cheese tortellini pesto pasta salad
This is my favorite way to make (and eat!) pasta salad in the whole world. I have been making it for years and always get asked for my recipe. So happy to share it with you all! It makes a lot, I'll warn ya, but you can make a smaller version by omitting the rotini and adding half the rest of the ingredients. But... it's highly addictive and you'll wish you'd made more when it's gone. Great for parties and picnics, too. This salad is best at room temp or even slightly warm.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Your cookouts will be tastier with this cheese tortellini pasta salad. We liked that it's made with cheese tortellini and rotini for a combination of textures. It's filled with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, black olives, bell peppers, and chunks of mozzarella cheese for an assortment of textures and flavors. Adding basil pesto gives this salad an Italian feel. This pasta salad will serve a large crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 package cheese tortellini (20 oz)
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 can artichocke hearts, drained and quartered (14 oz)
- 1 package grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise (10 oz)
- 1 can medium black olives, drained and halved lengthwise (6 oz)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 jar basil pesto (8 oz)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, more if needed
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 12 ounces good mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, more if needed
How To Make cheese tortellini pesto pasta salad
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Step 1Cook pasta separately. -
Step 2Drain.
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Step 3Cool a bit and add to a large punch bowl or mixing bowl.
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Step 4While the pasta is cooking, mix the remaining ingredients minus the olive oil.
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Step 5Gently fold together the pasta with the rest of the ingredients.
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Step 6Add the olive oil. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add more salt, Parmesan, etc. until it's to your liking.
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Step 7Serve immediately or refrigerate. If serving this much later or the next day, you'll need to refresh this. Add a bit more olive oil, salt, and parmesan cheese before serving as the noodles suck up the oil and seasonings a bit.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
