25 Delicious And Nutritious Tortellini Sides To Tantalize Your Taste Buds

If there’s one thing Italians know how to make, it’s all kinds of great and delicious pasta, and tortellini is one such incredible pasta dish they have blessed us with.

These dense, dumpling-like pasta have a rich sweet flavor that makes them mouthwatering, but they are also often filled with cheese, mushroom, spinach, and all kinds of goodies, making them all the more irresistible.

However, after you have your tortellini all prepared and good to go, you may want to pair them with a side dish, and since they are often quite filling, it can be hard to decide what to serve them with.

Up ahead, we’ve put together some of the best dishes to serve with tortellini, so if you’ve been unsure what to serve with tortellini, we’re to give you a few great ideas.

Whether you prefer a light side dish like salad or vegetables or a more robust meat dish, this post has many great options to suit your preferences.

Quick Table: What To Serve With Tortellini

Recipe	Calories Per Serving	Preparation Time
Asian Cucumber Salad	89	25 Minutes
Red Cabbage And Carrots	140	15 Minutes
Pull-Apart Garlic Bread	309	35 Minutes
Garlic Mushroom	168	15 Minutes
Roasted Asparagus And Tomatoes	80	25 Minutes
Arugula Salad	135	10 Minutes
Roasted Broccoli	97	20 Minutes
Garlic Dinner Rolls	139	2 Hours 15 Minutes
Chicken Parmesan	855	60 Minutes
Pan Fried Tilapia	186	20 Minutes
Honey Garlic Meatballs	307	40 Minutes
Pesto Green Beans	197	15 Minutes
Caprese Salad	157	8 Minutes
Grilled Eggplant	195	40 Minutes
Sauteed Spinach	94	10 Minutes
Halloumi Kebabs	306	1 Hour 10 Minutes
Roasted Sugar Snap Pea	224	15 Minutes
Prosciutto-Wrapped Glazed Shrimp	385	30 Minutes
Shrimp Scampi	352	35 Minutes
Roasted Brussel Sprouts	119	35 Minutes
Homemade Crostini	30	20 Minutes
Caesar Salad	245	25 Minutes
Garlic Honey Roasted Carrots	231	25 Minutes
Roasted Olives, Feta And Garlic	466	20 Minutes
Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad	71	15 Minutes

1. Asian Cucumber Salad

A cool and refreshing cucumber salad is an easy side dish you can serve with tortellini in the summer. But, if you want to take the flavor up a notch, then you’ve got to try this Asian cucumber salad. 

This dish features English cucumber tossed in a sweet and savory dressing filled with rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, maple syrup, and chili paste.

Calories Per Serving: 89 

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

2. Red Cabbage And Carrot Slaw

Want a fun and crunchy slaw that isn’t loaded with too much mayo? This red cabbage and carrot slaw is the ideal dish for you.

It features a tangy and refreshing mixture of red cabbage, carrots, onions, and a flavor-filled apple cider vinaigrette. 

Calories Per Serving: 140

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

3. Pull Apart Garlic Bread

Pull-apart garlic bread is a delicious cheesy treat perfect for weekend family dinners, and when paired with tortellini, the two make a great indulgent carb combo.

This delicious bread is buttery, herbaceous, and very easy to make, as all you’ll need is pre-made sourdough bread and a few other basic ingredients.

Calories Per Serving: 309 

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes

4. Garlic Mushrooms

Garlic mushrooms are a very easy and affordable side dish for tortellini, yet they are loaded with flavor and fresh herbs.

Buttery and decadent, these mushrooms are pan-seared with onions and then lightly cooked with white wine and an aromatic mix of garlic, thyme, and parsley. 

You can use any type of mushroom you like for this dish. Cremini or button mushrooms would be great options to try.

Calories Per Serving: 168 

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

5. Roasted Asparagus And Tomatoes

Tired of having bland asparagus and want to enhance the taste? Then roast it with some juicy cherry tomatoes and add a few shavings of fresh parmesan cheese and warm balsamic reduction. The final product is simply amazing.

Serve it with your favorite tortellini, and you’ll seriously become an instant fan of the combination.

Calories Per Serving: 80 

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

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6. Arugula Salad

Arugula has a light peppery flavor that compliments the cheese filling often found in tortellini, which is why the two make a great combination.

However, no one wants to just pile a bunch of plain arugula on their tortellini. The best way to enjoy them is in a flavorful salad like this one featuring a lemon vinaigrette and fresh parmesan cheese.

Calories Per Serving: 135 

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

7. Roasted Broccolini

It is our firm belief that any pasta dish could benefit from a serving of broccolini, and with their sweet and flavorful taste, these roasted broccolini prove us right.

They are soft and coated with lemon, garlic, and parmesan cheese, and roasting gives them a light smoky charred flavor that just makes them taste ten times better.

Calories Per Serving: 97 

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

8. Garlic Dinner Rolls

When serving a rich pasta dish like tortellini, you can never go with the addition of pillowy soft dinner rolls.

These garlic variations are made from a super fluffy dough and brushed with garlic, butter, and fresh herbs once baked into golden brown perfection. 

This recipe uses all-purpose flour but feels free to use whole wheat flour if you’d like to make these rolls healthy-ish

Calories Per Serving: 139

Preparation Time: 2 Hours 15 Minutes

9. Chicken Parmesan

If you’re serving your tortellini plain, then pairing it with chicken parmesan is a great way to incorporate a rich marinara sauce into the dish while enjoying a crispy combination of cheese and chicken.

The dish might seem complicated because of all the ingredients required, but don’t let that intimidate you. It is fairly easy to whip up, and honestly, the end result will be well worth all the effort.

Calories Per Serving: 855

Preparation Time: 1 Hour

10. Pan Fried Tilapia

Tilapia is a light, flaky fish that is easy to prepare and perfect for tortellini if you want to add some protein to your plate.

This fried fish is tender and seasoned with a simple mixture of sea salt, garlic powder, and black pepper but elevated with the addition of a lemon butter sauce.

Calories Per Serving: 186

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

RELATED: 10 Best Substitutes For Italian Seasoning

11. Honey Garlic Meatballs

Meatball balls always make a great pair with any pasta dish, and with their sweet and savory blend of flavors, this honey garlic variation is sure to elevate the taste of tortellini.

These meatballs are quite easy to make and don’t require too many ingredients, but the honey garlic sauce they are coated in makes them shine on any plate.

Calories Per Serving: 307

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

12. Pesto Green Beans

Green beans and pesto are one combination that not only results in a fun side dish with a deep green hue that is eye-catching enough to empty anyone, but they also form an incredibly fresh flavor that is simply mouthwatering.

This pesto and green beans combo is also super easy to make, as all you’ll need is pesto green beans, pine nuts, and parmesan cheese.

Calories Per Serving: 197

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

13. Caprese Salad

Caprese salad is a classic Italian salad that often requires minimal effort.

With a simple but flavorful mix of mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and lemon vinaigrette, this is one salad you’ll want to serve with tortellini and nearly every dish you can think of.

The tomatoes used for this salad are cherry tomatoes, giving it a milder sweet taste while also saving you the stress of having to slice large tomatoes into smaller sizes.

Calories Per Serving: 157

Preparation Time: 8 Minutes

14. Grilled Eggplant

Tender grilled eggplant is a great side dish for tortellini and perfect for when you want to incorporate some vegetables into the plate.

However, these delicious eggplants are not your average grilled eggplant.

They are well seasoned before being grilled and are made better with a topping of chimichurri sauce, which gives them a fresh herbaceous flavor that is out of this world amazing.

Calories Per Serving: 195

Preparation Time: 40 Minutes

15. Sauteed Spinach

Looking for a side dish rich with fiber and nutrients and easy to make? Sauteed spinach might just be what you need.

Fragrant and perfectly wilted, this sauteed spinach features a mix of lemon, garlic, pepper, and olive oil. It has a rich taste that is sure to make any serving of tortellini taste way better.

Calories Per Serving: 94

Preparation Time: 10 Minutes

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16. Halloumi Kebabs

Want to serve your tortellini with some meaty protein but limited by your vegetarian diet? Well, halloumi kebabs might just be what you need.

Equal parts, smokey and flavorful, these kebabs feature halloumi cheese, zucchinis, mushroom, onions, and pepper, all loaded on skewer sticks and grilled to perfection.

Calories Per Serving: 306

Preparation Time: 1 Hour 10 Minutes

17. Roasted Sugar Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas are an easy vegetable side dish that people often don’t find all that tasty, but roast them with some garlic powder, olive oil, and thyme, and you’ll be stunned by how delicious they turn out.

Although they are not often easily found throughout the year, these sugar snap peas are perfect for the summer or spring when they are in season and much easier to find.

Calories Per Serving: 224

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

18. Prosciutto-Wrapped Glazed Shrimp

Prosciutto is a salty Italian cured meat that often comes in light, thin slices, and when wrapped around shrimp and grilled, the resulting product is a tender and crispy combination that is seriously super addictive.

These prosciutto-wrapped shrimp are elevated by a sweet and spicy apricot pepper glaze that is sure to be a favorite with fans of spicy food.

Calories Per Serving: 385

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

19. Shrimp Scampi

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Shrimp scampi is an easy dish with a decadent lemon butter sauce that elevates anything it is served with.

If you’re a fan of shrimp, a scoop of this delicious shrimp over your tortellini will surely have you beaming with satisfaction once you get a taste.

All you’ll need for this incredible shrimp scampi is a combination of olive oil, butter, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, white wine, pepper, and shrimp.

Calories Per Serving: 352

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes

20. Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Brussel sprouts are a flavorful and healthy side dish perfect for days when you’re in a rush and need something quick and hassle-free.

All you’ll need are Brussel sprouts, black pepper, and freshly made garlic butter, and in less than one hour, you have a delicious vegetable side dish ready to delight the palate.

Calories Per Serving: 119

Preparation Time: 35 Minutes

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21. Homemade Crostini

If you’re cooking your tortellini in a rich sauce, then a side of crisp crostinis is the perfect way to mop up that delicious sauce.

These crostinis are probably the easiest and most stress-free side dish you can make, all they require are sliced baguettes coated with olive oil and salt and baked till crispy and brown.

Calories Per Serving: 30

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

22. Caesar Salad

If you want to make a filling meal out of your tortellini for dinner, then serving them with a caesar salad is a surefire way of satisfying your stomach.

Of course, you’ll also feel like you’ve just been to an Italian restaurant after having this rich salad.

It is a crisp and crunchy salad featuring lettuce, croutons, parmesan cheese, and flavor-filled caesar salad dressing.

Calories Per Serving: 245

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

23. Garlic Honey Roasted Carrots

Carrots always make a great pairing for almost any dish, and these roasted carrots, with their tender texture and mouth watering sauce, are one side dish you’ll never want to stop eating once you serve them with tortellini.

They are really easy to whip up as all you’ll need is a combination of carrots, garlic, honey, pepper, and loads of butter.

Calories Per Serving: 231

Preparation Time: 25 Minutes

24. Roasted Olives, Feta, And Garlic

Although they seem basic and simple, you could easily turn a serving of tortellini into a fancy meal worthy of date night by incorporating some rich Mediterranean flavors into it.

The perfect way to do that? A serving of these roasted olives, feta, and garlic.

This dish is quite easy to make and only requires a few basic ingredients: feta cheese, olives, garlic, oregano, and olive oil.

Calories Per Serving: 466

Preparation Time: 20 Minutes

RELATED: 31 Italian Side Dishes To Compliment Your Main Course

25. Green Cabbage Cucumber Salad

If you’re a fan of cool refreshing cucumbers and looking for an affordable side dish to serve with tortellini, this green cabbage and cucumber salad might just be your new go-to dish.

It is a flavorful salad with a nice crunch and lovely taste that comes from a combination of cucumbers, cabbage, onions, dill, and a sunflower- vinegar dressing.

Calories Per Serving: 71

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Tortellini Filled With?

Tortellini are traditionally filled with ricotta cheese, but these days, there are many variations with a variety of fillings.

Hence, you might find many tortellini filled with meats, sausage, spinach, mushrooms, and other cheese like parmesan or pecorino romano.

Can You Eat Tortellini On Its Own?

You can absolutely eat tortellini on their own, but you may find it much more enjoyable to have them in some kind of sauce.

You can toss them in any rich, creamy sauce. A simple rich classic sauce you can cook in is a marinara sauce with some tomatoes and cheese.

Does Tortellini Need To Be Cooked?

Tortellini does need to be cooked before you can eat it.

If you are planning to combine the tortellini with a sauce, however, you may not need to cook it as you can just toss it into the sauce towards the end, and that will get it cooked without leaving it mushy.

If you are going to cook the tortellini, make sure to only do so for about 5 minutes to ensure they don’t get too mushy.