Creamy Italian Tortellini Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil

Tortellini Salad is a flavorful, easy dish that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen—even though it comes together quickly. This crowd-pleasing salad pairs tender tortellini with grilled chicken, tangy feta, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts and a bright balsamic-garlic dressing.

If you enjoy versatile pasta recipes, consider other tortellini favorites like baked tortellini casserole or a comforting tortellini soup for chilly nights.

tortellini salad with grilled chicken
Tortellini Salad with Grilled Chicken

This recipe is a keeper—pin it and make it again and again. It’s great for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or a simple weekend lunch.

Watch the video and learn how to make Tortellini Salad

This salad balances savory grilled chicken, tender cheese tortellini, crisp red onion, tangy feta and a balsamic vinaigrette. All ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store. The flavors meld beautifully when combined.

Tortellini Salad ingredients

You will need:

  • 4 oz tortellini (cooked)
  • 4 oz grilled chicken, sliced
  • 2 artichoke hearts, sliced
  • 1 oz fresh spinach or other salad greens
  • 12 sun-dried tomatoes, softened and chopped
  • 2 oz feta cheese
  • Red onion, thinly sliced

For the dressing:

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 6 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup top-quality olive oil

Substitutions or additions (tips)

Customize this salad to suit your taste. Ideas:

  • Use bottled Italian dressing instead of the homemade dressing for convenience.
  • Swap fresh basil for dried oregano for brighter herbal notes.
  • Replace feta with grated Parmesan for a different tang.
  • Use halved cherry tomatoes in place of sun-dried tomatoes for juicier bites.
  • Add fresh mozzarella balls for a creamier texture.

How to make

  1. Puree the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. step one to make tortellini salad put ingredients in food processor or blender
  2. Cook the tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking, then set aside. Grill or pan-sear the chicken and slice it into strips. next blend ingredients for your tortellini salad easy
  3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked tortellini, grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and red onion. how to make tortellini salad add salad ingredients to a bowl
  4. Gently toss the ingredients to mix them evenly. Mix tortellini salad ingredients
  5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again to coat. There will likely be extra dressing—store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for another use. adding dressing to the tortellini salad
  6. Serve immediately, portioned in bowls or on plates, and enjoy the compliments. tortellini salad ready to serve
tortellini salad easy
Tortellini Salad

Serving and storage

Pasta salads often taste better after resting, as the dressing has time to mingle with the other ingredients. Because spinach can wilt, consider adding the spinach just before serving if you plan to make the salad ahead of time.

tortellini salad served in a white bowl
tortellini salad in white bowl
5 from 2 votes

Tortellini Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes
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Equipment

  • Food Processor or Blender
  • Bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring Cup

Ingredients  

  • 4 oz tortellini cooked
  • 4 oz grilled chicken
  • 2 artichoke hearts sliced and drained
  • 1 oz fresh spinach or other greens
  • 12 sun-dried tomatoes softened in warm water 20 mins. then chopped
  • 2 oz. feta cheese
  • 3 slices red onion

Dressing

  • 2 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 Tbls. tomato paste
  • 6 Tbls. balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil top quality

Instructions 

  • Puree dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor, then slowly add olive oil while blending until emulsified.
  • Toss the dressing with the salad ingredients. This recipe makes more dressing than the salad needs; refrigerate leftovers in a covered container.

Nutrition

Calories: 459kcal | Carbohydrates: 23 g | Protein: 15 g
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Cindy Hopper

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