READY IN 30 mins

Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

Read Reviews (468)

"Crisp, fresh broccoli and cheese tortellini with a creamy dressing are the basis of this salad. Raisins, sunflower seeds and red onion dress it up. This recipe is most requested at potlucks." — AFMC

Directions

Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water.
In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar to make the dressing.
In a large bowl, combine broccoli, tortellini, bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds and red onion. Pour dressing over salad, and toss.

Kitchen-Friendly View

PREP 10 mins
COOK 20 mins
READY IN 30 mins

Reviews More Reviews

Most Helpful Positive Review

May 25, 2005

I love this salad, but I find the the dry tortellini (found on the shelf in the pasta aisle) holds up so much better than the refrigerated (and it is a much better bang for your buck). I used Barilla cheese tortellini, and it was absolutely superb!

—Foodie

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Most Helpful Critical Review

May 29, 2011

I don't understand all the raves on this dish...it's like any other broccoli salad smothered with sweet mayonaise. I made this for a potluck, but I didn't eat this (I tested it though and wasn't impressed) I thought others will like it...which most did. As for me, I wasn't fond of it. If you are worried about your weight, skip this one...it's too fattening and isn't all that tasty -- UNLESS you like sweet mayonaise on your broccoli and bacon.

—TheCambodianCook

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614 Ratings

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Dec 23, 2003

I have made this dish over 3 dozen times (for catered events, family, parties, etc.) It always gets raves--no leftovers!! As recommended by others, I blanch the broccoli florets for about 30 seconds, plunge into ice water until cooled, then drain and dry. The broccoli stays a gorgeous green and is easier to eat. I usually omit the raisins, but have them on the side for sprinkling. Also, I usually make 1 1/2 times the dressing. Typically, I mix the salad together with about 1/3 of the dressing and leave covered tightly in the fridge overnight or for several hours-the pasta soaks up the dressing. About 30-60 minutes before serving, I add the rest of the dressing. This salad is always a hit!

—TLBRAN

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May 09, 2008

Delish! Make sure to do these few things, and your salad will be Fabulous. 1.) Blanch brocolli peices in almost boiling water for about 1 minute, scoop out and put in ice water to shock and produce a beautiful green 2.) toast sunflower seeds 3.) if you use frozen tortelinni, cook for only 2-3 minutes in not-quite-boiling water- they will be done enough, any longer and they will be mushy and fall apart 4.) make 4 times the dressing called for, use a combo of miricle whip and mayo and only 1/2 cup sugar. Lastly, mix pasta, broccoli, craisins and 2/3 of the dressing the day before and let it marinate! Top with the rest of the dressing, seeds and bacon (i didn't use onion) right before serving. Your family will love this!

—Mom2Be!

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Aug 20, 2003

Loved this! Be careful with the tortellini. I hadn't cooked with it before and it tended to fall apart with too much stirring. (I may have overcooked it) I used tri-colored tortellini and craisins for a more festive look, used just less than 1/4 cup sugar and doubled the rest of the dressing ingredients. I blanched the broccoli for 30 seconds. I also followed the suggestion to mix salad with 1/3 of dressing and leave covered in fridge overnight. I added the rest of the dressing an hour before serving. Oh - and I do wish I would have chopped the onions more finely. Resulting taste was a bit more "oniony" than intended. Overall, it turned out wonderfully! I was concerned that the flavors wouldn't blend well, but this was great together!

—X-NMAC

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Sep 25, 2005

Perfection!...I made this for a group of fifty people. Everyone gorged themselves on it and asked for the recipie! Their was nothing left! Three catering trays were devoured!!! The only adjustments I made were as follows...I reduced the sugar, and sugared 'to taste'. I omitted the raisins, as most people do not like them, and replaced them with cashews(WOW!). I was able to find tri-colored frozen tortellini at a wholesale club and it really added to the presentation. I steamed my broccoli as well. Also, ***VERY IMPORTANT TO DO...DOUBLE THE DRESSING*** I added half the night before and the rest before serving. My advice is not to skip this very important step, it makes all the difference in the world. Folks, it doesn't get much better than this!!!!!!!

—TRACYCOOK

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Jan 25, 2006

I bring this to every picnic, super bowl party, baby shower, etc. It is so so good. I always make 1.5 times the dressing as recommended by other reviewers. I like it sweet, so I leave in the sugar. Also, I blanch the broccoli and onions for a minute before adding them (just throw them into the pasta pot the last minute that the tortellini is cooking) – this makes the broccoli easier to chew and the onions less sharp.

—Jen R.

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Dec 07, 2003

Great recipe which was well received at a recent pot luck dinner. Per other reviews, I did make a few adjustments. For the dressing I used 1 1/2 cups mayo, 6 T sugar and 1 T Cider Vinegar. I reserved some of the dressing to toss just before serving, since pastas absorb a lot of dressing as they sit in the frig. I also save some bacon to sprinkle on top just before serving. Like many others, I did blanch the broccoli. Very tasty recipe!!

—MARY DOMAZ

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Nutrition

Calories
322 kcal
16%

Carbohydrates
38.7 g
12%

Cholesterol
20 mg
7%

Fat
16.1 g
25%

Fiber
4 g
16%

Protein
9 g
18%

Sodium
341 mg
14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutritional Information

Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

Serving Size: 1/12 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Amount Per Serving
** Calories: 322
** Calories from Fat: 145

% Daily Value *
** Total Fat 16.1g 25 %
** Saturated Fat 4.1g 21 %
** Cholesterol 20mg 7 %
** Sodium 341mg 14 %
** Potassium 372mg 10 %
** Total Carbohydrates 38.7g 12 %
** Dietary Fiber 4g 16 %
** Protein 9g 18 %
** Sugars 17.6g
** Vitamin A 11 %
** Vitamin C 114 %
** Calcium 12 %
** Iron 13 %
** Thiamin 12 %
** Niacin 15 %
** Vitamin B6 15 %
** Magnesium 8 %
** Folate 28 %

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.