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Home » Side Dishes

Summer Tortellini Salad

Published: Aug 24, 2022 · Modified: Jul 9, 2025 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 677 words. · About 4 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe
Summer tortellini salad recipe.
Summer tortellini salad recipe.
Summer tortellini salad recipe.

Summer tortellini salad is an easy pasta salad recipe made with tortellini, fresh summer produce, and a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing. This pasta salad is the perfect side dish for your next summer picnic!

Tossed tortellini pasta salad in a bowl with tomatoes, zucchini, and feta cheese.

Recipe summary

Flavor: Tender cheese tortellini, fresh zucchini, tomatoes, basil, and feta cheese are tossed in a homemade vinaigrette dressing.

Make ahead: Assemble several hours beforehand and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serves: 12 people (great for summer picnics!)

Similar to: Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad, Zucchini Ribbon Salad

Jump to:
  • Recipe summary
  • Ingredients and substitutions
  • How to make tortellini pasta salad
  • Make ahead and storage
  • Frequently asked questions
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients on a counter top.
  • Tortellini - You'll need 20 ounces of fresh or frozen small tortellini for this recipe. Ravioli tend to be larger and wouldn't work well in a pasta salad recipe, so I don't recommend them as a substitute.
  • Zucchini - One medium zucchini can be substituted with a cucumber or bell pepper if desired.
  • Cherry tomatoes - You'll need one pint of cherry tomatoes, or 3 to 4 small diced roma tomatoes.
  • Feta cheese - Feta cheese can be substituted with your favorite cheese. Mozzarella pearls, goat cheese, or even shredded mozzarella are great substitutes.
  • Fresh basil - Adds fresh, bright flavor to the salad. If you can't find fresh basil, it can be omitted from the recipe. I don't recommend substituting with dried basil because we've already got plenty of dried herbs in the dressing.
  • Homemade dressing - Olive oil, red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper create a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing.

How to make tortellini pasta salad

Boiling pasta and assembling a pasta salad.
  1. Cook your tortellini to al dente according to pasta's package directions.
  2. Slice your vegetables and add to a bowl along with fresh herbs, cheese, and tortellini. Top with dressing and toss until coated.

Make ahead and storage

Summer tortellini salad is a great recipe to make ahead and store before an event or party. I recommend making your pasta salad at least 2 to 3 hours ahead of time to chill in the refrigerator and allow flavors to meld.

Tortellini pasta salad will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. However, fresh produce degrades over time. Pasta salad looks and tastes best when served within 1 day of preparing.

Tortellini pasta salad ingredients in a large bowl.

Frequently asked questions

Can tortellini be eaten cold?

Yes, just like a traditional cold pasta salad, tortellini can be cooked, cooled, and eaten cold.

Can I use store bought dressing instead?

Yes, substitute the listed dressing ingredients with about ¾ cup of your favorite store bought dressing instead.

📖 Recipe

Tossed tortellini pasta salad in a bowl with tomatoes, zucchini, and feta cheese.
Print Recipe
5 from 3 votes

Summer Tortellini Salad

Summer tortellini salad is an easy pasta salad recipe made with tortellini, fresh summer produce, and a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing. This pasta salad is the perfect side dish for your next summer picnic!
Prep Time25 minutes mins
Resting Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 266kcal

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces refrigerated cheese tortellini, uncooked
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium zucchini, cubed
  • ½ cup fresh basil, julienned
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Vinaigrette dressing

  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook tortellini according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain and rinse with cold water until tortellini is room temperature.
  • Place tortellini in a large bowl with cherry tomatoes, zucchini, basil, and feta cheese. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Whisk to combine. Pour over pasta salad ingredients and toss until evenly coated.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to chill and allow flavors to meld.

Recommended Equipment

  • Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls, Set of 3
  • Cuisinart Stainless Stockpot, 6-Quart
  • Stainless Steel Colander
  • Silicone Spoonula Set, Red

Notes

  • Storage: Prepared pasta salad will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator, but will have best flavor and appearance if served within the first day.
  • Salad looking dry? Pasta salad will continue to soak up dressing as it sits. If it begins to look dry, feel free to toss in additional oil and vinegar.
  • Optional additions/substitutions: sliced olives, chopped bell pepper, cubed cucumber, and mozzarella cheese. 

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 323mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 324IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

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    5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. cat

    July 14, 2025 at 7:59 pm

    5 stars
    this is more than a side dish - it's a meal! especially when you add a protein - i added chilled jumbo prawns, kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts - excellent! thank you for the recipe!

    Reply
  2. Sheila

    November 18, 2023 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    I really love this salad and have made it several times. I add shrimp, a bit more zucchini, sliced red onion and sliced black olives. Thank you for the recipe! The dressing is healthy and not over powering. Truly one of my favorites!

    Reply
    • Heather

      November 18, 2023 at 12:46 pm

      Hi Sheila, glad to hear you enjoy the recipe!

      Reply

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