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Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 44 reviews

This Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad is a flavorful and hearty dish featuring al dente cheese tortellini tossed with a zesty homemade dressing, crispy crumbled bacon, tangy pepperoncini peppers, fresh grape tomatoes, red onion, and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly chilled for an hour to meld the vibrant flavors, this salad makes an excellent side dish or a light main course for any occasion.

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 1 cup mayonnaise (Hellmann’s recommended)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or 1 tbsp fresh, finely chopped

Salad

  • 1/3 cup drained pepperoncini peppers (thinly sliced or roughly chopped)
  • 8 slices cooked crumbled bacon
  • 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion (finely chopped for milder flavor)
  • 19 oz frozen cheese tortellini (cooked al dente)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Drain excess grease and place the bacon on paper towels to soak up oil. Once cooled, chop into small pieces and set aside.
  2. 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 directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
  3. Make the Dressing: In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, salt, oregano, Italian herbs, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly to create a well-blended dressing.
  4. Assemble the Salad: Add the cooked tortellini, pepperoncini peppers, Parmesan cheese, chopped red onion, halved grape tomatoes, and crumbled bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.
  5. Chill and Serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and chill. Before serving, stir the salad once more and enjoy.

Notes

  • For milder onion flavor, finely chop the red onion or soak it in cold water before adding.
  • Use Hellmann’s mayonnaise or a mayonnaise of your choice for best dressing flavor.
  • Cook bacon ahead of time to save prep time.
  • Rinsing tortellini with cold water stops cooking and prevents clumping.
  • Can be made a few hours ahead and kept refrigerated for enhanced flavor.

Find it online: https://lovelycooks.com/fresh-grinder-tortellini-salad-recipe/