Name: Tortellini Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 20-ounce bag fresh refrigerated cheese tortellini (See details on how to prepare); 1 cup basil pesto (homemade or store bought); 1 ½ cups grape or cherry tomatoes (sliced in half); 12 ounces marinated mozzarella balls.; ¼ cup red onion (diced); ¼ cup fresh basil (julienned)

By: Jill Mills Posted: Jun 6, 2025

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This Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe is made in just 10 minutes with 7 ingredients! Fresh and flavorful, with cheese tortellini, crunchy veggies, and pesto, it makes a great light lunch or side dish during the summer.

Overhead view of a bowl of tortellini pasta salad

I love pasta salad in the summer because it’s always quick, easy, and there are so many ways to customize it. I’ve made many, many variations over the years from classic Italian pasta salad to Big Mac pasta salad. This tortellini pasta salad is a new favorite. The cheese tortellini makes it a bit heartier than other pasta salads so we often enjoy it for lunch on hot summer days.

Why This Is The Best Tortellini Pasta Salad

I’ve tried many variations of this recipe before finally settling on this one as the best. Here are a few reasons why.

Only 7 ingredients. Less is more when it comes to this tortellini pasta salad. I selected just a handful of fresh, flavorful ingredients that pair perfectly. There’s no mile-long shopping list required!
QUICK & easy. The tortellini cooks in just 90 seconds. Beyond that, it’s a matter of slicing and dicing the veggies and combining the ingredients.
Perfect for summer. I make this pasta salad on repeat throughout the summer. We love it as a light meal as well as a side dish to grilled meats. It’s ideal for potlucks and BBQs too! The flavors are so light and fresh and preparing it doesn’t require lots of cooking.

Overhead view of ingredients to make tortellini pasta salad

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a quick run-down of the seven ingredients used in this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Cheese tortellini – I recommend fresh, refrigerated tortellini for this recipe, not the frozen kind.
Basil pesto – I love to use my homemade pesto for this pasta salad. Store bought works too.
Tomatoes – Cherry or grape tomatoes cut in half are the perfect bite-size for this salad.
Mozzarella balls – I like to use the marinated mozzarella balls in the container. It adds so much flavor to the pasta salad. However, mozzarella balls in water will also work. Just make sure to drain them properly.
Red onion – Feel free to omit or replace with green onions for a lighter flavor.
Basil– Julienned basil adds a bright, fresh final touch to the pasta salad.

How To Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

I love how little effort this recipe requires. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

Tomatoes, mozzarella balls, onions, pesto, and tortellini in a bowl

Cook the tortellini. Boil a large pot of water with a teaspoon of salt. Add the tortellini and cook for exactly 1 1/2 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water.
Add the veggies. Transfer the cooked tortellini to a large bowl. Add the other ingredients, except the basil. Stir to combine, ensuring the tortellini is evenly coated with the pesto.
Enjoy. Garnish the tortellini salad with the fresh basil. Enjoy or cover and refrigerate.

Overhead view of a big bowl of tortellini pasta salad

Tips & Variations

Here are a few fun ways to customize this tortellini pasta salad, as well as a few important tips.

Do not overcook the tortellini. It’s imperative that you don’t cook the tortellini according to normal cooking directions. The pasta will be come unstable and fall apart when mixing the salad.
Try different pesto. While I usually keep basil pesto on hand, there are many different pesto varieties. Try this with parsley pesto, spinach pesto, or any other pesto.
Use flavored tortellini. Similarly, there are many different tortellini flavors available. I used plain cheese for this recipe but tortellini with a seasoned filling would be yummy too.
Add other ingredients. Feel free to add in more veggies or even meat to this pasta salad. Other possible add in’s include sliced black olives, yellow or red pepper, sliced zucchini or even sliced pepperoni or salami.

Tortellini pasta salad and grilled chicken on a plate

How To Store Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, either in an airtight container or a bowl tightly covered with plastic wrap, for 2-3 days. Just give it a stir before serving!

Serving Suggestions

Tortellini pasta salad is a pretty versatile dish. It’s a great side at potlucks and BBQs and it can even be enjoyed as a light vegetarian meal on its own. We often serve it with grilled chicken, steak, or fish for an easy summer meal that doesn’t require heating up the kitchen.

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