Description
Fresh Grinder Tortellini Salad is a creamy, zesty pasta salad packed with Italian sub flavors like crispy bacon, pepperoncini, and parmesan—perfect for potlucks, meal prep, or easy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh)
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
For the Salad:
- 19 oz cheese tortellini (cooked al dente)
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup pepperoncini peppers (sliced)
- 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the bacon:
Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy. Drain on paper towels, then chop into small pieces. - Cook the tortellini:
Boil tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. - Make the dressing:
In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, oregano, Italian herbs, salt, and red pepper flakes. - Assemble the salad:
Add tortellini, bacon, pepperoncini, tomatoes, onion, and Parmesan to the dressing. Toss gently to combine. - Chill and serve:
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Stir before serving and enjoy cold.
Notes
Cook tortellini just until al dente to avoid mushy texture.
Reserve a little dressing to refresh before serving.
Chill at least 1–2 hours for best flavor.
Customize with salami, turkey bacon, or chickpeas for variation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiled / Mixed
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg