Description
This Italian Grinder Tortellini Salad is a flavorful and hearty pasta salad featuring cheese tortellini tossed with a zesty creamy dressing, tangy pepperoncini, fresh vegetables, and a variety of Italian deli meats. Perfectly chilled, this salad is an ideal choice for quick gatherings, potlucks, or a refreshing meal on warm days.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ¾ cup (174 g) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Salad
- 19 ounces cheese tortellini (cooked according to package instructions, then cooled)
- ⅓ cup pepperoncini (drained and chopped)
- ⅓ cup (33 g) parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ medium red onion (diced)
- 1 cup (180 g) cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup (237 g) sliced pepperoni (chopped)
- 1 cup (237 g) sliced salami (chopped)
- 1 cup (135 g) deli ham (chopped)
Instructions
- Whisk dressing ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, black pepper, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, and kosher salt. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked tortellini to dressing: Add the cooled, cooked cheese tortellini into the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss the tortellini to evenly coat it with the dressing.
- Add pepperoncini, cheese, onion, tomatoes, and meats: Stir in the chopped pepperoncini, grated parmesan cheese, diced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped pepperoni, chopped salami, and chopped ham into the bowl.
- Toss everything together: Using a large spoon or rubber spatula, gently toss all ingredients until the tortellini and other components are well coated and thoroughly mixed.
- Cover and chill: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to chill and allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve cold: Before serving, give the salad a final gentle stir to refresh the dressing. Serve chilled for best taste and texture.
Notes
- You can prepare the tortellini in advance and keep it refrigerated to save time.
- Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- For a lighter version, substitute some of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt.
- Make sure to chill the salad for at least an hour to develop the full flavor profile.
- This salad is best served cold and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Italian tortellini salad, cheese tortellini salad, Italian pasta salad, deli meat pasta salad, chilled pasta salad, easy Italian salad
