This Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad is so fresh, cheesy and beautiful. Delicious tortellinis tossed with bright pesto, summer tomatoes and fresh mozzarella create the perfect side dish for any bbq or light summer meal.
About this Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
Tortellini Barilla Three Cheese Tortellini Pasta is our favorite but you can use your favorite cheese tortellini. Cook according to the package and drain and rinse until the pasta is cooled. You do not want to overcook the pasta or the tortellinis will fall apart.
Basil Pesto Homemade pesto is always a good choice, but sometimes we just don’t have time for it. Most grocery stores have fresh pesto either made in house or packaged in the refrigerated section. HEB has a delicious basil pesto in the deli section.
Tomatoes Cherry, Roma or Campari Tomatoes are all delicious in this recipe.
Mozzarella Belgioioso Fresh Mozzarella Pearls that are perfect for this recipe. If you can’t find those, grab an 8 oz. ball of fresh mozzarella and cut it into bite size pieces.
Red Onion Depending on the crowd, you can omit the red onions. They are totally optional. Red onions add a little extra bite to this recipe.
Make Ahead You can make this pasta salad a day ahead of time. If you are using fresh basil as garnish, wait to top the salad with fresh basil until right before serving. This pasta salad will stay good in your fridge for 5 days. Leftovers make for a perfect lunch.
Wine Pairings Pinot Grigio or Prosecco would be the perfect match for this pesto pasta salad.
What to serve with this Pasta Salad This pasta goes great with Burgers, Brisket, Grilled Chicken, Shrimp or anything at a BBQ. It is wonderful as a light lunch or dinner you can even add some Grilled or Rotisserie Chicken, Garlic Shrimp or even our Delicious Parmesan Chicken Meatballs.
If you like this salad, be sure to check out my Strawberry Caprese Salad, Panzanella Salad, or Caesar Salad.
Recipe
Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
This Tortellini Pesto Salad is fresh, cheesy and beautiful. It is perfect for any BBQ or light summer meal.
Ingredients
- 12 oz. Bag of Barilla Three Cheese Tortellini Pasta
- 8 oz. Fresh Mozzarella Pearls or Fresh Mozzarella cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 Cup Fresh Pesto
- 2 Cups Cut Fresh Tomatoes (Cherry Tomatoes, Roma or Campari)
- 1/2 Red Onion, small diced
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- Fresh Basil, optional
Directions
- Step 1 Cook your tortellini according to the package, then drain and rinse until cooled.
- Step 2 Toss pasta with fresh pesto. Add tomatoes, red onion, and mozzarella and toss until combined.
- Step 3 Season to taste, top with fresh basil and enjoy!
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
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