Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad Recipe
This Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad is a deliciously creamy and tangy pasta salad featuring cheese tortellini, crispy bacon, pepperoncini peppers, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for gatherings or as a refreshing side dish, this salad combines savory flavors with a subtle spicy kick and fresh veggies for a satisfying meal.
- 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
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salad
- 1/3 cup drained pepperoncini peppers
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini
- 8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon: Cook the bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until they become crispy. Once cooked, drain the excess grease and place the bacon on paper towels to absorb remaining oil. After cooling, chop the bacon into small pieces and set aside for later use.
- Cook the Cheese Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the frozen cheese tortellini and cook according to package instructions until tender. Drain the tortellini and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
- Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Mix thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the cooled cheese tortellini, pepperoncini peppers, grated Parmesan, chopped red onion, halved grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss all ingredients until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the tortellini salad for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill. Before serving, give the salad a good stir. Serve chilled and enjoy this flavorful tortellini salad.
Notes
- For best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving.
- Use fresh herbs like oregano if available to enhance the dressing’s taste.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your preferred spice tolerance.
- Can be made a few hours ahead of time and stored covered in the fridge.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with a low-fat or Greek yogurt dressing.
Keywords: tortellini salad, cheese tortellini, bacon salad, easy pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, pepperoncini, summer salad, picnic salad, Italian dressing, cold tortellini salad
