Pasta salad — the universal potluck choice! It can seem like it’s at every party you go to, but that’s for good reason. It’s easy to throw together, it’s always well received, and it travels well… it’s a sure bet. But sure bets don’t always stand out. Well, guess what? This one does! This Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad is definitely not your ordinary pasta salad. Full of things like fresh mozzarella, cheesy tortellini, fresh basil, and tangy sun-dried tomatoes, it’s a pasta salad the guests will be talking about long after the party has wrapped up.

What Ingredients Do You Need for Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad?

You’re making your own dressing here (well worth it!), but the list isn’t too long. You’ll need:

• Cheese tortellini.
• Red onion.
• Fresh basil.
• Sun-dried tomatoes.
• Canned chopped artichokes.
• Fresh mozzarella pearls.
• Fresh garlic.
• Mayo.
• Pesto.
• Half and half
• Olive oil.
• Apple cider vinegar.

How Do You Make Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad?

It’s very easy! The first step is simply to boil the tortellini, which only takes a few minutes. Cook it at a low boil so that the pasta doesn’t break, and then rinse it under cool water to stop the cooking.

Add that cooked tortellini to your serving bowl, along with the onion, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and mozzarella. Then, whisk together the garlic, mayo, pesto, half and half, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and some salt and pepper and toss it with the salad ingredients.

It will seem a little liquidy but give it some time to chill and it will all come together beautifully. Magic happens with those chopped artichokes and the dressing — they meld together so you can’t really see that there are artichokes in this but you can certainly taste them throughout.

The basil, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes bring so much fresh, bright flavor and yet it’s so creamy at the same time. It’s a standout salad for sure!