Hawaiian Tortellini Salad + Video

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Hawaiian Tortellini Pasta Salad is a like a party in your mouth! It’s a blend of your favorite island flavors in a fabulously bright, sweet and tangy summer pasta salad. A simple recipe with an outstanding pineapple-ginger dressing, this will be a hit everywhere you take it.

titled collage for Hawaiian pasta salad


 

Chad and I are celebrating 20 years together and 10 years married this year. It is a big year. When we married it was not good timing for a honeymoon so we said we would take out honeymoon for our 1st anniversary. Well, 1st became 2nd and needless to say we never had that honeymoon. Here we are celebrating 10 years and I want to celebrate big.

Hawaii big! I am thinking about traveling to Hawaii and renewing our vows in a very intimate ceremony on the beach. I imagine a beautiful flowing floral dress, leis around our necks (Chad is wear some cool beach shorts and a shirt) and waves crashing on the beach with my beautiful daughter standing by my side. Lots of entertainment, hula dancing, luaus and food. Ohhhh, the food. That is the absolute perfect ‘familymoon’!!!

mixed hawaiian pasta salad

I have never actually been to Hawaii, but I have dreamed of it and with summer nearing and Hawaii on my mind I was inspired to create a recipe with the essence of Hawaii in a summer salad. One of my favorite combinations that makes me think of Hawaii is ham and pineapple. The inspiration of this recipe actually came from the Hawaiian pizza (very mainland, huh?) once you try one you may never go back.

My favorite Hawaiian pizza is a hand tossed crust with marinara sauce that is fully loaded with ham, pineapple, red onion, and peppers. I took that amazing Hawaiian pizza and turned into my newest summer salad creation.

ingredients for hawaiian tortellini pasta salad

How To Make Hawaiian Tortellini Salad

It all starts with a rainbow of vegetables, ham, tortellini and pineapple of course. But the real magic is the dressing. A sweet pineapple dressing with a little kick from ginger is the perfect complement to this fun and non-traditional Hawaiian Tortellini Salad.

This pasta salad is so summery and refreshing. I could not stop eating it. I did manage to share it with family and friends though. What can I say, I love to feed people. And they all loved it and asked for the recipe! That is the mark of a great recipe. I know you are going to love it too.

Helpful Tips to make Hawaiian Tortellini Salad:

  • Salad is excellent the next day. If you like a lighter dressing coating make 1/2 of the dressing recipe. This gives it a nice and thick coating.
  • If you do not have ginger paste, you can use finely diced fresh ginger or ground ginger to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon).
  • This is a fantastic make ahead salad. When making ahead, use 1/2 of the dressing when preparing the salad. Reserve the remaining dressing to pour over the salad before you serve. This will keep the salad nice and creamy. If you use all of the dressing initially your pasta may soak up all the dressing.

Enjoy!

With love from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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pouring dressing over tortellini salad

Check out more of our favorite pasta salad recipes:

Muffaletta Tortellini Salad

Greek Tortellini Salad

Antipasto Tortellini Salad  

Po’ Boy Shrimp Pasta Salad   

Pizza Tortellini Pasta Salad   

Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad   


RECIPE VIDEO

Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make this recipe!

hawaiian tortellini salad in glass salad bowl

Hawaiian Tortellini Salad + Video

Donna Elick
Hawaiian Tortellini Salad has ham, pineapple and veggies in an outstanding pineapple-ginger dressing. An easy Hawaiian salad for summer!
5 stars from 1 review
Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine Hawaiian
Method Stovetop
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

Salad

  • 19 ounces frozen cheese tortellini, or fresh
  • 2 orange bell peppers, cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 English cucumber, cut into quarters and sliced
  • 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • 16 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2.5 cups diced ham
  • 14 ounces pineapple tidbits, in 100% pineapple juice (reserve the juice)

Dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice, reserved from the can of pineapple tidbits
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic paste , or fresh grated garlic
  • 2 teaspoons ginger paste, or fresh grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside once cooked.
  • Chop ham and vegetables and set aside. Reserve pineapple juice for the dressing. Set aside. Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
  • To a pint size mason jar, add dressing ingredients. Cover with lid and shake mason jar until dressing is combined. Pour dressing over salad and gently toss with salad tongs until well coated.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Video

Donna’s Notes

Salad is excellent the next day. If you like a lighter dressing coating make 1/2 of the dressing recipe. This gives it a nice and thick coating.
If you do not have ginger paste, you can use finely diced fresh ginger or ground ginger to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon).
This is a fantastic make ahead salad. When making ahead, use 1/2 of the dressing when preparing the salad. Reserve the remaining dressing to pour over the salad before you serve. This will keep the salad nice and creamy. If you use all of the dressing initially your pasta may soak up all the dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 451cal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 970mg | Sugar: 17g | Fiber: 5g | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 3mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
titled image for hawaiian tortellini salad

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titled image collage for hawaiian tortellini pasta salad

45 Comments

  1. About as Hawaiian as Hawaiian pizza, which originated on the West Coast and was so-named to recognize the pineapple and ham. No matter- sounds great and I'm anxious to try it.

  2. My good friends were married on Kauai. Very authentic ceremony right on the beach (Shipwreck's Beach, I think). Such a beautiful island…my favorite place in the world. Happy Anniversary!

  3. have you ever tried something other than pineapple (allergic to)… looks good would love to try it if didn't have pineapple.

    1. Experiment! Try something, ANYTHING. IF you don't like it very much or not at all— well try something else the next time!! Cooking is NOT rocket science, neither is making up your own recipe. That's what makes cooking and baking so much fun. Everyone has their own taste, likes/dislikes, maybe even an allergy—you will run across a recipe you will have to substitute an ingredient—-you CAN do that. It's NOT going to ruin the dish!! Tweak it for your own individual needs. Donna's recipe would still be yummy with or without pineapple or a substitute fruit. Happy Cooking!

  4. This also very good with chicken either canned or grilled, and try the balsimic vingegar and parmesian dressing yummmmm

  5. IfI want to make the salad ahead, do I pour th dressing just before serving over the salad or you keep the sald with the dressing in the fridge?

    1. Hi Inge,

      I would add about 1/2 of the dressing when you mix it up. Refrigerate and then add the remaining dressing right before you serve it. This way it will still be creamy when you serve it. Otherwise your pasta may soak up all the dressing. Enjoy and let us know how it goes!

    1. You could actually leave it out and have a fabulous dressing Julie. The ginger adds a special something that most people can't put their finger on. Either way enjoy and let us know how it goes!

  6. I loved this! I left out the onion since I can't eat them and it was still great! My boyfriend ate it three times in a row! That's an accomplishment!!!

    1. I am happy to hear that! I saw someone else say they added some diced jalapenos to it too.

  7. Don't put all of the dressing in salad. Only use half the dressing. Made it and it was very good but I am going to try adding coconut and coconut milk this time.Had alot of dressing left over the first time.

  8. Salad Looks amazing. Like the colours and the best part is dressing has mustard and pineapple juice. Can't wait to try this and will tag you once I post this recipe on my blog.

  9. I've made this at least 5 times and everyone loves it every time! I've made it with chicken, ham, and meatless, all delicious. I don't use tomatoes because I think they are to much mushy moisture to things but that's probably just me… Anyway, great recipe!

  10. Has anyone ever deleted the mayo? my sisters-in-law refuse to eat mayo? drives me crazy, but what would you substitute for the mayo?

  11. As a pescatarian, I substitute crab meat for the ham, and it is absolutely to die for delicious! Now I am going to start experimenting with smoked salmon, smoked kippers, and different types of white filets such as haddock and grouper. I’ll also be using shrimp and lobster. This is definite a favorite in our house. It’s on our weekly meal rotation both as a meal or a side dish.

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