Tortellini Caprese Salad
Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad (The Perfect Summer Pasta Salad)
As I write this, I'm listening to a Gilmore Girls autumn playlist on YouTube and dreaming of crisp mornings, chunky knit jumpers, and soup season. But until then, this Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad is keeping me going.
After one too many ordinary pasta salads, I fancied something with a little more flavour. This recipe combines cheese-filled tortellini with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, peppery rocket, fresh spinach, and fragrant pesto to create a salad that's fresh, filling, and packed with Mediterranean flavours.
It's perfect for summer lunches, barbecues, picnics, meal prep, or those evenings when it's simply too hot to cook.
One of my favourite things about this recipe is how adaptable it is. Think of it as a guide rather than a strict recipe. Don't like rocket? Swap it for your favourite lettuce. Love olives? Throw some in. Have a jar of marinated artichokes lurking in the cupboard? They work beautifully too.
Why You'll Love This Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ready in around 20 minutes
Perfect for hot summer days
Great for meal prep and packed lunches
Easy to customise with your favourite vegetables
Ideal for picnics, BBQs, and potlucks
Fresh, colourful, and packed with flavour
Serves
4
Ingredients
300g spinach and ricotta tortellini (or your favourite flavour)
4 tbsp good-quality pesto
150g cherry or baby plum tomatoes, halved
100g baby spinach
100g rocket
150g mini mozzarella balls (or 2 balls of mozzarella, drained and diced)
½ red onion, finely diced
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp sherry vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Optional
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
How to Make Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad
1. Cook the tortellini
Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to the boil.
Cook the tortellini according to the packet instructions, adding an extra minute to ensure they're perfectly tender.
Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
2. Marinate the tomatoes
While the pasta cooks, add the halved tomatoes and finely diced red onion to a large serving bowl.
Pour over the olive oil and sherry vinegar before seasoning generously with salt and black pepper.
Stir everything together and leave to sit while you prepare the remaining ingredients. This simple step draws out the tomatoes' natural sweetness and creates a delicious dressing for the salad.
3. Assemble the salad
Add the cooled tortellini, mozzarella, pesto, and chopped artichokes (if using) to the bowl.
Mix well until the tortellini is evenly coated in the pesto.
Finally, gently fold through the baby spinach and rocket until just combined.
Serve immediately or chill until ready to enjoy.
Top Tips
Use the best pesto you can find. It really is the star of the dressing. We love the Costco pesto, but any fresh basil pesto will work beautifully.
Don't skip marinating the tomatoes. It makes such a difference to the overall flavour.
Cool the tortellini completely before mixing to stop the spinach from wilting.
Add the leaves just before serving if you're making this ahead of time to keep them fresh and crisp.
Fresh mozzarella gives the best flavour, but diced mozzarella works just as well.
Delicious Variations
This tortellini pasta salad is incredibly versatile. Try adding:
Grilled chicken
Parma ham or prosciutto
Toasted pine nuts
Roasted peppers
Olives
Sun-dried tomatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make tortellini pasta salad ahead of time?
Yes! Prepare everything except the spinach and rocket. Store the salad in the fridge for up to two days, then stir the leaves through just before serving to keep them fresh.
How long does tortellini pasta salad last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it will keep for up to three days.
Can I use dried pasta instead of tortellini?
Absolutely. While cheese-filled tortellini makes the salad more filling, fusilli, penne, or farfalle all work well too (but they take longer to cook unless you are using the fresh stuff so bare that in mind with the heat wave).
What goes well with Caprese tortellini pasta salad?
This salad pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, garlic bread, barbecue food, grilled halloumi, or simply enjoyed on its own for a light lunch.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes! As written, this recipe is vegetarian. Just make sure your pesto and cheese are suitable for vegetarians if needed.
What's the best tortellini to use?
Spinach and ricotta is my favourite because it complements the pesto and mozzarella beautifully, but cheese, mushroom, or even meat-filled tortellini all work well.
More Easy Summer Recipes
If you're looking for more fresh, easy recipes for warm weather, be sure to keep an eye out. Whether you're planning a barbecue, picnic, or quick weeknight dinner, you'll find plenty of delicious inspiration that's simple to make and full of flavour.
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