I’m a big fan of pasta salads, especially with the edition of meat because…carnivore. Even if it’s chicken. 😉 Anyway, this is an easy variation with some awesome flavors. As I’m allergic to tomatoes, I leave those out. Your mileage may vary.
Total Time: 1 Hr. 15 Min.
Prep Time: 15 Min.
Cook Time: 1 Hr.
Servings: 6 (1 cup each)
Thanks to refrigerated cheese pasta, this Caesar Tortellini Salad couldn’t be quicker (or easier) to make. Sprinkle with Parmesan and enjoy!
What You Need
1 pkg. (9 oz.) refrigerated cheese tortellini, cooked, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup KRAFT Classic Caesar Dressing
2 plum tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
1 can (6 oz.) pitted black olives, drained
1/2 cup sliced red onions, separated into rings
1/4 cup POLLY-O Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Let’s Make It
1 – Toss all ingredients except cheese in large bowl; cover.
2 – Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
3 – Sprinkle with cheese just before serving.
Kitchen Tips
Tip 1 – Size Wise: Keep an eye on portion size when you enjoy this rich salad!
Tip 2 – Substitute: Substitute 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced, for the olives.
Tip 3 – Variation: Chicken Caesar Tortellini Salad – Add 2 grilled or broiled boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips, to salad before refrigerating.
My Tip – You can use creamy Caesar dressing which is a nice change. Also croutons and/or bacon bits for a bit of crunch. And, as above, no tomatoes for me!
****
In our regular Tuesday drill, CLICK for all the details. Living though a muggy Oklahoma summer means I’m always on the lookout for easy, non-oven meals that are filing and cool to eat. I’m not the only one. Since her significant other, Duke Reagan, is based out of Key West, Dr. Cory Prince also appreciates cool recipes that are easy and filling and something her manly-man, Hard Target team leader Duke will eat. Duke is not just a former SEAL and the team is made up of men out of the ordinary. They met when Duke’s SEAL Team Atlantis was sent to Africa to rescue the kidnapped doctor. You can read their story in DOUBLE CROSS (Hard Target #1). Grab a copy by clicking on the cover or the title.
What about y’all? What’s your favorite summer dish? And would you like to visit Key West?
Sounds yummy. I’d do grape tomatoes, though, and no onions. Can’t do raw onions. Bleh.
Loved this book so much!
As for favorite summer dishes, I’m a fan of what I like to call ‘big salad’, where I put out a lettuce mix and then it’s like a salad bar on the counter – olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, cheeses, ham and/or chicken chunks, bacon bits, and croutons, along with whatever dressings I have in the house to choose from. =o)
Sort of a Chef’s Salad Smorgasbord! Love it. 🙂 And the fun thing about pasta salads is that you can customize to fit your own tastes. I ❤ red onions, can't do tomatoes. But I'd also consider adding chopped celery, romanine lettuce, and/or julianne carrots because I'm all adventurous like that. 😆