Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Tender cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a fresh, satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz fresh cheese tortellini

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced

→ Cheese & Herbs

07 - 1/3 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella, and basil.
03 - Add the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the vegetable mixture.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to combine evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan on top and toss again lightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's one of those rare salads that actually gets better as it sits, making it perfect for prep-ahead meals
  • The combination of textures creates something restaurant-worthy but comes together in under 25 minutes
02 -
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator for flavors to properly marry, but don't go longer than 2 hours or the pasta absorbs too much dressing
  • Rinsing the cooked tortellini in cold water isn't optional—it prevents the pasta from getting gummy and keeps each piece distinct
03 -
  • Use the highest quality olive oil you can afford since it's a starring flavor here
  • Let the vegetables come to room temperature before mixing with cold pasta for better flavor integration

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