Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing on a round brown plate next to a fork on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

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.

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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)
Ingredients for chicken tortellini salad in stainless steel bowls on a wooden surface

Preparation

Cook the tortellini according to the package.

Cooked tortellini pasta in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

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.

Shredded cooked chicken in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

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.

Lemon dressing with a wire whisk in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

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

Shredded cooked chicken with cooked tortellini in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

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

Shredded cooked chicken with cooked tortellini and lemon dressing in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

Gently fold in the arugula and remaining lemon dressing.

Shredded cooked chicken with cooked tortellini and lemon dressing with spinach and arugula in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.

Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing on a round brown plate next to a brown towel on a wooden surface (vertical)

Recipe

Originally Published On: May 30, 2019

Updated On: May 17, 2021

Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing on a round brown plate next to a fork on a wooden surface

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
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 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)

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.

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18 thoughts on “Chicken Tortellini Salad with Lemon Dressing”

  1. 5 stars
    This dish looks so easy to make. It also looks very delicious for the family. Thank you for sharing. I plan to make it for my family.

  2. Never had anything like this! I love chicken and tortellini and salad so I mean Im sure I would love it! Looks delicious!

  3. 5 stars
    Tortellini stuffed with cheese is one of my favorite pasta as well. This really does look pretty darn delicious. I will have to try it out soon. Chicken sounds like a delicious addition.

  4. 5 stars
    What a great variation with tortellini!! I need to try it!
    We traditionally eat tortellini in broth, also traditionally tortellini are stuffed with meat rather than cheese, but some people make it with “ricotta” which is a kind of soft cheese too!

    1. I had a soup recipe with tortellini in it, but I never thought about adding it just to broth. That sounds delicious, too! For some reason, I’ve never cared for pasta with meat inside so I prefer the cheese ones. And ricotta is one of my favorite cheeses 🙂

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