Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad Recipe
This Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad is a flavorful, hearty pasta salad featuring al dente cheese tortellini tossed with a creamy, tangy homemade dressing, crispy bacon, pepperoncini peppers, grape tomatoes, red onion, and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly chilled, it makes a refreshing and satisfying dish ideal for summer gatherings, potlucks, or a delightful side dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing:
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann’s recommended)
- 1 tsp dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh, finely chopped
For the Salad:
- 1/3 cup drained pepperoncini peppers (thinly sliced or roughly chopped)
- 8 slices cooked crumbled bacon
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion (finely chopped for milder flavor)
- 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini (cooked al dente)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain the grease and transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess oil. Once cooled, chop the bacon into small crumbled pieces and set aside.
- Cook the Cheese Tortellini: Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stove. Add the frozen cheese tortellini and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the tortellini and rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process. Set aside to cool while preparing other ingredients.
- Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, oregano, dried Italian herbs, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the cooled cheese tortellini to the bowl with the dressing. Then add the pepperoncini peppers, Parmesan cheese, chopped red onion, halved grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon. Gently toss all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid. Refrigerate the tortellini salad for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill. Before serving, stir once more to redistribute the dressing, plate the salad, and enjoy.
Notes
- Cooking the bacon until crispy adds great texture and flavor to the salad.
- Rinsing the tortellini with cold water after cooking stops the cooking process and prevents it from becoming mushy.
- Chilling the salad for at least an hour enhances the flavor meld and ensures a refreshing cold dish.
- You can use fresh oregano if available for a brighter herb flavor.
- For a milder onion taste, finely chop the red onion or soak it in cold water briefly before adding.
Keywords: tortellini salad, pasta salad, bacon tortellini, cheese tortellini salad, Italian salad, creamy dressing salad, summer salad, potluck salad
