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Cheese Tortellini Caesar Pasta Salad

Cheese tortellini Caesar pasta salad with creamy dressing and romaine for a cold, crunchy bite. Cheese-filled tortellini is rinsed for the perfect tender texture, then chilled so flavors meld.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese tortellini
  • 1 lb cheese tortellini
Romaine lettuce
  • 3 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
Caesar dressing
  • 1 cup Caesar dressing
Parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Croutons
  • 1 cup croutons
Lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
Salt and pepper
  • 0.25 salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Cook and cool the tortellini
  1. Cook cheese tortellini according to package directions until tender, then drain. Rinse under cold water to cool quickly and stop the cooking so the pasta stays springy.
Build the salad
  1. Combine tortellini, romaine lettuce, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl. Stir until the romaine and tomatoes are evenly distributed.
  2. Add Caesar dressing and lemon juice to the bowl, then toss to coat. Toss until the pasta looks evenly glazed with creamy dressing.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss again. Stop when the seasoning is evenly speckled throughout.
Chill and finish
  1. Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour. Cover it so the romaine stays crisp and the flavors blend while chilling.
  2. Top with the remaining Parmesan and croutons just before serving. Add croutons at the end so they stay crunchy.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the tortellini under cold water right after draining so it doesn’t clump while cooling. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; keep croutons separate and add fresh when serving to prevent sogginess. Freezing isn’t recommended because the romaine and creamy dressing texture can break down after thawing; for a lighter option, use a reduced-fat Caesar dressing if you want fewer calories.