This Tortellini Pasta Salad is a delicious combination of tender and cheesy tortellini pasta tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, crispy bacon, savory chicken and sweet mandarin oranges drizzled with a sweet and tangy dressing for a light but amazingly satisfying meal.

Why This Is The Very Best Tortellini Pasta Salad. Ever.

Pasta salads are one of my favorite summer meals and potluck offerings because they are easy, filling, feed a crowd, and all of the food groups are tossed together into one delicious and convenient bowl. And while I have a few tasty go-to pasta salad recipes, if you held me down and forced me to pick a favorite, this one would probably make its way to the top.

This Tortellini Pasta Salad just delivers on every front. The chewy tortellini is tossed with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, salty-crunchy bacon, and juicy oranges.. and the whole glorious thing is tossed in a sweet and tangy dressing that you could eat with a spoon. I’ve served it freshly made, and made it ahead of time and served it chilled. Either way… this one is a definite crowd pleaser!

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Amazing Tortellini Pasta Salad:

• Tortellini Pasta– We like to use fresh refrigerated tortellini. You could also use regular pasta- penne or rotini would work great too.
• Chicken– This recipe calls for chicken breast that you cook in the skillet. But rotisserie chicken is an easy and delicious option too.
• Bacon– Any kind will work here. Regular, thick cut, turkey.. we like precooked bacon because it’s nice and fast.
• Spinach– We used baby spinach. Give it a rough chop before adding it to the salad.
• Tomatoes– We like cherry tomatoes best in this salad. Just cut them in half and you are good to go.
• Cucumber– We always use english cucumbers, because they don’t have to peel them or remove the seeds.
• Mandarin Oranges– We use canned mandarin oranges that are packed in juice.

Sweet & Tangy Dressing:

• Sugar– Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps to thicken up the dressing too.
• Red Wine Vinegar– This is our favorite, but you could probably substitute white or apple cider vinegar.
• Oil– We like to use avocado oil.
• Salt– Regular sea salt is our go-to.
• Paprika– Adds a subtle smokiness.
• Oregano– Oregano adds an earthy, herby flavor to the dressing.

How To Make Tortellini Pasta Salad:

1. Cook pasta. According to the package directions- this will differ if you are using fresh or dry pasta.
2. Cook the chicken. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle with oil. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown on the outside and no longer pink. Remove to a cutting board. Allow to cool before dicing.
3. Cook the bacon. Cook bacon in the pan you used to cook the chicken, or according to package directions. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
4. Chop the vegetables. Give the spinach a rough chop, slice the tomatoes in half, and quarter and slice the cucumber. Drain the oranges.
5. Make the dressing. In a small saucepan, bring the sugar and vinegar to a boil and whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Whisk to blend.
6. Toss the salad. Add the pasta, chicken, bacon, veggies, and oranges to a large serving bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine. Top with freshly cracked black pepper if desired.

Tips & Suggestions:

Can I make Tortellini Pasta Salad ahead of time?

This is the perfect make-ahead dish! While it is delicious served freshly made, it is equally as tasty served cold. You can make it in the morning and chill for a quick dinner or potluck dish!

How long does tortellini pasta salad last?

Leftover tortellini pasta salad will last 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Variations:

• Use rotisserie chicken instead of pan-frying chicken. Easy, fast and delicious!
• Leave out the chicken and bacon for a tasty meatless entree or side dish.
• Substitute the tortellini with your pasta of choice! Penne, ziti, bowtie or rotini all work well.
• Try adding different vegetables to suit your taste or what’s in your fridge. Zucchini, sugar snap peas, broccoli, avocado, peas, or radishes are all tasty options.

More Yummy Pasta Salad Recipes: