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Close-up of a creamy tortellini pasta salad with fresh spinach, shaved parmesan, red onion slices, and crispy breadcrumbs. The dish is coated in a rich dressing and garnished with black pepper.

Summer MVP Tortellini Caesar Salad (25 Minutes)

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4-6 1x
  • Category: Entree Salads & Bowls, Side Dish Recipes
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

This Tortellini Caesar Salad has everything you love about the classic salad—reimagined with pillowy cheese tortellini.

Tossed with crisp romaine, shaved parmesan, and a garlicky homemade dressing, each bite of this hearty Caesar pasta salad is crunchy, creamy, and downright craveable.

Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s the perfect easy weeknight dinner and the ultimate make-ahead side dish for picnics, BBQs, and potlucks (delicious served warm or cold!).

Ingredients

Scale
  • one 9-ounce package fresh tortellini of choice (from the refrigerated section; I’m obsessed with Costco’s Five Cheese Tortellini)
  • 1 head Romaine lettuce (approx. 6 ounces), chopped
  • 1 large shallot or ½ red onion, thinly sliced⁠
  • ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese
  • heaping 1 cup Caesar dressing (try my Homemade Classic Caesar Dressing or my Quick Anchovy-Free Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing)
  • optional: ⅓ cup garlicky toasted panko breadcrumbs
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Boil the tortellini: Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Once boiling, gently add the tortellini and cook according to package directions, stirring occasionally. The tortellini are typically ready once they float to the top. Drain and rinse well with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to drain completely.A white pot filled with boiling water and tortellini pasta, seen from above, sitting on a light blue tiled surface. Bubbles form around the pasta as it cooks.
  2. Toss the tortellini Caesar salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, chopped Romaine, sliced shallot or onion, shaved parmesan, and Caesar dressing. Season with a hefty pinch of kosher salt and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper. Toss until evenly coated and combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If using, sprinkle the garlicky breadcrumbs over top.A glass bowl filled with tortellini, romaine lettuce, sliced red onions, parmesan cheese shavings, and creamy dressing sits on a countertop surrounded by bowls of salt, black pepper, and a yellow-striped towel.
  3. Serve immediately. This tortellini Caesar salad is such a fun weeknight dinner—we usually pair it with leftover shredded chicken or my 5-Ingredient Grilled Lemon Chicken. It’s also such a crowd-pleaser at potlucks and parties—bring it as a dish to share and get ready for friends to ask you for the recipe. Enjoy!A glass bowl filled with Caesar salad, including romaine lettuce, tortellini, shaved parmesan, red onion, and croutons. Surrounding the bowl are salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, parmesan slices, and a yellow-striped towel.

Equipment

Notes

  • Portions:  As written, this recipe yields a large salad, suitable for feeding 3-4 people as a main dish (especially with added protein) or 6-8 as a side dish.

Storage and Make-Ahead:

  • Storage instructions: While best enjoyed fresh, tortellini Caesar salad leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Enjoy leftovers cold or at room temperature.
  • Make-ahead instructions: This tortellini Caesar salad is best enjoyed fresh, within a few hours of assembly. If you’d like to make it ahead of time, for meal prep or party prep, I suggest prepping the components in advance. Prepare the tortellini, slice the onion, and chop the lettuce. Store everything in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. At dinnertime, simply toss together as directed in Step 2, above.

Find it online: https://playswellwithbutter.com/tortellini-caesar-salad/