Meaty Tortellini Salad
A Meat Lovers Paradise
What makes this Meaty Tortellini Salad unique is the special combination of ingredients like cheese filled pastas combined with your favorite creamy Caesar dressing, seasoned vinegar, cheese, meat, bell peppers, and tomatoes. This salad offers some simple shortcuts to make it feel “homemade” but takes no time at all.
One thing about me is that I will never run out of pasta salad ideas. I worked in the deli of a grocery store and made salads until the cows came home.
Back then, bored with the salads I would make over and over again for the deli case, I dreamed of salads I would create for my own deli. While I don’t, and have never, owned a deli, I can create the salads of my day dreams here on The Tipsy Housewife.
This Meaty Tortellini Salad combines flavors I love into one delectable pasta salad.
There is a full recipe card at the end of this post. You can print, save, or pin this recipe card. As always before the recipe card, I will share pictures and explanations and, if I can, links to the products I like to use to make my recipes.
Of course any ingredient is interchangeable with similar things you may love or have access to.
Friendly suggestion that Meaty Tortellini Salad would be perfect for a Father’s Day Salad! Make it for Dad!
Simple To Make, Even Simpler To Prep
Most of the ingredients you see pictured above I am able to get at almost any grocery store. My local grocery store carries that charcuterie package of salami and pepperoni.
I always have one on hand for the summer in case I want to make a salad with some meats. I find this in the gourmet section of the deli with the already sliced meats.
Girard’s Dressing
The Caesar salad dressing pictured is a favorite of mine. Girard’s Salad Dressing website has a store finder that you can see where to buy in your area.
You can of course use any dressing you choose, I just really like this one. To me, it almost tastes homemade.
I also like that it is not super thick, but I still thin it out with the rice or white wine vinegar. The dressing is usually in the salad dressing aisle, not the one that is kept cold.
There is just usually one or two on the aisle.
Seasoning Is A Suggestion
As always, the seasoning measurements are a suggestion. I include them for MY preferences.
You can add more or less of any seasoning. I keep a big bottle of McCormick’s Salad Supreme on hand for all my summer salads.
This is the same seasoning I use in my Linguine Salad and my Creamy Cucumber Salad.
Mozzarella Pearls
My local market carried these mozzarella pearls in the deli section on the shelf in the refrigerator area. They are very tiny fresh mozzarella balls.
You can also buy the bigger, fresh mozzarella and cut it into smaller pieces. Regular mozzarella cut into small bites would also be ok.
Make It Meaty
The cured meat in this salad makes it a perfect Summer Salad. There are times that I make this salad and then toss it with some freshly chopped romaine lettuce to make a big green salad.
The lettuce adds some crunch and some nutrients. All of this with the meat is great.
You can sub other proteins of your choice!
Other Ideas
Some other things I have added to the salad are: green olives, capers, any kind of pickled peppers, hot peppers, and other colors of bell peppers. This salad can be very versatile!
Make it your own!
Little Satchels Of Cheese Gold
This is the pasta I use, but I have also used tortellini. I got the pasta pictured at Costco in a two pack.
You can use fresh pasta or you can use frozen. I recommend cooking the pasta ahead of time, rinsing it, and letting it chill out in the fridge overnight.
This makes it tougher to stand up in a pasta salad when mixing it. If you use it freshly cooked, even if it is cooled, structurally it has more of a chance of falling apart when you are tossing it with the dressing and the other ingredients.
Meaty Tortellini Salad Recipe
Meaty Tortellini is a cheesy pasta salad with salami, pepperoni, and a zesty caesar dressing. Cherry tomato and red peppers add sweetness to this fabulous salad. The perfect summer side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 package of Cheese Filled Tortellini or other stuffed pasta purses (16 ounces) *I used a fresh but uncooked cheese filled pasta. **pictured in the post
- 1 small to medium sized Red Bell Pepper
- 1 to 2 cups of Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
- 1 twelve ounce bottle of Caesar Dressing *the one I used is picture in post
- 2 tablespoons of Rice Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon of McCormick Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme Seasoning *optional
- 2 teaspoons of Dried Italian Herbs
- 2 teaspoons of Garlic Powder
- 6 to 8 Chives
- 1 eight ounce container of fresh Mozzarella Pearls, or 8 ounces of Diced Mozzarella
- 1 six ounce package of Salami and Pepperoni *the one I use is pictured in post
Instructions
- Boil the pasta according to package directions a day BEFORE you assemble the salad. When the pasta is done cooking, rinse it with cold water, let it drain, and then refrigerate overnight.
- Wash and finely dice the red bell pepper, wash and cut the grape tomatoes in half and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the Caesar dressing, then add the vinegar to the empty bottle, shake well and add this to the dressing in the bowl.
- Add the Salad Supreme Seasoning, garlic powder, and dried Italian herbs to the dressing and vinegar. Whisk really well to combine.
- Add the peppers and the tomatoes to the dressing and toss to coat.
- Add the chilled, cooked pasta to the dressing and carefully toss in the dressing. If some of the pasta is stuck together, carefully continue to toss it in the dressing and the oil from the dressing will help separate it.
- Finely dice your salami/pepperoni or any cured meats you choose to use. Add this to the bowl with the other ingredients.
- Drain the mozzarella pearls and add to the salad. Toss this all again to coat.
- Refrigerate at least 4 hours, this will be fine to stay in the fridge overnight.
- When ready to serve, finely mince the chives and add to the salad.