Italian Tortellini & Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe

This Italian Pasta Salad is one of our family favorites. It has a bit of everything going on. Fresh and jarred vegetables, cheese, two kinds of pasta and a killer Italian dressing! I love that this pasta salad can easily be made ahead of time and travels well for potlucks or a picnic in the park. This particular salad makes quite a bowlful so if you’re feeding a crowd, this is a great one to make.

BEST TYPE OF PASTA FOR A PASTA SALAD

I like to use two kinds of pasta since I usually have partial boxes hanging out in my pantry. This time I used some bowtie pasta and a cheese-filled tortellini. Once cooked and cooled, the pasta will absorb some of the dressing so be sure to give it an additional splash just before serving. A garnish of crumbled feta and some dried herbs gives a nice pop of color and extra flavor.

Litehouse Italian dressing pairs perfectly in this pasta salad. It’s full of spices so it gives a refreshing, zesty flavor to the dish.

WHAT DO YOU PUT IN PASTA SALAD WITH ITALIAN DRESSING?

Pasta salads don’t really need much of a recipe. Leave out anything you don’t care for and add anything you have in the fridge. You can really bulk up this salad with additional vegetables. The more colorful the better! We have a recipe below as a starting point, but feel free to add your own twist!