Easy 5-ingreient Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make and is packed with flavor.
Pesto tortellini pasta salad is a great summer recipe! It takes just 5 ingredients and less than 20 minutes to make.
There is minimal cooking time, and the pasta salad makes a great light supper or a delicious side dish.
The pasta salad keeps well, so it’s a good make-ahead dish. Give it a try, and it may become your new favorite cookout or barbecue side!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Cheese Tortellini: Any brand of fresh cheese tortellini will work. Feel free to use another type (like tricolor) in the recipe.
- Pesto: Store bought or homemade basil pesto will work.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Flavor bombs cherry tomatoes are my current favorite. You can also use grape tomatoes.
- Mozzarella Balls: I use mozzarella pearls. They’re mini mozzarella balls. You can use larger mozzarella balls or even marinated mozzarella if you prefer.
- Red Onion: Shallots make a good substitute for the red onion. If you find red onion overpowering, simply soak the raw red onion in ice water to take some of the bite out of the onion.
How to make pesto tortellini pasta salad
Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
Step 2: Add tortellini and cook for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Don’t overcook the pasta.
Step 3: Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until cool.
Step 4: Add the tortellini to a large bowl.
Step 5: Add in pesto, tomatoes, cheese, and onion.
Step 6: Toss to combine. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.
What to serve with this dish
This pasta salad makes a great side dish for cookouts or barbecues. It also goes well with main dishes like herb roasted chicken, caprese chicken, or meatballs.
Storage
This pasta salad should be kept covered in the fridge. The pasta salad will keep for up to 5 days when properly stored.
I like to add in a bit of extra pesto after the pasta salad has been in the fridge, so if you’re making this ahead of time, you may want to do the same and add a bit of extra pesto before serving.
More side salad recipes!
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Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 20-24 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 12-16 ounce container fresh mozzarella balls drained
- 1/4 cup red onion diced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Stir in the tortellini and cook for 1 and 1/2 minutes. Don’t overcook the pasta.20-24 ounces fresh cheese tortellini
- Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool.
- Add the drained tortellini to a large bowl.
- Add in pesto, tomatoes, cheese, and onion.1 cup basil pesto, 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, 12-16 ounce container fresh mozzarella balls, 1/4 cup red onion
- Toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Cheese Tortellini: Any brand of fresh cheese tortellini will work. Feel free to use another type (like tricolor) in the recipe.
- Pesto: Store bought or homemade basil pesto will work.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Flavor bombs cherry tomatoes are my current favorite. You can also use grape tomatoes.
- Mozzarella Balls: I use mozzarella pearls. They’re mini mozzarella balls. You can use larger mozzarella balls or even marinated mozzarella if you prefer.
- Red Onion: Shallots make a good substitute for the red onion. If you find red onion overpowering, simply soak the raw red onion in ice water to take some of the bite out of the onion.
- I like to add in a bit of extra pesto after the pasta salad has been in the fridge, so if you’re making this ahead of time, you may want to do the same and add a bit of extra pesto before serving.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Nutrition
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Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Jan says
Whoa!!! It’s fantastic…. All my favorites in life…
Kate Dean says
Thanks!
Nanci says
Can I and feta cheese instead of mozzarella balls
Kate says
Sure! You can use any type of cheese that you like.
Barbara says
Delicious though I substituted sweet onion for the red onion
Greta says
This was a big hit when I took it to a 4th of July party. Very easy to make. I made sure to use a mix of homegrown and some good looking cherry tomatoes from Sprouts.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad it was a hit!
Taylor says
Best pasta salad I ever made!
Kate says
Thank you! It’s a family-favorite! =)
Jill says
What a great combination and it was easy, easy, easy. My favorite way to cook.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it!
Becky Butti says
Hey Kate. I’m giving this 5 stars because it sounds awesome. I’m in charge of pasta salads for a 4th of July get together and this is going with me. Just in time! Thanks! I’ll let you know the results. B
Kate says
Thank you! My family loves this recipe, and I hope it’s a big hit for you! =)