One Pot Taco Tortellini

August 20, 2023
Last Updated: September 11, 2023
1 Comment
Recipes

If you like tacos and pasta, this one pot taco tortellini is a brilliant blend of the two! It’s ready in under 20 minutes and is a great, family-friendly meal!

taco tortellini with veggies in clear glass bowl

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If there’s a sure thing for dinner in our house, it’s either tacos or pasta. Both are well-loved by all three kiddos, so this taco tortellini pasta is a genius blend.

I put my smart chef hat on when I devised this summer tortellini salad recipe, knowing that tortellini pasta cooks extra quick.

It kinda reminds me of my turkey taco quinoa skillet.

It can easily be catered to your favorite flavors, too. For example, chicken taco tortellini or beef tortellini.

taco tortellini pasta with black beans in bowl

Did you know tortellini pairs nicely with creamy sauces and fresh herbs? It sure does!

According to the National Pasta Association, stuffed pasta, like tortellini, pairs nicely with wild mushrooms, fresh herbs, creamy sauces and more.

We also love this gluten free pasta salad and baked goat cheese pasta for easy weeknight dinners.

Why We Love One Pot Taco Tortellini

One pot – Hello! As a busy parent and/or professional, all of us love one-pot meals. Easier prep and clean up!
Ready in 15 minutes – With just 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cook time
Cheesy and tasty – Who doesn’t love melty cheese? Dip some crunchy tips in and it’s almost like a taco tortellini casserole. So good!
Versatile – This recipe can be catered to your preferences. Want chicken or beef added? Go for it! Want it spicier? Feel free to spice it up! Change up the veggies based on what’s in season.
Uses pantry staples– Any recipe that relies on easy canned goods is an A+ in my book. This one uses pantry staples, like canned corn and canned beans, and you can use canned tomatoes!
Budget Friendly– Since this healthy tortellini recipe relies mostly on canned goods, it’s easy on the wallet, especially when feeding a family.
Let your kids help – This recipe is so easy that older kids could do it! And younger kids can help (pour all the ingredients in). Or, make it a tortellini mac and cheese dish without the taco seasoning. You can’t go wrong!

Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this easy tortellini pasta salad.

I’m telling you – you probably already have most of these on hand, making it a staple pantry pasta dish.

tortellini
black beans
corn (canned corn works great!)
tomato or canned tomatoes
your favorite taco seasoning
cheddar cheese
greek yogurt
marinara sauce
tortilla chips

ingredients on table for tortellini salad

How to Make This Easy Tortellini Salad

This taco tortellini pasta recipe is so easy – older kids could handle it, and younger kids can help with it!

It’s our favorite summer tortellini salad recipe for get togethers.

Combine the following in a bowl – black beans, tomatoes, corn, and taco seasoning of choice and bring your water to a boil.

clear bowl with ingredients for taco tortellini pasta

Cook the tortellini – usually to “al dente”, just about 7-8 minutes.

Once the tortellini is done, you can add in the shredded cheese and greek yogurt, and any other optional ingredients (chicken, beef, etc.)

cooking pan with tortellini, beans, corn and sauce

HOT TIP

For best results, cook pasta “al dente” or “to the tooth,” which means cooked but not mushy or overdone. To achieve your own al dente pasta, reduce the cooking time on the package instructions by 1 to 2 minutes.

What to Serve with Tortellini Salad

Here are some fun additions to serve along with your summer tortellini salad

Grilled choice of protein – chicken, steak, pork (we love sheet pan pork chops!)
Chicken Kabobs with veggies
Sheet pan salmon and veggies
Side salad

Questions and Tips

Do I serve this warm or cold?

You can serve either! I prefer it warm with melty cheese, but if you like a cold tortellini pasta salad, this works great as well.

Can you make tortellini salad ahead of time?

Yes, it’s a great meal prep recipe! You can cook the tortellini ahead of time, and add all the ingredients on the day of, or you can add everything and store in the fridge until needed.

How long does tortellini salad last?

To increase storage, first let tortellini salad completely cool. Then, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Can you freeze tortellini?

Yes, you can freeze cooked tortellini salad. Let it cool completely and store for up to 3 months. Reheat after frozen in the microwave or on the stove.

Make This?

Tag @BucketListTummy on social media and Rate the Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

One Pot Taco Tortellini

If you like tacos and pasta, this one pot taco tortellini is a brilliant blend of the two! It's ready in under 20 minutes and is a great, family-friendly meal!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 13 minutes

Ingredients

16 oz tortellini
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 medium tomato, diced (or 1 can diced tomatoes)
1 packet Taco seasoning of choice
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup low fat Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
¼ cup marinara sauce
Tortilla chips, for dipping/topping

Instructions

Rinse black beans and combine beans, corn, tomatoes and taco seasoning in a bowl.
Bring salted water to a boil in a medium pot. Cook tortellini for about 8 minutes, or according to instructions.
Once the tortellini is cooked, drain the pasta water and add the black bean/corn mixture to the pot with tortellini.
Add in shredded cheese and mix. Mix in Greek yogurt or sour cream and marinara sauce and stir.
Serve warm, and top with tortilla chips and avocado.

Notes

Optional add ins- pepper, onions, beef, chicken

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 596Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 1681mgCarbohydrates: 88gFiber: 12gSugar: 7gProtein: 29g

Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. She specializes in family nutrition, sports nutrition and intuitive eating. She also co-hosts the podcast, Nail Your Nutrition.