Super YUMMY and easy Tortellini Salad filled with tortellini, salad, ranch, tomatoes and bacon bits – perfect for summer time!
This simple salad has become a go-to for BBQs, holidays and summer. If you love it, you’ll also love our chicken caesar salad, southwest salad and broccoli salad.
Quick + Easy Tortellini Salad
My family gets together for dinner almost every Sunday. My mom always makes the main dish and then whoever was coming that week would get an assignment whether it be a side dish, salad or dessert.
Over the years each kid has kind of become known for certain dishes and usually gets the same assignment quite often depending on the kind of meal (Italian, Mexican, etc).
One dish my little sister always does is Fried Zucchini. I almost always do desserts. And my older sister always does one of two salads she’s famous for – Ramen Noodle Salad and today’s Tortellini Salad.
They are both recipes the entire family loves so we have them quite often. When I first had this salad years and years ago I was a bit skeptical on how it would taste, but I absolutely love it. The Tortellini is the perfect ingredient for this salad making it a favorite for everyone.
I’ve brought this to a few functions and I’ve never come home with any leftovers making it quite the hit. We especially love to make it in the summer time.
How to Make Tortellini Salad
This salad recipe is quick and simple!
The most time-consuming thing is cooking up the tortellini (which you can choose your favorite but we like the classic cheese tortellini from Buitoni), but once that’s done, you only have minutes of prepping.
Layer. Pour lettuce into the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Layer cooked tortellini on top of the lettuce along with the cut grape tomatoes.
Ranch. Drizzle with ranch and bacon bits right before serving.
Additions: This salad is simple, delicious and so easy to customize to your liking. Add more, or less of our suggested ingredients. You can also include other ingredients such as red onions, diced avocado, or spinach leaves. Be creative and, most of all, enjoy every bite!
Bacon bits: You can easily use bacon bits from the grocery store, and I have in a pinch. However, fresh cooked bacon tastes the best. I suggest using this easy Bacon in the Oven recipe.
Making Ahead + Storing
This salad can be made in advance. To do that, prepare salad, but keep bacon and ranch separate until right before serving.
Once ready to serve, drizzle on ranch and bacon bits.
To store, we recommend placing in an air-tight container for up to 1 day. Salad tends to get soggy, especially if the dressing is on, so the salad does not store for long.
We LOVE serving this salad with an Italian meal, although it really goes great with anything!
Also, in case you’ve never used Tortellini, it can be found in the freezer section of your grocery store. I didn’t know that the first time I made this and spent quite awhile looking for it – lol! Hope that helps. 🙂
For more Salad Recipes, check out:
Tortellini Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 romaine lettuce heads
- 1 20 oz. bag cheese tortellini cooked according to package instructions
- ½ cup grape tomatoes cut in half
- ½ cup Ranch dressing homemade ranch is our favorite
- ½ cup bacon bits
Instructions
- Pour lettuce into the bottom of a 9×13 pan.
- Layer cooked tortellini on top of the lettuce along with the grape tomatoes.
- Sprinkle with ranch and bacon bits right before serving.
Your salads look delish! I will be trying them all this summer. TFS.
So many wonderful recipes. Thanks so much Kristyn.
You’re so welcome, Liz!!
Looks like the instructions are a little off! #1 should be #3!
Ranch dressing & bacon should be on last!
I may make this in bulk next week for some meal prep lunches! It looks great!
This my favorite go-to salad!! I make it at least a couple times a month! It is very easy & quick to make & everyone always loves it!
What a delicious salad! Adding the tortellini is a great idea!
A very favorite salad of ours! So quick and easy. Its yummy and very pretty to look at!
This is by far my favorite salad ever! I always get compliments whenever I bring it to a dinner party.
Easy and seemed to satisfy the cRowd. My tOrtellini wasn’t the best. I used the same brand but even aFter cOoking for only 6 minutes it seemed overdone. I added lots of bacon and ADded Some parmesan.
I’d make it agAin but might try different pasta.
Thank you for letting me know! Sometimes, mine are done in just a few minutes.
My family is not a fan of salads and so when I brought this to our Christmas dinner they didn’t seem impressed. But after I made them try it, they couldn’t stop eating it! Love it for an easy and healthy salad choice!
Thanks for the recipe! I love salads that can be the whole meal!
This was fantastic! So flavorful and delicious and everyone loved it!
My kids gobbled this recipe up! Bacon, ranch tortellini a clear winner! Thanks for sharing 😍