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    Foody Schmoody Blog Recipes For Everyone » All Recipes

    Published: Apr 4, 2016 · Modified: Dec 30, 2022 by foodyschmoody ·

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

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    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers - Tortellini is tossed in pesto and skewered with sun-dried tomatoes for an easy and delicious appetizer.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    Click here for my Nut Free Pesto Sauce recipe!

    I am a firm believer that food on a stick is much tastier than food not on a stick.

    This pasta appetizer can be made hours or even a day ahead of time, making it a great option for events or holiday appetizers.

    You can add more ingredients to this recipe if you want but if you keep it as is, all you will need is refrigerated tortellini, pesto sauce and sun-dried tomatoes.

    Some good additions to the tortellini skewers would be mozzarella, pepperoni, roasted red pepper and fresh basil.

    I have also been known to drizzle a bit of balsamic glaze over the top when serving.

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    The inspiration for this tortellini appetizer came from this recipe I saw on Taste of Home.

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    TIP: A friend of mine recently revealed to me that she skips the skewers and just combines all the ingredients with a little parmesan cheese in a bowl and eats it for dinner - GENIUS!

    The reason I use the fresh, refrigerated tortellini (usually found by the fancy cheese or prepared foods in the grocery store) is because it cooks quickly and I find that the dried or frozen become very delicate and can fall apart if overcooked.

    However, I know that fresh pasta can be pricey and I'm happy to report that I've had several readers tell me they've used frozen with good result.

    I like to use the package of tortellini that combines the green and white. I think this is especially pretty when serving as a Christmas appetizer but you can choose whichever variety of tortellini you like.

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    Because these Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers are delicious both chilled and at room temperature they are a fabulous choice for potlucks, BBQ's or brunches.

    If you love tortellini as much as I do then you might want to check out a few of my other favorite tortellini recipes.

    • Lemon Garlic Tortellini Pasta Salad With Artichokes
    • Instant Pot Sausage Tortellini Soup in Bowl
      Instant Pot Sausage Tortellini Soup
    • ground beef tortellini cooked in pan with serving spoon and cheese dripping
      One Pot Tortellini and Ground Beef Casserole
    • No Boil Baked Tortellini
      No Boil Baked Tortellini with Chicken Sausage

    Printable Recipe Card

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    Easy Pesto Tortellini Skewers

    Christine
    A fun and delicious appetizer, these easy pesto tortellini skewers only require three ingredients and can be prepared ahead of time.
    4.18 from 313 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 8 minutes mins
    Total Time 18 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 18 people
    Calories 141 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 ounces Tortellini refrigerated (regular & spinach mix preferred but any variety will work)
    • ½ cup Pesto prepared
    • 4 ounces Sun Dried Tomatoes packed in oil, Julienned
    • Small Skewers

    Instructions
     

    • Cook tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and place either back in pan or in a large bowl.
    • Stir pesto into tortellini to coat evenly.
    • Drain liquid from sun dried tomatoes and place in small bowl.
    • Skewer one tortellini followed by a strip of tomato then one more tortellini and one more tomato.
    • Refrigerate until serving.

    Notes

    If using a combination of spinach and regular tortellini, alternate so each skewer has one of each. The color combination will make for a beautiful combination.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 6gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 208mgPotassium: 216mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 194IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword holiday appetizer, pasta, pasta appetizer, pesto tortellini
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.18 from 313 votes (297 ratings without comment)

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    1. Debra @ Bowl Me over says

      April 04, 2016 at 10:49 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect party food - easy too - love that!!!

      Reply
    2. Angela says

      April 05, 2016 at 11:08 am

      5 stars
      This is genius! So simple but great flavor and so darn pretty too!

      Reply
    3. nancy@skinnykitchen.com says

      April 05, 2016 at 11:05 am

      What a yummy idea, Christine!

      Reply
    4. April J Harris says

      April 05, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea, Christine! they are my kind of appetizer!

      Reply
    5. Eileen Kelly says

      April 05, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness! I am an appetizer gal and you have made my day! These look delicious. I love that they can be at room temperature. This will be pinned, prepped and made asap!

      Reply
    6. jamie says

      April 05, 2016 at 2:05 pm

      I always keep a huge bag of tortellini in the freezer for quick meals. Love finding new ways to use them!

      Reply
    7. Aeryn Lynne says

      April 05, 2016 at 2:25 pm

      Awwwh, those are the cutest skewers I've seen in a while. Never thought of adding pasta to one before, what an awesome idea! Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂

      Reply
    8. Liz Mays says

      April 05, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      You don't even know how much I love pesto. These look wonderful! Incidentally, I had tortellini for lunch!

      Reply
    9. linda spiker says

      April 05, 2016 at 11:04 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this idea!

      Reply
    10. Jennifer says

      April 06, 2016 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      I have a wedding I have to cater soon and those look so good and super easy to prepare!

      Reply
    11. Patty Haxton Anderson says

      April 07, 2016 at 6:48 am

      I love these appetizers. What a great treat for the guests.

      Reply
    12. Manju | Cooking Curries says

      April 10, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      I love tortellini skewers for apps. I make them with olives and fermented feta! This is a great combo too.

      Reply
    13. Alana says

      May 31, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      How many skewers does this make?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        May 31, 2016 at 1:50 pm

        I don't have an exact number of skewers. That being said, I just looked back at my photos and it looks like there are just over 40 skewers on the platter. My husband picked on some before the photos were shot and some tortellini got torn during cooking so I would say at least 50. I used the Buitoni brand of refrigerated tortellini if that helps to keep the number similar.

        Reply
    14. Stacia says

      July 25, 2016 at 9:24 am

      5 stars
      What a tasty treat! My family loved these at the family picnic. For the kids I left out the sun dried tomatoes but for the adults, I used aleady julienned dried sundried tomatoes. They are easy to assemble. I used a bit more pesto (and make sure you buy one you really like) but my family really likes sauce. The overall idea was a hit and already these have been requested for our family pasta night (along with the idea of serving room temp tortellini on skewers with small crockpots of different sauce to dip them in). Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        July 25, 2016 at 9:39 am

        Oh great! I'm so glad this recipe worked for your picnic! I agree, make sure you buy a GOOD pesto. There are lots that are lousy. I prefer the ones that are sold by the refrigerated pastas or a homemade version. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know your experience with this recipe! I must say, it has quickly become one of my most popular recipes! You've officially made my day today!

        Reply
    15. Cat says

      November 30, 2016 at 10:42 pm

      Can these be made the day before and refrigerated?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        December 01, 2016 at 7:47 pm

        I have only made them several hours in advance. Perhaps keep a little pesto on the side and if they seem dry, pour a little extra pesto on top.

        Reply
    16. Ashley says

      December 16, 2016 at 3:35 pm

      4 stars
      Accidentally bought Roasted Red Peppers and they worked really well with the recipe too! Can't wait to try with the tomatoes though! or maybe a combo of both 🙂

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        December 16, 2016 at 4:03 pm

        I like the red pepper twist!

        Reply
    17. Katrina Lofgreen says

      December 22, 2016 at 1:00 pm

      5 stars
      Hi! Are these served cold, room temp, warm? I was a bit confused on that!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        December 22, 2016 at 2:53 pm

        Sorry about the confusion. So, the beauty of these is that they can be served pretty much at any temp. I, however, think the best way is at room temperature.

        Reply
    18. Maureen says

      January 05, 2017 at 2:10 am

      These look great! Can you please tell me if you used 4" skewers or 6"? Thank you.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 05, 2017 at 12:55 pm

        Oh Maureen, I wish I had the definitive answer for you. I don't have any skewers on hand to measure. If I had to guess, I would say the 4 inch. The tortellini took up most of the space on the skewer, leaving just enough room to hold the skewer.

        Reply
    19. Anna says

      January 06, 2017 at 3:54 pm

      I'm planning on making some apps for my wedding this summer.. woman on a budget! I'm wondering if I make these on a Thursday, will they stay good and tasty and not dried out if I am serving on Saturday?
      Any other ideas of things that could be made on Thursday for Saturday consumption would be appreciated, thank you!!! (Keeping on a budget and serving about 100 people)

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 06, 2017 at 4:26 pm

        I would be very nervous to let it sit for that long. I'd be afraid of the tortellini drying out. As far as other ideas, are you looking for finger foods? I have this recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Wraps that can easily be converted into sliders. You could make the chicken ahead and then reheat it the day of and make the sliders or allow others to make the sliders themselves?

        Reply
        • Anna says

          January 06, 2017 at 4:29 pm

          Ah, I should have mentioned I won't have re-heat abilities on the day-of. Rats!
          That said, I may just have all the ingredients ready and ask some friends to put these tortellini bites together on the Saturday morning so they are ready for the evening 🙂

          Reply
          • foodyschmoody says

            January 06, 2017 at 4:40 pm

            Ah! Yes, it's YOUR day, make your friends do the work! 🙂

            Reply
    20. Jamie says

      May 20, 2017 at 12:07 pm

      Hi if I make them this evening for a lunchte party tomorrow, do you think that they will be fine!? Should I refrigerate over night!?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        May 21, 2017 at 8:45 pm

        I would be afraid of them sticking. If you do it, I would suggest, at least doubling the pesto, or adding olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking.

        Reply
    21. lex says

      June 19, 2017 at 11:29 am

      I can you use no-refrigerated tortellini?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        June 19, 2017 at 12:46 pm

        In my experience dry tortellini and/or frozen tortellini doesn't hold it's shape as well as the fresh, refrigerated varieties. If you have a really great brand that holds together well, by all means go for it.

        Reply
    22. Mary Beth says

      May 02, 2018 at 10:15 pm

      Going to make these this weekend for a camping outing where we all bring appitzers....... cooked tortellini this evening. Let them cool completely and refrigerated so they are ready to assemble. Can’t wait!

      Reply
    23. Jeanette Hartman says

      June 06, 2018 at 4:32 pm

      Mine turned out too dry. Perhaps if I would have cooled the cooked pasta before mixing with the pesto, they would have turned out better. Thoughts?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        June 08, 2018 at 7:57 am

        Hmmm, I'm not sure. I didn't have an issue w/ it being too dry. I haven't had any others either. I'm not sure what could have gone wrong. Did you use the amount of pesto listed in the recipe?

        Reply
    24. Debbi says

      March 14, 2019 at 7:40 pm

      5 stars
      I have taken these to several gatherings and they are ALWAYS a hit!!!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        March 15, 2019 at 8:39 pm

        🙂

        Reply
    25. Deborah Dewalt says

      December 24, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      This site showed an olive cheese bread with a section of Italian appetizers. This recipe is not linked with the picture. Can anyone tell me how to find this recipe?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        December 26, 2019 at 10:59 am

        I don't have a recipe for an olive cheese bread. Were you directed here from another site perhaps? I'm wondering if another site had a collection of recipes and mine was improperly linked by them?

        Reply
    26. Vicki says

      January 04, 2020 at 11:23 pm

      I just bought the ingredients to make these tomorrow for a lunch potluck. Do I need to refrigerate these after making, or can I make them and then take them directly to potluck? Thanks!

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        January 05, 2020 at 10:29 am

        You can take them directly to the potluck!

        Reply
    27. Ashley says

      September 28, 2020 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      Hello and thank you for this recipe. I made this for my wedding reception. (We had a party at our house for our wedding reception) These were a big hit! People loved them. I did as well, they were delicious.

      Also wanted to comment on a question I seen a few ask about making them a night before. I made these the night before and had them in the fridge and they still tasted fine. No sticking because of the oil in the pesto sauce.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        September 28, 2020 at 12:53 pm

        First off, congratulations!!!! Less importantly, thanks so much for letting me know your experience, it really means a lot to me!

        Reply
    28. Jennifer says

      June 02, 2022 at 12:54 am

      I know boxed/dried tortellini wouldn't be a good choice, but would frozen work? It's half the price of the fresh. However, it's for a party so don't want to goof up the batch.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        June 10, 2022 at 10:24 am

        I can't say as I use fresh. My advice would be to keep a very close eye on it and don't let it overcook one bit. Maybe pull it from the heat a minute or two sooner than you typically would so it can hold it's shape better. Please let me know how it works out for you.

        Reply
    29. Hopefull1 says

      November 19, 2022 at 8:57 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy
      Couldn’t find refrigerated tortellini~ bought frozen and cooked to ‘just done’ the night before- which would still work… but maybe don’t add the pesto that early, as they were slightly dry. I stacked my skewers double. And pulled the few leftovers back off the skewers to heat with torn arugula and a shake of shaved pecorino s for dinner the following evening..

      A

      Reply
    30. Karen says

      December 24, 2022 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      This was a simple recipe to prepare since it only required a few ingredients. I followed the recipe exactly using refrigerated spinach/regular tortellini (boiled 7 minutes) and added a small cube of mozzarella cheese to my skewers. Looked beautiful on a Christmas platter with colored cocktail picks. The flavor was terrific, and I will be making these again!

      Reply
    31. Laurie says

      June 23, 2023 at 9:02 pm

      This recipe looks amazing! Do you know of a good nut free pesto?

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        June 27, 2023 at 12:47 pm

        I typically make my own https://foodyschmoodyblog.com/nut-free-pesto-sauce/
        I have purchased at the grocery store but the brand name is escaping me.

        Reply
    32. foodyschmoody says

      May 24, 2024 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      I made these again with my homemade pesto and they're amazing. Thanks for all your support and I hope you like them as much as I do everyone!

      Reply
    33. Jbrown says

      August 04, 2024 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      This pesto tortellini skewers recipe was easy to make and everyone seemed to love it at a neighborhood party. I'll be saving this recipe.
      I couldn't find medium length skewers so I used party toothpicks, and I didn't like how they wanted to turn every which direction. So I took a paper plate upside down and poked holes in it, and then put the end of each skewer into the holes so the little party handle stuck up in the air and they stayed nice and orderly. I put red grapes around the outside and put the whole thing in a decorative large serving tray. It looked very nice and was delicious.
      I would have liked to have posted the picture but this site only allows comments.

      Reply
      • foodyschmoody says

        August 05, 2024 at 8:45 am

        Sounds great the way you presented! If you feel up to it, you can email me a pic to recipes@foodyschmoodyblog.com and I'll share it on social media!

        Reply

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