Easy Chicken Tortellini Pasta Salad is filled with plump cheese-filled tortellini, juicy tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and tender rotisserie chicken. Everything is tossed in a creamy basil pesto sauce.
Serve this creamy pasta salad at your next backyard cookout along with some grilled chicken or steak for the ultimate summer inspired dinner!
Chicken Tortellini Pasta Salad
Nothing brings more smiles to a cookout than a cool and refreshing pasta salad. I especially adore this tortellini salad because it’s filled with rotisserie chicken – giving me plenty of protein to enjoy this salad as a stand-alone meal.
Ingredients Needed
Here’s a basic list of all the ingredients you’ll need in order to make this creamy tortellini pasta salad with chicken. As always, you can find the printable recipe card located below.
- Cheese Filled Tortellini – using the refrigerated kind makes this salad come together in mere minutes.
- Rotisserie Chicken – you can swap for diced grilled chicken, or leave out entirely if desired.
- Grape Tomatoes
- Mozzarella Pearls
- Basil Pesto Sauce – my homemade sauce is great for using up fresh basil!
- Mayo
- Sour Cream
- Lemon
How To Make Tortellini Pasta Salad
Tortellini pasta is a delicious pasta that is filled with cheese. By using the refrigerated, fresh pasta, it makes this salad come together very quickly, because it cooks up in just 7 minutes or less.
CREAMY PESTO SAUCE
With basil and tomatoes being a stellar summer crop, I couldn’t resist incorporating them into this delightful pasta salad.
Start by creating creamy pesto sauce by combining the prepared pesto, mayo, sour cream, lemon zest and lemon juice in a small bowl.
The combination of creamy mayo, tangy sour cream, a zip of lemon and the herby balance of basil create a dressing that is sure to please.
COOK PASTA
While this recipe calls for tortellini, make no mistake – you can substitute it for any other small pasta shape. Medium shells, bow-tie, rotini, penne, and even gnocchi would make great substitutions.
After the pasta has cooked to an al-dente, drain and rinse under cool water to stop the pasta from cooking any further.
COMBINE
Next, combine the cooked pasta, diced chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella and creamy pesto sauce in a large bowl.
Once all the ingredients are combined, simply season with extra salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper to your liking.
PRO TIP: I purchased the cooked rotisserie chicken, as well as all the other ingredients at Costco. When I don’t have time for making my own basil pesto – Costco has a great alternative.
Make Ahead and Storage
Can you make easy tortellini pasta salad ahead of time? Yes! This salad is fantastic when prepared ahead of time.
If possible, refrain from adding the creamy pesto sauce to the pasta salad more than 48 hours in advance. Simply toss the dressing and salad together, cover and store in the fridge until ready to serve. The pasta salad can last up to 5 days in the fridge.
Unfortunately, this pasta salad does not do well with freezing, so I would recommend against it.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
Looking to make a splash at the next backyard cookout with an unstoppable pasta salad? This recipe is fantastic, but here are a few more salads that are always a crowd pleaser…
I can’t wait for you to give this hearty tortellini pasta salad with chicken and pesto sauce a try. You’re sure to love it as much as we do.
Chicken Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Creamy Pesto Sauce
- ¾ cup basil pesto
- ½ cup mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Pasta Salad
- 18 oz cheese filled tortellini, refrigerated kind
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, chopped
- 8 oz grape tomatoes
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, sliced into ribbons
- ½ tsp salt, to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper, to taste
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
Creamy Pesto Sauce
- Combine the ingredients for the creamy pesto sauce – basil pesto, mayo, sour cream, lemon juice and lemon zest in a small dish and whisk to combine. If needed, you can thin the sauce by adding water or milk to your desired consistency. Set sauce aside.
Pasta Salad
- Cook the tortellini in a pot of boiling water, according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain and run under cool water to stop the cooking process.
- Combine the cooked tortellini, chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella and creamy pesto sauce in a large bowl and toss together. Once coated, season with fresh basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.
- Store pasta salad covered, in fridge until ready to enjoy.
Baked Zucchini Squash Casserole
Josephine
The photo looks like you used canned chicken.
Shawn
It’s not canned, but I’m sure canned chicken could work also. I used rotisserie chicken from Costco and just cut it up rather than having it shredded. Enjoy!