Name: Hot Honey Tortellini Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 32 oz tortellini, cooked; 4 oz prosciutto; 8 oz pearl mozzarella balls; 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained; 3 small peaches, diced into small chunks; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; ½ cup fresh basil, chopped; ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; ⅓ cup hot honey; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

1 Shares

Jump to Recipe

Every summer gathering needs a pasta salad that makes people stop and look before they even taste it — the kind that draws people in from across the table before anything is even explained. Hot Honey Tortellini Pasta Salad is exactly that dish. Cheesy tortellini, torn prosciutto, pearl mozzarella, sweet corn, juicy peaches, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil all tossed in a hot honey Dijon vinaigrette that is sweet, spicy, tangy, and garlicky all at once. It is colorful, vibrant, and bold in a way that makes it genuinely unforgettable.

Ready in 20 minutes and impressive enough for any occasion — this is the pasta salad that earns you the most requests of any dish you make all summer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

That hot honey dressing is genuinely extraordinary — Sweet, spicy, tangy, and garlicky all at once, it is the kind of dressing that makes people pour it over everything they can reach after tasting it for the first time.
Peaches and prosciutto are a summer power couple — Sweet ripe peaches and salty, silky prosciutto together in one salad is a combination that feels elevated and thoughtful without requiring any extra effort.
Feeds a crowd effortlessly — This recipe makes 8–10 generous servings and scales up beautifully, making it the ideal potluck, BBQ, and family gathering dish.
Ready in 20 minutes — Beyond cooking the tortellini, the entire salad comes together in minutes with zero cooking and one bowl.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Salad:

32 oz tortellini, cooked
4 oz prosciutto
8 oz pearl mozzarella balls
1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
3 small peaches, diced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup fresh basil, chopped

For the Hot Honey Dijon Dressing:

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
⅓ cup hot honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.

Let’s Get Started

Cook and cool the tortellini. Cook the tortellini in a large pot of well-salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente — tender but with a slight bite remaining. Drain immediately and rinse thoroughly under cold running water until the tortellini is completely cooled to the touch. This rinsing stops the cooking process, removes excess surface starch that would make the pieces stick together, and ensures the tortellini enters the salad at the right temperature. Spread on a baking sheet to finish cooling and drying while you prepare everything else.
Make the hot honey dressing. Combine the olive oil, hot honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a jar or bowl and whisk vigorously until the dressing is fully emulsified, glossy, and smooth. The Dijon acts as an emulsifier that holds the olive oil and vinegar together — make sure to whisk well enough that no separation is visible. Taste it — the heat level of hot honey varies significantly between brands, so taste and decide whether you want more heat before adding the full amount to the salad. Set aside.
Prep the prosciutto. Take the prosciutto slices and tear or roughly cut them into irregular bite-sized pieces. Irregular pieces look more natural and appealing in the finished salad than uniform cuts and the slightly crispy, folded edges of torn prosciutto add a wonderful textural variation throughout the bowl.
Dice the peaches. Cut the peaches into small, even chunks — approximately ½ inch pieces work beautifully as they nestle between the tortellini and other components without overwhelming any single bite. Use the ripest, sweetest peaches available — the peach sweetness plays a critical role in balancing the heat of the hot honey dressing and an under-ripe peach will leave the salad feeling unbalanced.
Combine the salad. Add the completely cooled tortellini to a large mixing bowl. Add the torn prosciutto, pearl mozzarella balls, drained corn, diced peaches, and halved cherry tomatoes. Pour the hot honey dressing over everything and toss gently but thoroughly — tortellini is delicate and aggressive tossing can break the edges. Make sure the dressing reaches every component in the bowl rather than pooling at the bottom.
Add the basil and serve. Scatter the fresh basil over the dressed salad and toss once more gently. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and crispest textures, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving — the brief rest allows the dressing to penetrate the tortellini and the flavors to meld beautifully.

Servings and Pairing

This recipe serves 8–10 as a side dish or 6 as a standalone meal. Hot Honey Tortellini Pasta Salad pairs beautifully alongside grilled chicken, smoked ribs, burgers, or a charcuterie board for a complete summer spread. For a lighter meal, serve as a standalone bowl with extra fresh basil and a drizzle of additional hot honey over the top.

Variations

Arugula Version

Add 2 cups of fresh arugula to the salad just before serving for a peppery, slightly bitter green element that contrasts beautifully with the sweet hot honey dressing and rich mozzarella. The arugula wilts slightly in the dressing and adds a wonderful freshness to every bite.

Grilled Peach Version

Halve the peaches and grill them cut-side down over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes until they develop beautiful char marks and their sugars caramelize. Dice and add to the salad — grilled peaches bring a smoky sweetness that makes the whole dish taste more complex and summery.

Vegetarian Version

Simply omit the prosciutto and add an extra 4 oz of pearl mozzarella and a handful of toasted pine nuts for texture and richness. The hot honey dressing and fresh peaches carry so much flavor that the salad remains deeply satisfying and complete without the cured meat.

Storage Tips

Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. The tortellini absorbs the dressing over time and the salad becomes more intensely flavored — add a drizzle of fresh olive oil and a squeeze of lemon when serving leftovers to brighten it back up.
Make ahead: Prepare the dressing and cook the tortellini up to 24 hours in advance, storing separately. Combine with remaining fresh ingredients and dress within 30 minutes of serving for the best texture and the freshest peach and basil flavor.
Peaches and basil: For the best result when making ahead, add the diced peaches and fresh basil only at serving time — peaches release juice that dilutes the dressing over time and basil turns dark and wilted within hours of being dressed.

FAQs

Can I use frozen tortellini instead of refrigerated?

Yes — cook frozen tortellini according to package directions, which typically requires a slightly longer boil time than refrigerated. The finished texture and flavor are very similar. Rinse and cool completely before dressing exactly as directed — the rest of the recipe proceeds identically regardless of which type you use.

What can I substitute for hot honey?

If you do not have hot honey, whisk regular honey with ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to taste — the result is very similar and works just as well in the dressing. Alternatively, use regular honey for a sweeter, milder dressing that still pairs beautifully with all the other components in the salad.

Can I use a different fruit instead of peaches?

Fresh nectarines are the closest substitute and work seamlessly in the same quantities. Ripe mango adds a tropical sweetness that is excellent with the hot honey dressing. Fresh strawberries halved and added just before serving create a beautiful berry version that is particularly vibrant and colorful in the finished bowl.

Final Thoughts

Hot Honey Tortellini Pasta Salad is the summer recipe that earns its reputation from the very first potluck it shows up at — stunning to look at, bold and exciting to eat, and easy enough to put together in 20 minutes without breaking a sweat. Sweet peaches, salty prosciutto, creamy mozzarella, and that extraordinary hot honey dressing make every single bowl a genuinely memorable experience. Make it once this summer and prepare to bring it to absolutely everything for the rest of the season!