📖 Summer Tortellini Pasta Salad

a large serving bowl filled high with summer tortellini salad with Italian dressing. A white serving spoon, white plates, and a green and white linen sit around the scene.

5 from 8 votes

This delicious 6-ingredient summer tortellini salad recipe is super easy and always a crowd favorite! A great option for potlucks, backyard BBQs, or as a light summer meal.

Prep Time12

Cook Time8

Total Time20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 312kcal

Author: Meredith

Ingredients

1 20oz package, cheese tortellini
1 pound asparagus, snapped and cut into 1" pieces
1-2 C fresh spinach, stems removed and leaves ribboned
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 3.8oz can, sliced black olives, drained
8 oz Italian dressing

Instructions

Cook your cheese tortellini according to the package directions. Rinse the pasta with cold water and place it in a large bowl. If you're still chopping the other ingredients, place the bowl of pasta in the fridge to stay cool.
While the pasta is cooking, chop tomatoes, asparagus, spinach, and black olives (if you didn’t purchase pre-sliced olives). Set aside.
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Place chopped asparagus into the boiling water until fork tender (1-2 minutes; 1min for thinner asparagus and 2min for thicker asparagus). Immediately rinse with cool water, and place asparagus with cold water and ice back into the saucepan to halt the cooking.
Place all of the ingredients into the large bowl with the pasta, stir to evenly coat the pasta and veggies.
If not enjoying right away, place the pasta salad into the fridge until ready to serve.
Store leftover pasta salad in the fridge. Enjoy within 2-3 days.

Notes

*Make Ahead: Tortellini salad can be prepped the day before you plan to serve.

*Storage: cover and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

*Recipe variations and substitutions:

Add a protein. Try salami, pepperoni, or pieces of grilled or shredded chicken.
Add more cheese. Cut up pieces of fresh mozzarella, pre-made fresh mozzarella ‘pearls’, or shredded parmesan are great additions.
Add in or try different vegetables: bell peppers, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, and cucumbers are all popular additions to tortellini pasta salad with Italian dressing. Customize your salad to your liking!
Add fresh herbs: fresh basil or parsley would be excellent in this summer pasta salad.
Make your own dressing: if you’d prefer homemade dressing, make your own! The dressing used on this Mediterranean Pasta Salad would be a great option.

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