• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Life Jolie logo
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work with me!
    • Video Production
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    The Life Jolie » Sides » Pesto Tortellini Salad

    Pesto Tortellini Salad

    Published: Apr 26, 2019 · Modified: Aug 31, 2022 by Jessy Freimann · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pesto Tortellini Salad is the easiest pasta salad you'll make! Throw this quick and delicious pasta salad together in minutes and wow your friends and family!

    Pesto Tortellini Salad is the easiest pasta salad you'll make! Throw this quick and delicious pasta salad together in minutes and wow your friends and family!

    An overhead image of one side of a bowl of tortellini salad

    Pesto Tortellini Salad

    This post contains Affiliate Links. Please see the disclaimer here.

    Check out some of my other pasta salad recipes:

    • Antipasto Italian Pasta Salad
    • Caprese Pasta Salad
    • Tuna Macaroni Salad
    • Shrimp Macaroni Salad

    Pasta Salad season is upon us and I'm here for it! Although, I also believe that it doesn't have to be summer to enjoy a cold pasta salad. I'll happily eat it all year around! And this one is crazy easy!

    Tortellini pasta is a total upgrade to other traditional unstuffed pasta varieties. Cherry tomatoes add a fantastic sweetness. Bocconcini (baby fresh mozzarella balls) bring the perfect creaminess. Black olives and marinated artichoke hearts add a subtle brininess without being overbearing. And of course, your favorite jarred pesto sauce adds the best touch of summer, no matter what the season (this is a pesto pasta salad, after all!).

    A bowl of pasta salad

    Tips for making this tortellini pasta salad recipe

    • After you boil the tortellini, cool it completely. Either boil it in advance store in the refrigerator or after draining, plunge it into an ice water bath to quickly cool and then drain again.
    • I like to keep some extra pesto on hand in case the tortellini absorbs too much of it and the salad dries out (which can happen with any pasta salad recipes. I prefer to slice the olives, cut the bocconcini balls, quartered artichoke hearts and the tomatoes in half. But if you're in a rush, you can leave them whole.
    • This is best served cold. I like to chill before serving but you don't have to.

    A close up image of the tortellini in this salad

    Frequently ask questions about making this easy pasta salad

    • How long does tortellini salad last? 4-5 days covered in the refrigerator.
    • Can I make tortellini salad ahead of time? Yes, just make sure you have some extra pesto on hand in case it absorbs the pesto and you need more.
    • What if I can't find bocconcini? You can always get regular-size ball or two of fresh mozzarella and cut it into bite-size pieces.
    • Can I use homemade pesto? Yes- that's exactly why I measured it in cups instead of by jars.

    An overhead photo of a bowl of cold pasta salad

    Make it a meal!

    A few great recipes to round out and complete this meal would be:

    • Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks
    • Crunchy Red Cabbage Salad
    • Balsamic Grilled Asparagus
    • Black Cherry Lemonade Bourbon Slush
    • Raspberry Lemon Icebox Pie

    A spoonful of this pasta salad recipe

    Helpful tools:

    1. Mixing bowl
    2. Spatula
    3. Measuring cups
    4. Measuring spoons
    5. Dutch oven
    6. Wooden spoon
    7. Chef's knife
    8. Cutting board
    Pesto Tortellini Salad is the easiest pasta salad you'll make! Throw this quick and delicious pasta salad together in minutes and wow your friends and family!

    Pesto Tortellini Salad

    Jessy Freimann
    Pesto Tortellini Salad is the easiest pasta salad you'll make! Throw this quick and delicious pasta salad together in minutes and wow your friends and family!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Resting time 1 hr
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 10 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 ounces tortellini pasta, boiled as per package directions and cooled completely
    • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1 14 ounce can black olives, sliced
    • 1 14 ounce can quartered marinated artichoke hearts, halved
    • 1 8 ounce container bocconcini (or regular fresh mozzarella cut into bite-size pieces
    • 1 ½ cups pesto sauce + a little extra in case the salad dries out

    Instructions
     

    • Toss all ingredients until well combined.
    • Refrigerate until serving (at least an hour).
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you tried this recipe please comment and rate it 🙂 I love hearing your feedback and answering your questions! And if you make this please tag me on Instagram with @thelifejolie so I can share it <3

    You can find a full index of my recipes here.

    Don’t forget to follow The Life Jolie on Pinterest for more recipe inspiration!

    Or if Pinterest isn’t your style, bookmark this post!

    Let’s keep the conversation going- join my Facebook group! 

    « Sour Cream Cookies
    Reader Request: Homemade Baked Chicken Tenders »
    • Share
    • Flipboard
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessy in a kitchen holding a white casserole pan and smiling.
    Hi, I'm Jessy!

    Welcome to The Life Jolie! I share simple, delicious recipes and ingredient prep tips to make your weeknight cooking a breeze!

    More about me →

    Fall Recipes

    • Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Fall Apart Slow Cooker Pork Chops
    • Roasted Spatchcock Glazed Turkey with Bourbon
    • Baked Brie Phyllo Cups
    • Candied Pecans

    Popular Recipes

    • How to Melt Chocolate Chips in the Kitchen
    • Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
    • Very Best Shrimp Macaroni Salad Recipe
    • Cheese Sauce for Broccoli Recipe
    • Reader Request: Copycat Cheesecake Factory Thai Lettuce Wraps
    • Greek Yogurt Roasted Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy + Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Video Production

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright 2014-2021 - Jolie Ventures, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy.