Tortellini Pasta Salad Italian (Printable)

Cheese-filled tortellini with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing. Ideal for picnics and potlucks.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 lb fresh cheese tortellini

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - ½ cup black olives, sliced
06 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped

→ Cheese & Herbs

07 - ½ cup mozzarella balls, halved
08 - ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

→ Dressing

09 - ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, red onion, mozzarella balls, and basil.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until well blended.
04 - Add the cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture. Drizzle with the dressing and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
05 - Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Toss again just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The tortellini stays perfectly tender even after chilling, never mushy or dry
  • You can prep everything the night before and it actually tastes better
  • Those little mozzarella balls make each bite feel like a special treat
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta with cold water immediately after draining or it'll keep cooking and get mushy
  • The salad tastes infinitely better after chilling, so don't rush this step
  • Add fresh basil right before serving if you're making it ahead, it can get dark
03 -
  • If you're taking this somewhere, pack the dressing separately and toss right before serving
  • Toasting the tortellini in olive oil after cooking adds incredible flavor

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