A simple Mediterranean-inspired cold tortellini pasta salad with chicken, veggies, feta, and olives in a red wine vinaigrette is the recipe of the season! This crowd-pleasing dish is a great make-ahead dinner, an easy contribution to your next potluck, and a packable solution for picnics or travel.
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If you’re looking for even more easy salad recipes, be sure to try this English pea salad, a cucumber tomato onion salad, this marinated vegetable salad, and a broccoli grape salad, too!
You can’t beat a cold tortellini salad for an easy summer meal! Cheese tortellini comes together with chicken, fresh vegetables, olives, and feta cheese in a simple vinaigrette for a satisfying and nutritious make-ahead lunch or dinner.
When my family of 5 devours a meal without complaint, I consider it the ultimate culinary stamp of approval! There’s nothing particularly fancy, difficult, or unusual about this recipe. Instead, it’s just a lovely combination of really delicious, fresh ingredients that work perfectly together. You can even start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken for minimal prep!
Ingredients for a Cold Tortellini Salad
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for a simple tortellini salad recipe. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar: come together to create a classic vinaigrette that highlights the rest of the ingredients.
- Garlic: for savory flavor.
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper: to enhance the other flavors in the dish.
- Chicken: use raw chicken breast tenderloins (which cook quickly in a skillet), or start with a store-bought rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut.
- Tortellini pasta: I use a refrigerated three cheese tortellini, but another variety of cooked tortellini will work well, too. Try a sausage-filled tortellini, frozen tortellini, dried tortellini, or tri-colored tortellini.
- Baby spinach, red onion, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, and cucumber: fresh veggies that bulk up the dish, and also contribute great flavor, color, and texture.
- Sliced black olives: for a salty, briny touch.
- Feta cheese: a classic cheese that adds salty, creamy, Mediterranean flavor to the dish.
- Basil: use fresh herbs for the best flavor.
Should you rinse pasta for pasta salad?
Yes, I recommend rinsing the tortellini for this cold pasta salad. The rinsing accomplishes two things:
- Stops the cooking process and cools down the pasta right away so that you can toss it with the veggies, chicken, and dressing; and
- Removes some of the starches so that the tortellini doesn’t stick together in a big clump as it cools.
How to Make Tortellini Salad
The total prep time for this Greek pasta salad, from start to finish, is about 30 minutes. To make the process most efficient, prep the vegetables while you’re waiting for the pasta and the chicken to cook! I’ve included the detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Boil the tortellini in a large pot of salted water according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and let cool.
- Cook the chicken in a skillet, or use pre-cooked chicken (such as a rotisserie chicken) for a shortcut.
- Shake together the red wine vinaigrette.
- Toss everything together in a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate. Add the basil just before serving.
What to Serve with Tortellini Salad
This hearty dish is filling enough to serve as an entrée, but it also works as a side dish with a piece of fish or grilled meat. Here are a few options that go well with the cold tortellini salad:
- Garlic Bread or Breadsticks
- 3-Ingredient Buttermilk Biscuits, Flaky Biscuits, Cheese Biscuits, or Drop Biscuits
- Crusty French Baguette, No-Knead Cast Iron Focaccia, Focaccia Bread, No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread, Soft Dinner Rolls, or Homemade Crescent Rolls
- 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Muffins, Pumpkin Muffins, or Pumpkin Bread
- Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette, Mixed Greens with Dijon Vinaigrette, Wedge Salad with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Caesar Salad, or our favorite House Salad with Candied Pecans
- Fennel Salad with Apples and Creamy Cider Dressing
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower or Garlic Roasted Broccoli
- Sauteed Zucchini or 3-Ingredient Parmesan Roasted Yellow Squash
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: For convenience, you can make this chicken tortellini salad the night before you plan to enjoy it. You might need to add a little bit more dressing to the salad the next day if you find that the pasta has absorbed too much of the vinaigrette. If the dressing solidifies when it’s chilled, just let it sit on the counter and come to room temperature before using.
- Storage: The pasta salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- I do not recommend freezing the tortellini salad. The pasta and vegetables will be mushy when thawed.
Recipe Variations
- Instead of making your own dressing, sub with your favorite store-bought vinaigrette. Any Italian dressing, vinaigrette, pesto, or Greek dressing will work!
- Make it vegetarian by substituting a can of drained, rinsed chickpeas for the chicken.
- Use just about any tortellini that you like. Frozen or dried tortellini is fine as a sub for the fresh tortellini — just cook according to package directions. You can also use a meat or spinach-filled tortellini instead of the cheese tortellini.
- Try adding more fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or chives. Italian seasoning would also give the dish even more Mediterranean flavor.
- Give it a little bit of a spicy kick with some crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use other veggies, such as frozen peas (thawed), diced carrots, marinated artichoke hearts, or diced sweet red bell pepper. Capers or kalamata olives would also be great!
- If you don’t care for feta cheese, try cubed mozzarella, shaved Parmesan cheese, or the little fresh mozzarella pearl balls.
- Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half.
Tips for the Best Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
- Cook the tortellini just until al dente, so that it’s not too mushy in the salad.
- Liberally salt the pasta cooking water, since this is your chance to season the tortellini.
- Rinse the tortellini under cold water to stop the cooking process. This also removes some of the starches from the pasta so that it doesn’t stick together.
- This recipe yields about 1 cup of dressing, but you will not need all of it initially. Save the extra dressing for later, since you might want to add a bit more vinaigrette to your tortellini salad if the salad has been sitting in the refrigerator for a day or two.
More Cold Pasta Salad Recipes to Try
Tuna Pasta Salad
50 minutes mins
Antipasto Pasta Salad
32 minutes mins
Easy Pasta Salad with Mayo, Lemon and Basil
2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Tortellini Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
FOR THE DRESSING
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced, grated, or pressed fresh garlic (about 2 large cloves)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
FOR THE SALAD
- 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast tenderloins (or 2 cups of chopped or pulled rotisserie chicken)
- 1 (9 or 10 ounce) package fresh three cheese tortellini pasta
- 2 cups loosely packed baby spinach
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup diced seedless cucumber
- 1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
Prepare the Vinaigrette
- Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large jar or measuring cup. Shake (or whisk) until completely combined. Set aside.
Prepare the Chicken
- If you're using cooked rotisserie chicken, you can skip this step!
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper on all sides, to taste. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken in the skillet and allow the chicken to cook on one side, undisturbed, for at least 6-7 minutes. Flip, and cook the chicken for about 6-8 more minutes, or until it is nicely browned on both sides and cooked through.
- The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, or when the juices run clear.
- When the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the skillet and place it on a cutting board to rest.
Prepare the Tortellini
- Cook the tortellini in a large pot of well salted boiling water, according to package instructions. Drain; rinse under cold water.
- While the tortellini cooks, dice the chicken into bite-size pieces or shred with two forks.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large bowl, gently combine the diced chicken, cooked tortellini, spinach, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese. Pour about ¼ cup vinaigrette over the salad (or more, to taste). Reserve the remaining vinaigrette.
- Serve the salad immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Stir in the chopped fresh basil just before serving. Add extra reserved vinaigrette to moisten the salad as needed, and season with additional salt and pepper to taste. If the dressing solidifies when chilled, just let the salad/dressing sit on the counter and come to room temperature before enjoying.
Notes
- Instead of making your own dressing, sub with your favorite store-bought vinaigrette. Any Italian dressing, vinaigrette, pesto, or Greek dressing will work!
- Make it vegetarian by substituting a can of drained, rinsed chickpeas for the chicken.
- Use just about any tortellini that you like. Frozen or dried tortellini is fine as a sub for the fresh tortellini — just cook according to package directions. You can also use a meat or spinach-filled tortellini instead of the cheese tortellini.
- Try adding more fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or chives. Italian seasoning would also give the dish even more Mediterranean flavor.
- Give it a little bit of a spicy kick with some crushed red pepper flakes.
- Use other veggies, such as frozen peas (thawed), diced carrots, marinated artichoke hearts, or diced sweet red bell pepper. Capers or kalamata olives would also be great!
- If you don’t care for feta cheese, try cubed mozzarella, shaved Parmesan cheese, or the little fresh mozzarella pearl balls.
- Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in April, 2018. The photos were updated in June, 2023.
this recipe looks delicious…I will have to try it when I get paid….I like a lot of your recipes…they are all easy to make and are a wonderful addition to my dinners….I subscribed a while ago and find your recipes very good and tasty….thank you for sharing!!!
I’ve never tried a Tortellini pasta salad before, this looks like a yummy one to try especially with the warmer weather.
Blair, this recipe looks delicious…I will have to try it when I get paid….I like a lot of your recipes…they are all easy to make and are a wonderful addition to my dinners….I subscribed a while ago and find your recipes very good and tasty….thank you for sharing!!!
Hi Blair, I have been following your recipes by email and even forwarding then to friends and family to try! I’ve always loved to cook and as a relatively new mom of two already ravenous boys and a husband, I need your quick prep, hearty recipes often! Thanks for all your effort with helping others cook!
the salad looks really good , can’t wait to make it an try it. as for the pans if I could win that would be a wonderful blessing. I live in a apartment with a small kitchen little storage space to be had. So this would make my cooking a joy when it comes to having the correct pot an pan for the thing I am cooking.
That salad looks fantastic!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!! Peace!!!
Can’t wait to try this salad. And my tiny kitchen would LOVE those pots and pans! Thank you for sharing your tips, tricks, and yummy recipes!
This looks great! Can’t wait to try it. Pots and pans look awesome too!
Love to read what you and your family are up to! Outside is so great when you live in Va. Food is always so healthy on your site. Keep up the great blog. Blessings, Mary
This salad looks delicious; light, tasty and healthy! Having recently lost 75 pounds, I am always trying to make healthy and yet tasty dishes. Winning a new set of cookware would certainly help with that task!
Hi, Alice! Congrats on your weight loss — that’s a huge accomplishment! I hope that this easy recipe helps you continue to enjoy your lighter meals! 🙂
This looks so good! It looks like the perfect thing to make for my neighbor who just had a baby.
Yes! That’s a great idea, Mandy! 🙂
Looks like a delicious recipe that the whole family will love! Thanks!
This looks great! Can’t wait to try it!
Can’t wait to make it. Made me very hungry. Looks very appetizing and healthy.
My Wife and I moved to Saint Maries, Idaho to take care of Her 94 year old.Mother that has short term memory loss, but she still has a quick witted mind. She is always getting me with Zinners!
I do all the cooking, so I am constantly looking up your meal plans for something new to cook for Her and my Wife so I don’t bore them with the same-o…same-o. My Mother-in-Law is always asking me, “Are you going to surprise me with one of ‘Blair’s Recipes’ tonight?” When I answer yes, she can hardly wait to eat. We have never been disappointed yet!
My pots and pans are a little over 20 years old and pretty beat up. Some of the handles are even taped on. Your giveaway would just be perfect. Thank you for giving me the chance to enter and also Thank you for your recipes that keeps my meals exciting and healthy. Have a great Yeear!
Jimmy! That makes me so happy to hear! Good for you — it’s no easy task to take on the kitchen duties to feed a family. I’m so glad that my recipes have made your job easier. Thank you for your kind note!
Hi, Jimmy! Congrats!!!! You are the winner of the giveaway! I will send you an email shortly with further instructions!
I have enjoyed your posts for quite a while now. Being originally from VA but in NC, I have fond memories visiting some of the places you and your family go to. You’re recipes are so fresh and taste, our family love them. Thank you for your time and attention to all if us why follow you.
Hi, Amy! That’s so great to hear! I’m glad that our adventures bring back happy memories! VA is a great place to live (but NC is also wonderful). My mom’s family is from NC, so I’ve spent some time there as well! 🙂
Blair: Wonderful looking pasta salad and clever Neat Nest cookware. Your photos of Central Virginia are always so picturesque! We visited Harper’s Ferry last fall and fell in love with the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains, the waterways, and abundant trees. What a fantastic place to live and raise a family!
Hey, Stephanie! The mountains are definitely one of my favorite parts of living here. I try not to ever take them for granted! 🙂 Thanks for your sweet note. Have a great week!
I wish I had this in front of me right now. Looks absolutely delicious!!!
Oh Blair, I love your recipes and once I use them I share them with my beautician, my daughter and my daughter-in-law. I cannot wait till Sunday rolls around and I hear from you. This 70 year old woman really has something to look forward too now. I love your recipes, your stories and most of all your family. I went through your meal planning and have learned so much from you. I feel like you are my next door neighbor and I could ask you any “cooking question” that might come up. I have really tried most of your recipes and they have been delicious. Going to the grocery store with a grocery list that is all organized has cut my food bill down and I don’t wind up thinking I don’t have it and buying more of what I already have at home. Your are a very good person for sharing all of these details with all of us. A lot of times someone else’s knowledge is like GOLD!!!!!!! Thanks again for the free giveaway offer. I love gadgets, pots and pans and all the kitchen items that make my life easier. Thanks again for being you! I can’t wait to try these new recipes and will wait for next week.
Donna! You sure know how to make a girl feel good! 🙂 Thank you for your kind note. It brings me so much joy to know that my recipes and my little blog posts are helpful and entertaining for you. Thank you for reading!!
Good recipe. I’ve had throat surgery and everything must slide down. It worked.