Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing

This light salad with chicken and cheese tortellini, topped with a lemon dressing, is a perfect summer meal for busy nights.

Tortellini is one of my favorite kinds of pasta, as long as it’s cheese filled. They are such fun little circles and contain all that cheesy goodness inside. For a long time, the only way I knew how to make it into a meal was with sauce, such as in Herbed Tortellini.

A while ago, I found a recipe in a magazine for a salad that includes tortellini and I was so excited to try it! This is a perfect, light, easy meal. And it’s completely different than having pasta sauce over the tortellini, which gives me another option. I’ve made this a few times, both with and without the chicken. While it’s still good without chicken, the chicken adds a lot to the recipe.

The first day we eat the chicken tortellini salad warm since it’s ready. But, the leftovers always make their way to the refrigerator, and I like this cold the next day. It’s perfect for bringing lunch with you to school or work since it doesn’t need to be reheated. Of course, you can reheat it, but I would keep the salad separate when you store the leftovers because heated lettuce doesn’t sound great.

Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing Step by Step

Ingredients

• 9 oz cheese tortellini
• 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
• 3 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (shaved)

Preparation

Cook the tortellini according to the package.

Meanwhile, boil the chicken until it is cooked through and shred. You could also use rotisserie chicken if you want to purchase that, but we always use boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

While the tortellini and chicken are cooking, use a small mixing bowl to combine the garlic and olive oil. Add the salt, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar, stirring with a wire whisk.

In a large mixing bowl, place the tortellini and shredded chicken and gently stir to mix them together.

Add two tablespoons of the lemon mixture into the tortellini and chicken and toss to coat.

Gently fold in the arugula and remaining lemon dressing.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Recipe

Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing

This light salad with chicken and cheese tortellini, topped with a lemon dressing, is a perfect summer meal for busy nights.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

arugula

|

chicken

|

lemon

|

salad

|

tortellini

Servings: 4

5 from 5 votes

Ingredients

• 9 oz cheese tortellini
• 1 lb chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
• 3 cups arugula
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (shaved)

Recommended Equipment

• Saucepan – Medium
• Mixing Bowls – Stainless Steel
• Whisk – Wire
• Lemon Zester

Instructions

• Cook the tortellini according to the package
• Meanwhile, boil the chicken until it is cooked through and shred
• While the tortellini and chicken are cooking, use a small mixing bowl to combine the garlic and olive oil
• Add the salt, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and sugar stirring with a whisk
• In a large mixing bowl, place the tortellini and shredded chicken and gently stir to mix them together
• Add two tablespoons of the lemon mixture into the tortellini and chicken and toss to coat
• Gently fold in the arugula and remaining lemon dressing
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve

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Nutrition Facts

Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing

Amount Per Serving

Calories 454 Calories from Fat 180

% Daily Value*

Fat 20g31%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 101mg34%

Sodium 585mg24%

Potassium 474mg14%

Carbohydrates 29g10%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 440IU9%

Vitamin C 7.1mg9%

Calcium 194mg19%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Salad Dressing Recipes to try

• Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing
• Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing for Salads or Marinades
• Southwestern Salad with an Avocado Dressing
• Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing
• Italian-Style Croutons
• Green Goddess Dressing
• Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast with Thousand Island Dressing

More Recipes with Tortellini

• Zesty Chicken Tortellini Soup
• Leftover Turkey Tortellini Soup
• Skillet Tortellini and Broccoli Meal
• Tortellini Alfredo Copycat Panera Recipe
• Herbed Tortellini (or Ravioli)
• Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup
• Chicken Tortellini Skillet Dinner with Pasta Sauce
• Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
• Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing

Recipes with Lemon Flavor

• Watermelon Lemonade
• Lemon Crepes
• Lemon-Herb Chicken Kabobs
• Simple Strawberry Lemonade
• Instant Pot Lemon-Garlic Chicken
• Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans
• Lemon Bars with Prickly Pear Juice
• Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce
• Lemon Thyme Chicken Dinner with Potatoes and Green Beans
• Chicken and Carrots with Rosemary and Lemon Sauce
• Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing
• Lemon Rosemary Tilapia
• Pasta with a Lemon Butter Sauce
• Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Lemonade
• Shrimp Orzo with Lemon
• Kid-Friendly Lemon Bar Dessert
• Creamy Lemon Pasta
• Dairy-Free Sour Cream Substitute with Only 2 Ingredients