Here’s a Pasta Salad that’s fantastic for a party or gathering any time of year. This isn’t any plain ol’ boring Pasta Salad, though. This is Tortellini Antipasto Salad and it has it all! Lots of stuff. Lots of cheese. Lots of flavor and the best dressing you’ve ever tasted.

Antipasto Tortellini Salad

If you’re taking this to a party or potluck, make a lot of this Tortellini Antipasto Salad. You know how people will always take a little pasta salad, taste it, and then push it to the side of their plate? One taste of this and they’ll go back for seconds. Be prepared, you’ll be giving out this recipe for Tortellini Antipasto Salad days after a party.

About Tortellini Antipasto Salad:

Tortellini Antipasto Salad is absolutely loaded with tasty ingredients and what really sets it apart from most Pasta Salad Recipes is the quickie “amped up” homemade dressing. That dressing is intense, to stand up to all that pasta. It’s easy though and takes like two minutes to whip up but it’s best if it sits overnight so all the herbs blend.

Since the Tortellini Antipasto Salad is loaded with ingredients, if you’re on a budget, you might be thinking, “the more stuff I put in this salad, the more expensive it’s gonna be.” I get that, but the pasta’s cheap and if you’re watching your budget, think “bang for your buck.” It doesn’t take a lot of any ingredients to load this salad up, so choose the ingredients with tons of flavor.

Choose Feta over Mozzarella. Romano (it’s stronger, less expensive and you can use less) over Parmesan. Red onion over green or white. Roasted red peppers or these Slow Roasted Tomatoes over fresh veggies, especially in the winter. Roasting will transform any lackluster winter tomatoes or peppers into luscious deliciousness (and is so much cheaper than buying roasted veggies or buying sun-dried tomatoes.)

Have the deli cut you some good salami or pepperoni in just the amount you want rather than buying a whole package of something sub-par. Pick just a few, good olives from the olive bar or salad bar if they’re cheaper there. You get the idea. Quality over Quantity. Follow these tips, add anything else you want or substitute anything you’d like and you’re going to have a salad people clamor for!

There are so many ways to vary this salad. Make it your own and use what you like. Try adding artichoke hearts or a jar of marinated artichoke hearts, vary the olives. Add pepperoncini or other hot peppers, use green or white onion instead of red. Maybe you’ll like sun-dried or fresh tomatoes, fresh or roasted zucchini or eggplant. Maybe a little cucumber is your thing. Try this with mozzarella or pepper jack or other favorite cheese or cheeses.

Antipasto Tortellini Salad

Making Tortellini Antipasto Salad or any Pasta Salad Great:

• Use a fresh tortellini, if possible. It won’t be quite as firm as starting from a dried and you won’t have to worry it will be tough and chalky when it’s bitten into.
• Use a scratch dressing, and “amp” it up with extra herbs. I’ll give you two options, a Greek & Italian. If you use a bottled dressing, well “amp” it up, too.
• Watch the seasons! In the summer you can easily add seasonal veggies – in the winter they just won’t be as good and will cost you dearly. Roasting the veggies intensifies the flavor.
• Use lots of stuff, but flavorful stuff. Think of the pasta as the filler and then fill it up with whatever else you like. A recipe is just a guideline.

The Dressing Options:

There are a couple options to dress this salad; make either a Greek or Italian dressing, and easy quick one starting from with a Greek or Italian Seasoning (and I have a fabulous Greek Seasoning and an equally good Italian Seasoning on my site) or just “doctor up” a bottled dressing.

• The dressing for this salad will be good same day, but if you plan ahead, make the night before or even better, earlier in the week, it’s even more fabulous!
• The key to this salad is the very strong dressings, modified for this recipe – you won’t want to dress a plain old salad with either of the dressings in this recipe. Choose Greek or Italian.
• To punch up a purchased salad dressing, add a tablespoon of Italian seasoning to 3/4 cup of store-bought dressing. If possible, give the dressing as much “sit” time as possible.

Homemade Italian Seasoning Blend

Saving Money on Tortellini Antipasto Salad:

I’ve given you a few hints already about how to save money on the Antipasto Tortellini Salad and still have a fantastic, over the top Pasta Salad. Let’s talk about how to save money when buying the Tortellini.

Cheese-filled Tortellini is a great budget option. It may cost a bit more than other pasta but can make a meal on its own with just a bit of sauce.

Fresh from the refrigerator is pricier but super quick to make and fabulous in this salad.

Dried takes a bit longer to cook but is usually cheaper, and I wouldn’t turn up my nose, if you know what I mean, to any pasta salad made with it.

I often have a package or two of dried tortellini in my pantry for easy meals or pasta salads like this. Watch for sales and stock up when you see a great price and you can’t go wrong.

Tortellini Antipasto Salad

Tortellini Antipasto Salad

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This is a fabulous showstopper of a pasta salad to take to parties or potlucks or enjoy at home.

• Author: mollie kirby
• Total Time: 2 1/2 hours including chill
• Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
• Category: Salads
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

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For the pasta:

• 1 (16 ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini cooked to al dente according to package or dried, cooked to al dente according to package
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, home-made or store-bought

For the antipasto:

• 8 ounces good pepperoni or salami, in bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, preferably roasted and diced
• 1 cup Slow Roasted or cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• about 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup “Amped” Italian, Greek or store-bought dressing, below
• 1/4 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
• 6 – 8 ounces Feta, preferably not “crumbles”, cubed
• salt & pepper if desired

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Instructions

Sometimes pasta salads, if they sit for long, can soak up the dressing and leave the salad feeling dry. If I know I’ll be toting this dressing, I like to mix a little extra of the dressing and bring it along to refresh the salad. When I make the salad, I often don’t add the full amount all at once, but hold a little back and reserve it for the same reason.

For the Salad:

Drain tortellini well, rinsing with cold water. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a tablespoon of Italian seasoning. Add to a large bowl.

Add onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, and olives. Toss with dressing. Use as much as or little as desired. A suggestion is to toss with 1/2 cup then drizzle on a little more before serving. Chill for an hour or two.

Just before serving, add the cheeses and toss. If you’ve reserved a little dressing, add it now. Taste and adjust seasonings. Place in a pretty bowl or dish and serve.

Dressing options:

For all dressings, make a day ahead or even earlier if possible; the dressings improve as they sit.

Italian dressing option:

• 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning, home-made or store-bought
• 1/4 cup red wine (or white or balsamic) vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• pinch of sugar or a small drizzle of honey

Place all ingredients in a jar and shake until well blended. Improves as it sits.

Greek dressing option:

• 2 1/2 tablespoons Greek seasoning, preferably home-made Greek Seasoning
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• a pinch of pepper

Place in a tightly covered jar and shake to combine. The dressing will turn a light color with a creamy texture as the oil and vinegar combine.

Bottled dressing option:

• 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning, home-made or store-bought
• 3/4 cup bottled Italian dressing.

Place in a tightly covered jar and shake to combine.

Notes:

• The dressings for this salad will be good same day, but if you plan ahead, make the night before or even better, earlier in the week, it’s even more fabulous!
• The key to this salad is the very strong dressings, modified for this recipe – you won’t want to dress a plain old salad with either of the dressings in this recipe. Choose Greek or Italian.
• To punch up a purchased salad dressing, add a tablespoon of Italian seasoning to 3/4 cup of store-bought dressing. If possible, give the dressing as much “sit” time as possible.

Notes

The recipe multiplier will not work on this recipe for the dressing options.

Keywords: Bell Peppers, Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes, Feta, Olives, parmesan, Pasta, pasta salad, pepperoni, Roasted Red Pepper, romano, Salad, salami, side salads, sun dried tomatoes, tortellini

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I’ll be taking Tortellini Antipasto Salad recipe to Fiesta Friday number 204, hosted this week by Sandhya @ Indfused.com. If you’ve never stopped by Sandhya’s blog, full of Indian and Indian American fusion, do so! You’re in for a treat. And be sure to stop by Fiesta Friday and see all the New Year’s posts! Party food galore. Happy New Year’s, ya’all!