Stuck on what to make for dinner? Our easy chicken tortellini salad is a delicious solution that comes together quickly, delivering a fantastic blend of savory goodness! You’re in for a versatile warm pasta salad that you can customize with your favorite tortellini or add-ins. Whether you need a fast family-friendly dinner or a reliable make ahead chicken dish, this recipe is a go-to that delivers in both taste and ease.
What You Will Need:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 pound of tortellini
- 1 medium onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 seedless cucumber
- 1/2 pint of grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- sea salt and black pepper
The chicken for the chicken tortellini salad
Cutting the chicken on the bias is not difficult at all. This technique is basically butterflying the chicken. After butterflying, just finish cutting all the way through and you end up with two pieces. You then take the two pieces and place them between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat tenderizing mallet, pound the chicken so it is this but not torn. Repeat this for all the pieces of chicken you are using.
Place a large piece of aluminum foil onto a baking sheet. Then place your chicken on the large piece of aluminum foil. Season well with the salt and pepper. Place another piece of aluminum foil on top and fold the sides up to form a tight seal. This is the beginning of the chicken tortellini salad in the oven! Bake the pork for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees F or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
The dressing and the tortellini
Super easy! Just combine all of the ingredients and mix! You can use a cruet or whisk it all together in a bowl. Boil the tortellini as directed with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bringing it all together
The sliced vegetables, the dressing, and the cooked tortellini all get combined together. Toss the salad gently to ensure the tortellini does not break down.
The salad would go great paired with my butternut squash soup recipe. Both recipes are great comfort foods for those cold days.
Please visit my sides and salads page for more ideas!
FAQ’s
Yes! Using rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut and still adds great flavor.
Cheese-filled tortellini is perfect, but you can also use spinach or meat-filled varieties.
Yes, it’s delicious cold or warm. Just chill the tortellini and dressing before combining.
It keeps well for up to 3 days in an airtight container—great for meal prep!
Try cherry tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, or red onions for extra crunch and flavor.
Easy Make Ahead Chicken Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 chicken breasts cut on bias
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon each of sea salt and cracked black pepper
Salad:
- 1 pound of fresh tortellini
- 1 medium onion sliced thin
- 1 seedless cucumber diced
- 1 yellow (or red or green) bell pepper diced
- 1/2 pint (or more) of red grape tomatoes sliced in half
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup of olive oil
- 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1/2 teaspoon each of sea salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bring a pot of water to boil for tortellini.
- While water is heating up, cut up onion, cucumber, grapes, and tomatoes. When water comes to a boil, cook tortellini until desired texture. Fresh pasta tends to cook faster and may float when done. Drain tortellini and set aside.
- While tortellini is cooking, place chicken on a foil lined baking sheet and mix with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cover with another piece of foil and crimp edges. Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken reaches 165 degrees F. When done and cooled, cut into bite sized pieces.
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl, mason jar, or cruet and mix well.
- In a large bowl combine cut up vegetables, chicken, tortellini, and dressing in a bowl and mix well. Serve right away or let it chill in the refrigerator. An option is to serve with shredded parmesan cheese.
Notes
Yes! Using rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut and still adds great flavor. What kind of tortellini works best for this salad?
Cheese-filled tortellini is perfect, but you can also use spinach or meat-filled varieties. Can I serve this salad cold?
Yes, it’s delicious cold or warm. Just chill the tortellini and dressing before combining. How long will the chicken tortellini salad last in the fridge?
It keeps well for up to 3 days in an airtight container—great for meal prep! What veggies can I add to the tortellini salad?
Try cherry tomatoes, spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, or red onions for extra crunch and flavor.
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