Looking for a creamy, dreamy, summer pasta salad will stand out at the next BBQ? This Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad is your ticket. It takes 20 minutes from start to finish. Throw it together at the last minute, if you must, chill…or serve immediately, and watch it fly out of the bowl. No waiting necessary!
Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
Back in my deli days, I used to watch our house-made Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad fly out the door. People were crazed for it, and with good reason. The tortellini, I believe, was the packaged fresh kind! And the dressing was a pesto cream sauce that our chef blended in a food processor. I don’t know the ingredients, but it was heavenly. I think she used either mayonnaise or sour cream to make it creamy.
I’ve always wanted to come up with a cheater version of that salad. One, because I don’t have the recipe, and two because I want a throw-together, party side that everyone loves. Food processor not required.
So for this Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad recipe, I used packaged, pre-cooked tortellini (takes 4 minutes to boil), and made a healthier-ish pesto cream sauce, using homemade pesto and my usual hat trick…nonfat Greek yogurt with a little mayo…instead of straight mayo. This is my you control the fat technique I use in so many creamy recipes.
Wanna keep it light, yet traditional this summer? Grab my Classic Macaroni Salad Made With Greek Yogurt recipe for your next BBQ. Or, check out this creamy, Grilled Zucchini Corn Salad with Feta Dressing that’s loaded with vegetables and tossed in a creamy feta dressing.
Ingredients for Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad:
- 1 1/2 lb. package pre-cooked 5-cheese tortellini (about 5 cups)
- 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (some cut in half, some whole)
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
Kitchen tools I use for this recipe:
- chef knife
- cutting board
- 5-quart pot
- stainless colander
- large mixing bowl
- silicone spatula or spoon
- Microplane fine grater (to grate cheese)
We hope you enjoy this Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad! Be sure to check out this Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad, this Tomato Herb Pasta Salad , classic Tuna Pasta Salad, or the famous Chicken Salad with Grapes for another delicious summer salad recipe!
Tortellini Pesto Pasta Salad
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 ½ lb. package pre-cooked 5-cheese tortellini about 5 cups
- 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup basil pesto
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes some cut in half, some whole
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
Before You Begin
Instructions
- In a 5 quart pot, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain, and rinse with cold water until cool to the touch; set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt, pesto, mayonnaise, olive oil, salt, and pepper; set aside.
- When ready to combine, gently fold in the dressing to coat tortellini; then fold in the tomatoes; cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It's important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
- 8 Ounces Isn’t Always 1 Cup - January 23, 2026
- Marinara Sauce - January 6, 2026
- Gingerbread Martini - December 18, 2025
aggie dell aol.com says
i like the tortellini pasta salad.
2pots2cook says
This is also great idea for my office lunch ! Thank you !