Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad

A white bowl of tortellini salad with the main bowl in the background.

Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad

Tortellini pesto pasta salad is a quick and fresh dish that comes together in just 20 minutes! Packed with bold flavors and cheese-stuffed pasta, it’s perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or a no-fuss family dinner.

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Diet Low Salt

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Resting time 1

Total Time 20

Servings servings

Calories 262kcal

Author Jessy Freimann

Equipment

Ingredients

20 ounces tortellini pasta, boiled as per package directions and cooled completely
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
14 ounces black olives, sliced
14 ounces quartered marinated artichoke hearts, halved
8 ounces 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).

Video

Notes

Cool the pasta completely. Warm tortellini will absorb too much of the pesto and can cause the salad to turn mushy. Cooling it first keeps everything fresh — rinse with cold water to speed up the process!

Cutting the tomatoes, artichokes, and mozzarella helps them mix better with the pasta, but it’s okay to leave them whole if you’re in a rush.

Feel free to switch up the veggies depending on what you have. Diced cucumbers, bell peppers, or red onions are great additions if you're looking for extra crunch.

A little sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley right before serving adds a nice touch of color and extra flavor.

This tortellini pasta salad tastes best chilled, so plan to refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving.

Ingredients to prep ahead- Cook and cool the tortellini, and chop the veggies and cheese in advance to speed up the assembly process.

Leftovers and storage- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freezing isn’t recommended as it can affect the texture of the pasta and fresh ingredients.

Nutrition