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Tortellini salad is my favorite pasta salad – and this is my favorite version and it always disappears fast when I serve it at a party. It’s a Pizza Tortellini Salad with pepperoni and a homemade balsamic dressing!

A close-up of a pasta salad with cheese tortellini, sliced pepperoni, black olives, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and shredded cheese, all mixed together in a savory dressing.

I love this tortellini pasta salad because, hello, it’s all about the pizza flavors but served up cold and light. I can seriously eat a whole batch of this myself – it’s so good! It’s a pasta salad with pepperoni and tortellini… what could be better than that?

This easy pasta salad recipe is loaded with black olives, green peppers, pepperoni, Parmesan cheese and the most delicious homemade balsamic dressing to pull it all together. Basically, it’s an Italian pasta salad with a pepperoni pizza twist. It’s the perfect summer pasta salad – but it’s also great for weeknight dinners all year long.

dark brown dressing in a clear jar

How to make Tortellini Salad

The only thing you have to cook are the tortellini and the rest of the recipe is just a toss and serve situation. Here’s what you need to make it:

  • Cheese tortellini: I used frozen but you can use fresh if you want. Or use any flavor!
  • Green bell pepper: Dice it
  • Halved grape tomatoes
  • Halved pepperoni slices
  • Sliced black olives
  • Shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Balsamic dressing: You can use my favorite homemade Italian dressing recipe or one from the store.
  • You can easily customize it, too! Instead of a pepperoni salad you can use salami, add cubed cheese like provolone or mozzarella or switch out the green bell pepper for sweet peppers.

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How to make Balsamic Dressing

Just combine balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in a jar with a fitted lid (like a mason jar). Shake until the dressing emulsifies and is well combined. 

My dressing recipe makes more than you’ll need and the extra will keep well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

tortellini and tomatoes and pepperoni and peppers mixed in a clear bowl

Storing and Make Ahead Instructions

Make Ahead: The salad is great after it sits, so make it up to 24 hours ahead. If you want to make it sooner, leave it undressed until about 8-12 hours before serving.

Storing: Store tightly covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Pizza Tortellini Salad on a white plate with small tomatoes and greens in the background

Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe

5 from 12 votes
Pizza Tortellini Salad – this easy pasta salad recipe is full of pizza flavor with cheese tortellini, pepperoni, bell peppers, olives, tomatoes and a homemade balsamic dressing! It’s perfect for a summer potluck!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Yield 8 servings
Serving Size 1 serving
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Ingredients
 

Salad:

  • 1 about 19 ounce bag Cheese Tortellini cooked according to package directions
  • 1 green pepper diced
  • 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup Pepperoni slices halved
  • 1 can 8 ounces sliced black olives, drained
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan
  • Balsamic Dressing recipe follows, or use your favorite brand

Dressing:

  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon or spicy brown mustard
  • 1 tablespoon diced shallot
  • 1 garlic clove crushed
  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper or to taste

Instructions

  • Stir together cooked tortellini, pepper, tomatoes, pepperoni, olives, and shredded parmesan in a large serving bowl.
  • To make dressing: add all ingredients to a mason jar or dressing container. Seal and shake well to combine.
  • Dress the salad with desired amount of dressing. There will be dressing left over; store in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
  • Pasta salad is good prepared for up to 2 days; store tightly covered in refrigerator.
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Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 376mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 259IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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Other summer salad recipes

If you love pasta salad, be sure to try Taco Pasta Salad by Wine & Glue, Greek Pasta Salad by Noble Pig, or Cowboy Pasta Salad by Bellyfull.

Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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5 from 12 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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11 Comments

  3. The pizza tortellini needs mushrooms, and I would use pizza sauce. It looks good I will try this recipe both ways yours first then my way. Thank you for sharing

    Reply

  4. The nickname for tortellini came from Nana! The hole in the middle probably had something to do with it. lol

    Reply

  5. I can see how this would be a huge party/potluck/picnic kind of crowd favorite! I didn’t know you were that passionate about black olives although I did know you aren’t a mustard fan. I love hearing your food do’s and don’ts 🙂 And I didn’t know Mel was low/no carb!

    Reply