Description
This Zesty Italian Tortellini & Veggie Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner. Featuring cheese tortellini tossed with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and fragrant basil, all coated in a tangy Italian dressing. Served chilled, it’s an easy crowd-pleaser that combines flavors and textures beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz cheese tortellini
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Dressing & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Tortellini: Cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled tortellini along with the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, sliced black olives, and chopped fresh basil.
- Add Dressing: Pour the Italian dressing over the combined ingredients in the bowl. Gently toss everything together to ensure all the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Season: Taste the salad and season it with salt and pepper according to your preference, mixing gently again to distribute the seasoning.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and place the pasta salad in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to become refreshingly cool.
- Serve: After chilling, serve the pasta salad cold or at room temperature for a zesty and flavorful meal.
Notes
- For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead or the day before serving.
- You can substitute cheese tortellini with spinach or mushroom tortellini for variety.
- If you prefer a homemade Italian dressing, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
- Add fresh mozzarella balls or grilled chicken to turn this into a heartier meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
