Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad Recipe
A delicious and creamy Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad featuring cheesy tortellini, crispy bacon, tangy pepperoncini peppers, and a flavorful homemade dressing. This easy-to-make pasta salad is perfect for a refreshing lunch or a crowd-pleasing side dish at gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salad
- 1/3 cup drained pepperoncini peppers
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini
- 8 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
Instructions
- Prepare the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it’s crispy. Drain the grease, place the bacon on a paper towel to absorb excess oil, then chop into small pieces and set aside.
- Cook the Cheese Tortellini: Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stove and cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool and stop cooking. 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 well blended.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the cooked and cooled tortellini, pepperoncini peppers, Parmesan cheese, chopped red onion, grape tomatoes, and chopped bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to meld the flavors. Stir well before serving and enjoy your fresh tortellini salad.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon or replace with a plant-based bacon substitute.
- Make sure to rinse the tortellini with cold water after boiling to prevent it from becoming mushy and to cool it quickly.
- This salad can be prepared a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator for even better flavor.
- Feel free to add additional veggies such as cucumbers or bell peppers for extra crunch.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
Keywords: tortellini salad, pasta salad, bacon tortellini salad, pepperoncini salad, Italian pasta salad, easy pasta salad recipe, cheese tortellini salad
Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/fresh-grinder-tortellini-salad-recipe/
