Whether you serve it for dinner or as a side dish at a BBQ, this Pesto Tortellini recipe will be the star of the show! It’s made with tender cheese tortellini tossed in creamy caesar pesto sauce, with tomatoes, olives, green onion, sunflower seeds and fresh basil.
Looking for more salad recipes? Try my Italian Pasta Salad, Ambrosia Salad or Macaroni Salad!
I love pasta salads that are easy to make, filling and full of fun flavors, and this Pesto Tortellini is all those things. It’s delicious, and everyone always loves it! It tops the list of my favorite pasta salad recipes, along with this Spinach Avocado Pasta Salad and Teriyaki Bowtie Pasta Salad.
Ingredients Needed:
- Pesto: Homemade Pesto or good quality store-bought. (Use leftover pesto to make pesto pizza, or one pan pesto chicken and veggies).
- Caesar Dressing: make homemade caesar dressing, or use store-bought. I like this brand.
- Tortellini: I suggest good quality refrigerated tortellini.
- Tomatoes: I like to use cherry tomatoes but use any kind you like.
- Olives: pitted, sliced black olives.
- Onion: I recommend green onion but sweet onion or diced red onion would work.
- Sunflower Seeds or pine nuts.
- Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
- Fresh Basil is essential!
How to Make Pesto Tortellini:
Cook Tortellini according to package instructions. Drain well and allow to cool. Add to a large bowl and toss with caesar dressing to coat.
Add tomatoes, olives, green onion, pesto, salt, pepper and garlic powder and toss to combine. Add sunflower seeds and ⅓ cup fresh parmesan cheese and toss to combine.
Serve garnished with fresh parmesan and basil just before serving.
Recipe Variations:
- Add protein like chicken, sausage or shrimp to make it a hearty main dish. Rotisserie chicken would work great, or leftover cooked, grilled chicken.
- Extra Veggies: Add sautéed zucchini or yellow squash, chopped bell peppers, spinach.
More Tortellini Recipes:
- One Pan Creamy Lemon Chicken Tortellini
- Roasted Red Pepper Tortellini Pasta
- Vegetable Tortellini Soup
- Southwest Tortellini Pasta Salad
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Recipe
Creamy Pesto Tortellini
Ingredients
- 20 ounce package cheese tortellini , refrigerated kind
- 1 cup caesar salad dressing , homemade or store-bought
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes , halved
- 6 ounces black olives , drained and chopped
- 3 green onions , chopped
- 1/4 cup basil pesto , homemade or store-bought
- salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese , divided
- 6-8 fresh basil leaves , chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and allow to cool.
- Add tortellini to a large bowl and toss with ½ the caesar dressing. Add tomatoes, olives, green onion, pesto, salt, pepper and garlic powder, ⅓ cup fresh parmesan, and sunflower seeds and toss to combine. Add more caesar dressing, to make it saucier, if desired.
- Serve warm or cold. Garnish with remaining fresh parmesan and fresh chopped basil before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Original recipe inspired by Mels Kitchen Cafe.
I originally shared this recipe March 2017. Updated May 2021 and May 2023.
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This was really good. I used sun dried tomato pesto because that’s whT I had on hand. My husband made sure to tell me not to lose the recipe. 🙂
Can I use meat tortellini instead of cheese in your Creamy Pesto Tortellini recipe? That’s what I have and would like to use that.
Yes, that’s fine!
I hope to continue seeing your wonderful yummy recipes..My e mail is not working bummer for me !!I hope to have it fixed A.s.a.p..
This is sooooo good!!!!!
Thanks Stephanie, I’m glad you liked it!
Loved this recipe, added yellow bell pepper for a pop of color and crunch factor. If made ahead of time it does tend to soak up the dressing as stated in the recipe, so just add a bit more before serving. Great addition to my summer salad rotation!
I made this for a church bbq today. Delicious! There were no leftovers and it was happily gobbled up. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
This is SO good! I subbed artichoke hearts for the olives cuz my husband hates olives. I love pesto and mixing it with the dressing made it so creamy and delicious. Definitely will be making this for more parties!
This was delicious. I added some grilled chicken to make it a little heartier as a main dish. It was a hit!
Excellent recipe. I’ve taken this to several picnics, potlucks. Always have compliments
So happy to hear it! Thanks so much Amy!
Holy cow! This was delicious! My family gobbled this up. Thanks for sharing!
I love to hear it! Thanks for sharing Amanda!