Name: Italian Tortellini Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 18 min
Ingredients: 22 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini; 1 cup fresh baby spinach; ½ cup chopped sundried tomatoes; 2 ounces sliced coppa prosciutto, or other cured Italian deli meat (chopped); ⅓ cup thinly sliced fresh basil; ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 to 3 tablespoons pine nuts; ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil; ¼ cup balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon dijon mustard; ½ teaspoon minced garlic; ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

This rustic, flavor-packed Italian Tortellini Salad is loaded with texture and flavor. It will make a delicious addition to a summer potluck menu.

Italian Tortellini Salad in a small white bowl.

I had no idea what I was getting into when I got to work in my kitchen yesterday but making this pasta salad quickly became a lesson in self-control. I’m telling you, it was rough. I cook, I photograph, and I wrap items up and stash them away in my fridge to consume with my family at mealtime. Always. I’m good that way.

But, this salad… I really struggled to keep to my plan.

There’s only so much deliciousness one can resist at 9:30 am when one is alone in one’s kitchen.

Italian Tortellini Salad in a small white bowl on a board.

The list of ingredients are all delicious on their own but when tossed together with an Italian-seasoned balsamic vinaigrette they mingle, get happy, and come to life in the most fantastic way.

Rana Cheese Tortellini, Dry Coppa, and Mezzetta Sun Dried Tomatoes.

You’ll need a big package of cheese tortellini, a jar of sun dried tomatoes, and a couple ounces of cured Italian deli meat. I highly recommend you pick up some coppa (aka capicola) but prosciutto would be fabulous in this too. You could even go salami or pepperoni. See the printable recipe at the end of the post for the full ingredient list.

The dressing consists of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, and a touch of black pepper. Place the lid on the jar and shake it up. Easy.

Dressing being stirred into cheese tortellini with a wooden spoon.

Be sure to heed the package directions when cooking your tortellini. It cooks very quickly and will get mushy, quickly, if you let it go too long. Pull it from the heat and immediately rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain it well and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Coat the cooled tortellini with about half the dressing to prevent it from sticking together.

Tortellini, sundried tomatoes, coppa, and spinach in a bowl.

Add the remaining salad ingredients – sun dried tomatoes, thinly sliced fresh basil, the coppa, and fresh baby spinach.

Italian Tortellini Salad in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon.

Give it a toss and add additional dressing if needed. Garnish the salad with some Parmesan and pine nuts.

Italian Tortellini Salad in a small bowl.

It’s a gorgeous salad and you won’t believe the flavor. It’s intense, man!

A small white bowl filled with tortellini, spinach, and coppa.

Italian Tortellini Salad

5 from 6 votes

This rustic, flavor-packed Italian Tortellini Salad is loaded with texture and flavor. It will make a delicious addition to a summer potluck menu.

Course: Pasta, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Keyword: italian tortellini salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes

Cook Time:3 minutes

Total Time:18 minutes

Servings: 6 to 8

Ingredients

Pasta Salad:

22 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 cup fresh baby spinach
½ cup chopped sundried tomatoes
2 ounces sliced coppa prosciutto, or other cured Italian deli meat , chopped
⅓ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 to 3 tablespoons pine nuts

Dressing:

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
½ teaspoon minced garlic
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook tortellini according to package directions, being careful not to overcook. Rinse cooked pasta with cold water and drain well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
While tortellini is cooking, place all dressing ingredients in a container with a tight-fitting lid (like a mason jar) and shake until well combined (and then shake a little more!). Alternately, whisk ingredients together in a small bowl.
Drizzle half of the dressing over the cooked and cooled tortellini and toss to combine to prevent it from sticking together. Add remaining salad ingredients, except Parmesan and pine nuts, and toss. Add as much of the remaining dressing as desired. Garnish with Parmesan and pine nuts and serve.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Follow recipe directions as stated but do not add spinach, basil, Parmesan, and pine nuts. Cover and refrigerate the salad and reserved dressing separately. When ready to serve, add the spinach, basil, and additional dressing, as needed. Garnish as stated.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 439 kcal · Carbohydrates: 40 g · Protein: 16 g · Fat: 25 g · Saturated Fat: 5 g · Cholesterol: 39 mg · Sodium: 565 mg · Potassium: 291 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 6 g · Vitamin A: 495 IU · Vitamin C: 4 mg · Calcium: 163 mg · Iron: 3 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

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