Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned classic BLT Sandwich!?! It’s such a super tasty sandwich made with layers of crispy bacon, lettuce, and tomato all sandwiched between some toasted bread coated in mayo. But what if you took the core of a BLT and transformed it into a delicious pasta salad!?! That my friends is exactly what we are doing here today! Introducing the BLT pasta salad! It’s made with just a handful of ingredients including bacon, lettuce, and tomato, just like the sandwich. But this recipe calls for some pasta instead of toasted bread and some creamy ranch dressing instead of mayo! And for a little extra yumminess, some parmesan cheese has been added to the mix. So you’re basically just tossing the layers of a BLT together with some pasta! And let’s face it, crispy bacon just makes everything taste better! In fact, my German Potato Salad is another one of my favorites that is loaded with bacon. So give this BLT pasta salad recipe a try at your next BBQ and let me know what you think! It is amazing when paired with my Grilled Chicken Breast recipe.
Pasta – I used fusilli pasta but any shape of small-size pasta will work including gluten-free varieties. Some other good options are rotini, farfalle, elbow macaroni, or rigatoni. Bacon – You will need some already cooked crispy crumbled bacon. Feel free to use any kind of bacon you like including turkey bacon slices. And this recipe is a great excuse to give my Air Fryer Bacon a whirl! Cherry Tomatoes – I like to use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. Yet, you can also use chopped tomatoes if that’s all you’ve got on hand. As long as they are fresh! Romaine Lettuce – Most types of lettuce tend to get really limp when tossed with dressing, but romaine stays nice and crispy. This makes it perfect for pasta salad! Iceberg lettuce is the next best option. Ranch Dressing – Any store-bought bottled ranch dressing will do the trick! Or, you can make your own homemade ranch dressing! And if you don’t have any ranch, just use mayonnaise with the addition of a few dried herbs and a pinch of lemon juice. Parmesan Cheese – Adds some cheesy goodness to the dish. You can also use other types of cheese like cheddar cheese if you prefer.
This amazing pasta salad layered with flavor is quite easy to make! Once you cook the pasta all you have to do is toss everything together in some herby ranch and serve! To make pasta salad you need pasta! So bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Then add the fusilli and cook it to al dente according to the instructions on the package. Then when it’s done, immediately drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it with cold water to stop it from continuing to cook. After the pasta is cooked, put it in a large bowl. Next, add the cooked bacon, cherry tomatoes, and romaine lettuce to the bowl and toss everything together until it’s evenly distributed. Then pour the ranch dressing over the pasta mixture followed by the grated parmesan cheese. Now, toss the salad together until it’s fully coated in the dressing. Once the salad is made, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then put it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour. This gives all the flavors some time to meld together. Then serve the BLT pasta salad with some freshly ground black pepper if you like and enjoy!
Storage
This BLT pasta salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container! In fact, this salad is sometimes even better the next day, which means it’s a perfect make-ahead side dish. However, pasta salad does not keep well in the freezer.
Other Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love
Italian Pasta Salad – This vibrant and hearty salad is a medley of al dente pasta, tangy olives, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and salami, all tossed together in a rich Italian dressing. It’s a feast of flavors and textures that embodies the spirit of Italian cuisine! Greek Pasta Salad – A refreshing pasta salad that combines the robust flavors of Greece. It features pasta, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, crunchy red onions, and feta cheese, all coated in a zesty homemade Greek dressing. Taco Pasta Salad – This fun twist on a classic pasta salad brings together the comforting flavors of tacos. It’s loaded with pasta, seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cheese, all tossed in a creamy taco-inspired dressing. Perfect for when you can’t decide between tacos and pasta! Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad – This hearty and creamy pasta salad is a crowd pleaser. With tender pasta, juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies all tossed in a creamy Ranch dressing, it’s a satisfying meal that’s sure to impress. Asparagus and Peas Pasta Salad – A fresh and vibrant pasta salad that celebrates the flavors of spring. It features tender pasta, crisp asparagus, sweet peas, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect light and refreshing side dish! Antipasto Salad – This is a robust and hearty salad filled with the flavors of Italy. Combining salami, provolone, olives, artichokes, tomatoes, and pepperoncini with pasta, this salad is tossed in a flavorful Italian vinaigrette. It’s like having an antipasto platter in a bowl!
title: “Blt Pasta Salad” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-12” author: “Kristy Rosales”
Be sure to try my Egg Salad, Potato Salad, Tuna Salad, and Italian Pasta Salad recipes next!
BLT Pasta Salad
When it comes to summer recipes, you can’t beat a classic pasta salad, and I love the simplicity of this BLT Pasta Salad. It’s so easy to make, and it’s loaded with flavor from crispy thick-cut bacon, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and perfectly cooked pasta tossed in creamy ranch dressing. These are all of the fresh flavors of summer in a single side dish! I love using Ranch seasoning combined with sour cream and milk for the dressing. I find it much tastier than bottled Ranch dressing, and the personal bonus for me is that there’s no mayo! 😁
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions. Fry the bacon slowly over low heat until crispy on each side. Set aside and chop once cooled. Meanwhile, cook pasta to al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little olive oil, let cool. Toss with 1/2 cup Ranch dressing.
Add the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ¾ of the bacon, another ½ cup Ranch dressing, and BBQ sauce. Toss to coat evenly. Top with remaining bacon and serve!
Make Ahead Method
This pasta salad can be assembled 3 hours ahead of time. Note: The pasta will absorb some of the dressing during this time, so you may need to add more prior to serving. This recipe leaves you with an extra cup of dressing so that you can adjust it to your needs! To make this up to 12 hours beforehand: Prepare the Dressing and refrigerate. Cook the bacon and chop it up. Store in an airtight container until ready to use. Cook the pasta, let it cool, and toss with some of the dressing. Refrigerate in an airtight container overnight. Store the cleaned/cut lettuce in a freezer bag with the air sealed out. Dice the onions and store in an airtight container. Combine all prepared ingredients within 3 hours of serving.
Tips for the Pasta:
Be sure to use a timer when you boil your pasta to ensure that you don’t overcook it. I like to cook it for 30 seconds less than al dente, as it cools gradually, during which time it finishes cooking. Salt the pasta water well to ensure that the pasta itself has plenty of flavor. I use 2 tbsp. kosher salt. Don’t rinse your pasta with cool water after it’s drained. Drizzle it with a little olive oil and let it cool on parchment paper or a tray on the counter. The starch on the pasta helps it cling onto the dressing. Other pasta options include rotini and penne.
Storage
Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Note that the consistency is ideal when served fresh.
Try These Next
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Salad Spinner Pasta Strainer– This is the one I use, it’s the perfect size. Cutting Boards My Favorite Chef Knife Glass Serving Bowl
