Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad combining cheesy tortellini, crispy bacon, tangy pepperoncini, and a creamy Italian herb dressing, perfect for a light lunch or 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
- 1 cup mayonnaise (preferably Hellmann’s)
- 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 excess grease and place the bacon on paper towels to soak up any remaining oil. Once cooled, chop into small pieces and set aside.
- Cook the Cheese Tortellini: Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the frozen cheese tortellini and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop further cooking, then set aside.
- Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly until the dressing is well blended and smooth.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the cooled cheese tortellini, pepperoncini peppers, Parmesan cheese, chopped red onion, halved grape tomatoes, and chopped bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to let the flavors meld and to chill the dish. Before serving, stir the salad again and enjoy.
Notes
- For milder onion flavor, finely chop the red onion or soak it in cold water before adding.
- Ensure bacon is cooked crispy for a nice texture contrast.
- Rinsing tortellini with cold water helps prevent sticking and stops it from overcooking.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead for even better flavor development.
- Use fresh herbs if possible for a brighter flavor, but dried herbs work well too.
Keywords: tortellini salad, bacon salad, Italian dressing, pepperoncini salad, easy pasta salad, cheese tortellini, cold pasta salad
Find it online: https://dinewithdylan.com/fresh-grinder-tortellini-salad-recipe/
