow is a bit sweeter than green.
  • Sliced Green Onion
  • Black Olives: omit if desired; classic Italian pasta salad has black olives, and they add a nice flavor.
  • Sweet Onion: substitute with red onion if you desire.
  • Fresh Parsley
  • Mayonnaise: use any variety of mayonnaise you like, such as light or made with olive oil, avocado oil, etc.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: this adds a little acidity to the dressing, which compliments the oil, seasoning, and mayonnaise.
  • Italian Seasoning: use your favorite Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper: used to taste; adjust as needed.

For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!

Be sure to save this pin to Pinterest for later! 😉

Cheese tortellini pasta salad served in a clear glass salad bowl.Pin

Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad Substitutions and Variations

Replace pesto with your dressing ingredients and toss with your pasta and vegetables for a pesto tortellini pasta salad.

Add mozzarella balls to your pasta salad for extra flavor and texture.

Add protein to your pasta salad to make it an all-in-one meal! I suggest ham, salami, chicken, or any of your favorites. If doing so, add an extra 2 tablespoons of may and 1/2 teaspoon of herbs de Provence.

Use any variety of bell peppers of your choice. I like to use red bell pepper and yellow and orange for the best flavors, but it is all based on your preference.

Low Carb-Keto: substitute the tortellini pasta with bite-size cauliflower pieces to reduce the carbs and calories!

How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making Italian pasta salad. For detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below.

Cooking tortellini pasta in boiling water.

1. Cook tortellini according to the package directions. Plunge pasta in cold water to stop cooking. Drain and place in a large bowl.

Mixing all the pasta salad ingredients together in a white bowl.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until well incorporated.

Adding colorful chopped bell peppers and tomatoes to tortellini pasta in a white bowl.

3. Add tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet onion, green onion, olives, and parsley. (Note: if using, add chicken or other protein now).

4. Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to coat evenly.

5. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

What Goes with Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad?

Garnish your pasta salad with fresh chopped parsley and parmesan cheese if desired.

Stir in feta cheese crumbles to your salad for a creamy texture and a nice salty flavor.

Here are some recipes that would go great with cheese tortellini pasta salad:

  • Pork Tenderloin on the Grill
  • Filet Mignon Grill Recipe
  • Grilled Chicken Drumsticks in Buttermilk Brine
  • Grilled Pork Steak Recipe
  • Cowboy Ribeye Steak with Cumin Chili Rub

Storing Leftover Cold Tortellini Pasta Salad

Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. The acidity in the dressing tends to break down the fresh veggies in the salad and makes it watery, so it's best to eat it sooner rather than later.

Can you Freeze Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad?

No, it is not recommended to freeze this pasta salad. When you have a salad with fresh vegetables and freeze it when it thaws, the vegetables release all their water, making the salad watery, the pasta mushy, and the vegetables have no crunch anymore.

Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe FAQs

Should I dress my Cold Tortellini Pasta Salad the night before?

If you serve your pasta salad the next day, you could dress it the night before for easy serving. I personally do not dress my salad until the day of for the best flavor and consistency for the pasta and to keep the vegetables crunchy.

How do you make Tortellini Pasta Salad not dry?

Make sure you make enough dressing for how much pasta salad you are making. If you do not add enough dressing, then the pasta absorbs the moisture that is available, causing the salad to become drier.

How do you keep pasta from sticking to cold pasta salad?

Always rinse your noodles after cooking to remove the extra starch that is on them. This prevents your noodles from sticking together. Additionally, you can drizzle with a little olive oil and toss the noodles to prevent them from sticking.

Can I ask you a favor?

If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!

📖 The recipe.

A round glass bowl of pasta salad with olives, tomatoes, and colorful fresh vegetables.

Tortellini Pasta Salad

A wonderful veggie-packed cold tortellini pasta salad recipe that can be served as a side dish, or a main dish if chicken or salami is added.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 52 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 473 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 (19-ounce package) frozen cheese tortellini
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup chopped bell peppers (make it colorful with multicolor)
  • ¼ cup sliced green onion
  • ¼ cup sliced black olives
  • 3 tablespoons chopped sweet onion
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 1½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (herbes de Provence may be used)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to the package directions. Plunge pasta in cold water to stop them from cooking. Drain and place in a large bowl.
  • Add tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet onion, green onion, olives, and parsley. (Note: If using, add chicken or other protein now, see note below)
  • In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, and Italian seasoning. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until it is well incorporated.
  • Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss to coat evenly. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Kori's Tips

  • Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
  • VARIATIONS: For a meal in one add 2 cups chopped cooked chicken, ham, or diced hard salami - add an extra 2 tablespoons of mayo and 1/2 teaspoon of herbes de Provence. Adjust seasoning to taste after it chills.
  • LOW CARB KETO OPTION: Substitute crisp tender cauliflower florets for the pasta and sprinkle in freshly grated parmesan cheese.
  • TIPS: Chill at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours, to allow flavors to blend. 
  • SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Garnish with fresh parsley and parmesan if desired. 

Nutrition

Calories: 473kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 14gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 543mgPotassium: 151mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1140IUVitamin C: 41mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 3mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @seekinggoodeatsofficial or tag #seekinggoodeats! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™

More Salad Recipes

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  • Italian Pasta Salad - use pasta or cauliflower.
  • Seafood Pasta Salad - cauliflower can be used as a pasta substitute!
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  • Broccoli Salad Recipe with Bacon
  • Easy Fruit Salad
  • Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Watermelon Salad with Feta and Arugula

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Hey there, I'm Kori.

I’m a culinary school trained chef specializing in holistic nutrition and wellness. I’ve always been a major foodie, and as I’ve aged, the full impact of my love of food—and not-necessarily-healthy eating habits—caught up to me. In an effort to make positive changes in my life (and hopefully yours, too), I created this website where I could share great-tasting, craveable, healthy recipes.

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