I'm excited to share this Southwest Pasta Salad filled with cheese tortellini, and fresh ingredients. It's creamy and a Potluck Favorite Recipe.
Summers are a busy time for neighborhood BBQ's, Family Reunions, and fun with the family which is why we have our Favorite Potluck Salad Recipes for you to enjoy!
Southwestern Pasta Salad is an easy cold Potluck Salad Recipe to make. It's perfect to make ahead and bring to an event, or enjoy as a family when you grill.
What is Southwest Pasta Salad?
Southwest Pasta Salad is a cold Pasta Salad made with Cheese Tortellini. It has a creamy spicy dressing for a real southwestern salad taste.
What's in Southwest Pasta Salad?
- Cheese Tortellini
- Sweet Corn
- Black Beans
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Red Bell Pepper
- Red Onion
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Southwestern Dressing
How many will Southwest Pasta Salad feed?
I love to take this recipe to Potluck BBQ's or Family Reunions. This recipe serves 6-8 as a side dish and is a crowd pleaser.
How to cook pasta in the Instant Pot?
Cooking Pasta in the Pressure Cooker is easy. For this recipe use a frozen package of Cheese Tortellini. Add 3 cups water or Chicken Broth and set to Manual (Pressure Cook) High for 1 minute with a 2 minute natural release.
Quick Release the remaining pressure and rinse and drain pasta under cool water and allow to chill in the Refrigerator for 30 minutes.
How to Cook Pasta on the Stove?
Fill a stock pot with water over high heat on the stove until it reaches a boil. Add frozen Cheese Tortellini and allow to cook for 3-4 minutes.
Pasta should float to the top. Rinse and drain pasta under cool water and chill in Refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Let's Make Southwestern Tortellini Pasta Salad
I prefer to cook my pasta using the Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker using Chicken Broth. I love the extra flavor the Chicken Broth gives when making pasta in the Instant Pot.
Then I rinse and drain my tortellini and allow to chill.
While the pasta is cooking I dice the red onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado.
I rinse and drain the corn and black beans and add them to the veggies. When the pasta is chilled, I toss in the pasta with the other ingredients.
The dressing is made up of Ranch Dressing, Italian Dressing with Chili Powder and Cumin. Trust me. It's great and perfect on this Pasta Salad Recipe.
Toss everything together and you are ready to eat!
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Try more Pasta Salad Recipes
- Authentic Hawaiian Mac Salad
- Traditional BLT Pasta Salad
- Refreshing Poppyseed Strawberry Pasta Salad
- Suddenly Salad Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Family Favorite Pepperoni Pasta Salad
- Creamy Taco Pasta Salad
- BBQ Ranch Pasta Salad with Chicken
- Pasta with Zucchini and Cheery Tomatoes
Southwest Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pkg 19oz 3 Cheese Frozen Tortellini
- 3 Cup Chicken Broth or Water
- ½ Cup Diced Red Bell Pepper
- ¼ Cup Diced Red Onion
- ¼ Cup Chopped Cilantro
- 1 Cup Corn
- 1 Cup Black Beans
- 1 whole Avocado diced
- 2 Cup Cherry Tomatoes Sliced
Southwest Dressing
- ½ Cup Ranch Dressing
- ½ Cup Italian Dressing
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- ¾ teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- Place Frozen Cheese Tortellini in Pressure Cooker with 3 Cup Chicken Broth OR Water
- Set to Manual (Pressure Cook) High for 1 minute. 2 minute Natural Release and Quick Release the remaining pressure.
- Rinse and drain pasta under cool water and place in Refrigerator for 30 minutes
- Dice Cilantro, Red Onion and Bell Pepper and set aside
- Slice Cherry Tomatoes in half and set aside
- Rinse and drain corn and black beans
- In a large bowl add chilled pasta, cilantro, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, avocado, corn and black beans. Toss to combine
- In a separate bowl combine Southwest Dressing and stir
- Pour dressing over pasta and toss.
- Serve cold. Store in Refrigerator
Notes
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
Katie koopman
This is the best recipe on devour dinner! 10/10 recommend!!! We have made it with all different kinds of pasta and every time it turns out perfect and delicious! It’s perfect for those super hot nights when you don’t want to cook anything.
Devour Dinner
Hi Katie! I'm so glad you loved this recipe. It's wonderful and so good on a hot night.
Nancy Weinbaum
I've made this and Love it...Thanks for doing a Demo again <3 I will make this tomorrow
Denise Mies
Just a spelling thing....in the instructions says "cheery tomatoes" should be cherry tomatoes!! Although I suppose those tomatoes could be happy and cherry!
This is where it is in the recipe:
While the pasta is cooking I dice the red onion, bell pepper, cheery tomatoes, cilantro, and avocado.
Devour Dinner
haha.. Yes, you are correct, just a slip of the finger that spell check didn't notice!
Judy
I only had a 12 ounce package of large cheese ravioli and the directions worked perfectly. I am winging it and adding things I have in my garden and fridge. I also used my homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
This is a winner because it is fast and no heating up the kitchen. The possibilities are endless.
Devour Dinner
Hi Judy, sometimes "winging it" is the best with what you have. It is a winner recipe because it's so fast and so good too! Glad you liked it.
Brenda
What kind of italian dressing do you use, creamy or oil based?
Devour Dinner
Hi Brenda, I use oil based Italian Dressing in this recipe.