If you're looking for a pasta salad that's creamy, flavorful, and absolutely impossible to stop eating, this Marry Me Pasta Salad is the one. It takes all the best flavors from the viral Marry Me Chicken and turns them into a cold pasta salad you'll be making on repeat all summer long.
This post is a complete guide to making Marry Me Pasta Salad at home. It's a cold tortellini pasta salad packed with sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, spinach, and parmesan, all tossed in a rich, creamy homemade dressing. It's inspired by the popular "Marry Me Chicken" flavor profile. This recipe is perfect for summer cookouts, meal prep, and potlucks. It's easy to make ahead and requires minimal cooking.
You'll love this Marry Me Pasta Salad
It's so flavorful! It's a cold pasta salad built on the flavors of Marry Me Chicken: sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, parmesan, and a creamy, tangy dressing that brings everything together. The only cooking you have to do is boil the tortellini. After that, it's all just mixing and waiting for it to chill, which is honestly the hardest part.
It's a great make-ahead recipe. This salad actually gets better as it sits in the fridge. The tortellini soaks up all that creamy dressing, and the flavors meld together in the best way. I like to make it the night before a cookout so it's ready to go.
It requires minimal cooking. The only thing that hits the stove is the tortellini. Everything else is just measuring, chopping, and tossing. It comes together in about 20 minutes of active time.
Ingredients
Pasta. I like to use rigatoni, rotini, or cavateppi pasta for this recipe! But, in all honesty, any pasta shape works great.
Fresh Tomatoes. This is totally optional, but I like the bright flavor fresh tomatoes bring to balance out the flavors. Plus, the red color adds a nice pop!
Red Onion. Not only do they add a nice pop of color, but the tanginess of the onions also adds great flavor to pair with the rest of the ingredients.
Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Concentrated and chewy, these are the heart of the "marry me" flavor profile. They bring an intense, savory depth
Fresh Basil. Adds a bright, herby freshness that lifts the whole dish. It pairs perfectly with the tomatoes and ties the Italian flavors together.
Parmesan Cheese. Sharp and salty, Parmesan adds savory depth and a slightly nutty finish to the salad.
Mozzarella Cheese. Creamy and mild, fresh mozzarella adds soft, pillowy bites that contrast beautifully with the chewy sun-dried tomatoes and tangy dressing.
Mayonnaise. The creamy base of the dressing. It gives everything a rich, velvety coating that clings to every piece of pasta.
Sour Cream. Adds tang and lightens the richness of the mayo so the dressing feels creamy without being heavy.
Fresh Garlic. A punch of sharp, savory flavor that makes the dressing taste homemade. Don't skip it.
Italian Seasoning. Brings in a classic blend of dried herbs that ties everything together and deepens the overall flavor.
Salt + Pepper. Season as you go and give it a final taste before chilling.
How to make Marry Me Pasta Salad
- Cook the tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and let it cool completely before adding it to the salad. You can spread it out on a baking sheet to cool faster, or pop it in the fridge.
- While the pasta cools, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the sun-dried tomatoes and basil, and prep everything else.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parmesan, and mozzarella.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and gently fold everything together until every piece is coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. The longer it sits, the better it gets.
- Before serving, give it a good stir and garnish with extra cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
Substitutions and variations
Swap for tortellini. A variation that I absolutely love is a sun-dried tortellini salad! The cheese-filled tortellini make for such a great base.
Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. If you're looking to lighten things up a bit, plain Greek yogurt is a great 1:1 swap. It's still creamy and tangy, and you honestly won't notice much of a difference.
Add grilled chicken. Toss in some sliced grilled chicken breast, and this goes from a side dish to a full meal. It's great for meal prepping lunches for the week.
Storingleftover Marry Me Pasta Salad
Store leftover Marry Me Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Give it a stir before serving since the dressing can settle.
I don't recommend freezing this one. The creamy dressing doesn't hold up well after thawing, and the pasta texture changes.
FAQs
What is Marry Me Pasta Salad?
Marry Me Pasta Salad is a cold tortellini pasta salad inspired by the popular Marry Me Chicken recipe. It features sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, parmesan, and mozzarella tossed in a creamy homemade dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
How long does Marry Me Pasta Salad last in the fridge?
Marry Me Pasta Salad lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge, stored in an airtight container. The flavors actually improve after a few hours of chilling, so it's a great make-ahead option. Do not freeze it, as the creamy dressing doesn't hold up after thawing.
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Want more summer pasta salad recipes?
Marry Me Pasta Salad
If you're looking for a pasta salad that's creamy, flavorful, and absolutely impossible to stop eating, this Marry Me Pasta Salad is the one. It takes all the best flavors from the viral Marry Me Chicken and turns them into a cold pasta salad you'll be making on repeat all summer long.
Ingredients
for the dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2-3 fresh garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoon sun-dried tomato oil
- 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
for the pasta salad
- 1 lb cooked pasta, cooked + cooled
- 2 cups tomatoes, halved or quartered
- ½ red onion, chopped
- 1 log mozzarella, cut into smaller squares
- 1 8oz. jar sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
- salt + pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and let it cool completely before adding it to the salad. I run mine under cold water, then add ice cubes to cool it while prepping the other ingredients.
- While the pasta cools, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, onions, and fresh mozzarella.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
- Add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, red onion, and mozzarella to that same bowl.
- Gently fold everything together until every piece is coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight. The longer it sits, the better it gets.
- Before serving, try the pasta salad and add any extra salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning as you see fit. The flavors really meld together and change when it sits, so be sure to adjust if needed!
- Garnish with some extra fresh basil, parmesan, and enjoy!
Notes
Substitutions and variations
Swap for tortellini. A variation that I absolutely love is a sun-dried tortellini salad! The cheese-filled tortellini make for such a great base.
Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. If you're looking to lighten things up a bit, plain Greek yogurt is a great 1:1 swap. It's still creamy and tangy, and you honestly won't notice much of a difference.
Add grilled chicken. Toss in some sliced grilled chicken breast, and this goes from a side dish to a full meal. It's great for meal prepping lunches for the week.
Storingleftover Marry Me Pasta Salad
Store leftover Marry Me Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days. Give it a stir before serving since the dressing can settle.
I don't recommend freezing this one. The creamy dressing doesn't hold up well after thawing and the pasta texture changes.
FAQs
What is Marry Me Pasta Salad?
Marry Me Pasta Salad is a cold tortellini pasta salad inspired by the popular Marry Me Chicken recipe. It features sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, parmesan, and mozzarella tossed in a creamy homemade dressing made with mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
How long does Marry Me Pasta Salad last in the fridge?
Marry Me Pasta Salad lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge, stored in an airtight container. The flavors actually improve after a few hours of chilling, so it's a great make-ahead option. Do not freeze it, as the creamy dressing doesn't hold up after thawing.
