The Cozy Cookbook is here! This Tuscan Tortellini Salad Recipe is so easy to make and customize with your favorite Italian ingredients! It’s easy to make ahead and can be served cold or warm!
This Tuscan Tortellini salad encompasses everything I love about Italian food. My ultimate favorite part about this dish is that you can serve it warm or chilled. How convenient is that?
Not to mention, it’s totally forgiving as far as which ingredients you decide to use. I first made this recipe in 2016 but have since tweaked it based on my favorite flavors from Tuscany. (Not that I’ve actually been there, but a girl can dream.)
Be sure to browse through all of my pasta salad recipes!
Ingredients
- Tortellini- I prefer mine to be cheese-filled. You can use refrigerated or frozen tortellini.
- Fresh Spinach
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Black Olives
- Mozzarella Pearls
- Sundried Tomatoes
- Balsamic Salad Dressing
- Parmesan Cheese
Make-Ahead Method
-Being able to make pasta salad ahead of time is part of its charm! Although for the best consistency, I would recommend making this no more than one day in advance.
-Since the tortellini tends to absorb a lot of the salad dressing while it chills, I also recommend that you drizzle a little bit of extra dressing prior to serving it if the salad seems a touch on the dry side.
I’d mix it around a little bit to let the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes re-disburse throughout the salad before you serve it.
Other Pasta Options
The best kind of noodles for pasta salads are the ones with a lot of nooks and crannies so that the dressing can be totally locked in to every bite.
Farfalle, Fusilli, and bowtie pasta are all great choices.
Dressing Options
I have to admit, the salad dressing section at the grocery store can be a little bit daunting. There are so many options. Balsamic, Balsamic with Rosemary… I even saw one that was labeled straight-up “Tuscany”.
Homemade Italian Salad Dressing is also great in this salad!
Try These Next!
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Honey Garlic Chicken
- Easy Potato Salad
- Zucchini Crust Pizza
- Cowboy Caviar
- Homemade Salsa
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Tuscan Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 20 oz. tortellini
- 1 cup fresh spinach
- 3 oz. salami, sliced
- 1 cup pepperoni
- ¾ black olives, sliced.
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup oil-packed sundried tomatoes, sliced
- ½ cup Balsamic salad dressing, of choice
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated.
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package instructions, adding an extra minute doesn’t hurt. (I cooked my refrigerated tortellini for 5 minutes as opposed to 4.) Drain and pour into a large bowl.
- Immediately add the balsamic dressing to the warm pasta and use a silicone spatula to gently mix until well-combined.
- Add all remaining ingredients, mix until well-combined. Transfer to a clean bowl if desired. Serve immediately if serving warm.If serving chilled, refrigerate for 4+ hours. Before serving, you may choose to drizzle up to 1/4 cup additional salad dressing and toss before serving.
Quite delicious, especially after the flavors have had 24 hours to blend. I mixed cherry tomatoes with the sundried, and added sliced yellow pepper for additional color and crunch. Added more very fresh baby spinach.
Happy to hear you enjoyed it, thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
I am not a fan of sun dried tomatoes so I would use fresh tomatoes, but the recipe looks delicious and I plan on trying it this summer.
Great to hear, Kenneth!
Made for dinner tonight I was absolutely delicious.
Hey Cindy! That’s great to hear, this recipe is such a great one for summer. I’m glad that you enjoyed it and thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! -Stephanie
This tortellini salad looks delicious! It’s a perfect summer dish. You’ve got to love that you can eat it straight from the fridge…no reheating necessary..especially when you’re busy with a baby. She is precious!
Awwwwwwww THANK you Thao!! Yes, definitely love food I can eat straight from the fridge, (especially handy with a baby in one arm! ha!)- Thanks for visiting!!!! Hope all is well!
Your salad sounds so delicious and that photo of your adorable little girl dressed so pretty is just the cutest.
Awwwww, thank you so much Suzanne!!!!! You’re the best!