Tortellini Salad with Bacon, Pepperoncini, and Parmesan Recipe
A flavorful and creamy tortellini salad combining cheese tortellini, crispy bacon, pepperoncini peppers, fresh grape tomatoes, and a tangy homemade dressing with Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese. Perfect chilled for a refreshing and satisfying side or light meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 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 seasoning
- 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 crispy. Drain excess grease and transfer bacon to paper towels to absorb remaining oil. Once cooled, chop into small pieces and set aside.
- Cook the Cheese Tortellini: Bring a large pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Add the frozen cheese tortellini and cook according to package instructions, usually 3-5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool.
- Make the Dressing: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, oregano, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly until well blended to create a creamy, flavorful dressing.
- Assemble the Salad: Add the cooled tortellini, pepperoncini peppers, grated Parmesan, chopped red onion, halved grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss to evenly coat all ingredients with the dressing.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the tortellini salad for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld and chill the salad. Before serving, give it a good stir and enjoy.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse the tortellini in cold water after boiling to prevent it from overcooking and becoming mushy.
- For extra flavor, you can add fresh basil or parsley to the salad before chilling.
- This salad can be made a day ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator.
- To keep bacon crispy, add just before serving or store separately until ready to mix.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste for preferred spice level.
Keywords: tortellini salad, bacon tortellini salad, cheese tortellini recipe, Italian salad, cold pasta salad, creamy tortellini salad
