BLT Pasta Salad

Everything you love about a BLT sandwich tossed with pasta and a creamy dressing you will want to drink.

Why This BLT Pasta Salad Works

The key is building flavor in layers. Starting with aromatics, adding the star ingredients at the right moment, and finishing with starchy pasta water creates a sauce that clings to every strand. Simple techniques, big payoff.

Crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce work just as well in a pasta salad as they do between two slices of bread. The creamy ranch-mayo dressing coats every noodle and ties the whole thing together. This bacon pasta salad is a keeper.

Cook your pasta and crisp up that bacon. Let’s make it together.

Ingredients

BLT Pasta Salad

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Optional add-ins:

• Diced avocado
• Shredded cheddar
• Croutons
• Hard-boiled egg

How to Make BLT Pasta Salad

1. Boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Let it cool completely.
2. Crisp. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Mix. Whisk together mayonnaise, ranch dressing, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
4. Toss. Combine cooled pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, and romaine in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss until everything is coated. Serve chilled.

Tips for the Best BLT Pasta Salad

• Rinse the pasta under cold water after cooking. It stops the cooking and cools it fast for a cold salad.
• Cook the bacon until really crispy. Chewy bacon gets lost in the salad.
• Add the lettuce right before serving so it stays crunchy.
• This salad tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for an hour.
• If it seems dry after chilling, add a splash of lemon juice and a tablespoon of mayo.

Fun Variations to Try

• Add diced avocado for a creamy element.
• Use turkey bacon for a lighter version.
• Swap ranch for a basil pesto dressing.
• Add corn and black beans for a Southwest BLT salad.
• Use grape tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes for a different tomato flavor.

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• Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
• Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl
• Crispy Chicken Sandwich

BLT Pasta Salad

A delicious homemade blt pasta salad recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: American

Calories: 320

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• 8 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and chopped
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method

 

1. Boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Let it cool completely.
2. Crisp. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Chop into bite-sized pieces.
3. Mix. Whisk together mayonnaise, ranch dressing, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
4. Toss. Combine cooled pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, and romaine in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over and toss until everything is coated. Serve chilled.

Notes

Rinse the pasta under cold water after cooking. It stops the cooking and cools it fast for a cold salad. Cook the bacon until really crispy. Chewy bacon gets lost in the salad. Add the lettuce right before serving so it stays crunchy.

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