Broccoli BLT Tortellini Salad is a bright and colorful summer side dish that’s packed with all the fun flavors of a classic BLT sandwich with the added benefits of crunchy broccoli and tender cheese stuffed tortellini!
Broccoli BLT Tortellini Salad
While I love a classic BLT sometimes I want something a bit more on the refreshing side that’s still filling. That’s where this pasta salad comes in! Cheese stuffed tortellini and fresh broccoli florets are mixed with crispy bacon chunks, sharp cheddar cheese, savory green onions, and juicy cherry tomatoes. Tossed in zesty ranch dressing, this is a fun take on your classic pasta salads. You could even serve it in lettuce cups to stay true to the blt aspect! This side dish is quick and easy to make and stays fresh for four days so you could easily make it ahead of time to meal prep or use for a get together. And while this is a very fresh dish, you can enjoy it all year long!
Pasta salad is prime in this household. If you’re looking for more recipes, you’ve come to the right place. Check out my Cashew Chicken Pasta Salad or Taco Ranch Pasta Salad!
Can this be made as a regular salad?
It absolutely can! While I love some pasta salad, pretty much any recipe can swap the actual pasta for lettuce instead. If you love the flavors in this but maybe want to cut some of the carbs you can totally take out the tortellini and swap it for your favorite lettuce or spinach. Maybe even a blend. If you are turning this into a traditional salad, I recommend only adding the dressing when ready to eat as opposed to tossing the whole thing. This is great for taking it on the go so the salad doesn’t become soggy before you get to enjoy it.
How To Make Broccoli BLT Tortellini Salad
- Boil. Boil a large pot of water over high heat. Add the tortellini and cook for about 4 minutes (or until soft).
- Bathe. While the pasta boils prepare a large bowl with cold water and ice. Once boiled, remove the tortellini with a slotted spoon and place into the ice bath. Stir until cooled then remove to a colander to finish draining for about 10 minutes.
- Boil. In the same boiling water as the pasta, add the broccoli and cook for about 1 minute.
- Drain. Prepare another ice bath. Drain the broccoli and add it to the ice bath. Stir until cooled. Remove the broccoli and add it to the colander to finish draining.
- Toss. Once cooled and dry, use a large mixing bowl and add the pasta, broccoli, bacon bits, green onions, cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, and ranch dressing. Gently toss until combined.
Storing BLT Tortellini Salad
Store leftover pasta salad in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days at the most. I don’t recommend trying to freeze this one.
Ingredients Notes for Broccoli BLT Tortellini Salad
- Tortellini – Fresh cheese tortellini is my go-to. You can generally find it in the deli section. Spinach and cheese stuffed tortellini may be a good option as well!
- Broccoli – Try to make sure all of the pieces are about the same size.
- Bacon – Cooked, cooled, and chopped.
- Green Onions – Sliced. I recommend using only the green parts for this recipe.
- Cheddar Cheese – Freshly shredded cheese is usually my go-to! It’s got the best texture and flavor.
- Tomatoes – I find cherry tomatoes to be the best in salads for that bite sized burst of flavor. Grape tomatoes also work well!
- Ranch Dressing – Any brand or kind will work! Use what you have on hand.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Broccoli BLT Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 1 14-oz Bag Fresh Cheese Tortellini
- 2 Cups Broccoli cut into 1-inch pieces
- 6 Slices Bacon cooked and cooled
- 3 Green Onions sliced, green parts only
- 1 1/2 Cups Cheddar Cheese freshly shredded
- 1 Cup Sliced Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Ranch Dressing
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water over high heat then cook the tortellini for 4 minutes.
- In the meantime, prepare a large bowl of ice water then use a slotted spoon to remove the tortellini and place it in the ice bath.
- Stir until cooled then pour into a colander and set aside to drain for 10 minutes.
- Prepare another ice bath in the same bowl then add the broccoli to the water and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and place directly into the ice bath.
- Drain the water and set aside to drain as much as possible as well.
- Next, toss all the ingredients including the tortellini and broccoli together in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with more crispy bacon and sliced green onions if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
