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Delicious BLT Pasta Salad Recipe for Summer BBQs

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Discover our easy and delicious BLT Pasta Salad recipe! This salad is perfect for summer gatherings and features crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a tangy dressing. It is ideal for picnics, potlucks, and family dinners. Ready in just 30 minutes!

BLT-Pasta-Salad

This delightful recipe combines the classic flavors of a BLT sandwich with the satisfying texture of pasta, creating a dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a simple family dinner.

This salad is flavorful and easy to prepare with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and a tangy dressing. Whether you’re hosting a barbecue or looking for a quick weeknight meal, our BLT Pasta Salad will quickly become a favorite.

BLT-Salad-on-fork

Ingredients for BLT Pasta Salad

  • 16 oz pasta cooked
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce
  • 4 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 10 slices of crumbled bacon
  • 4 oz cheddar cheese cubes

BLT Pasta Salad Dressing ingredients

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise 
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup creamy homemade ranch dressing Or store-bought.
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

  • Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, mix together all the dressing ingredients until creamy and smooth.
  • Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to cool it down quickly.
  • Assemble the Salad:
  • Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces.
  • Tomatoes: Slice the fresh cherry tomatoes in half.
  • Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh lettuce.
  • Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and mix well to ensure everything is evenly coated.
  • Mix-the-dressing-ingredients
  • add-blt-salad-ingredients-in-large-bowl.
  • add-dressing-to-the-salad.

Tips & Tricks

  • Use High-Quality Ingredients: Opt for fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Crisp lettuce, ripe cherry tomatoes, and thick-cut bacon can make a big difference.
  • Cook Pasta Just Right: Be sure to cook the pasta until it is al dente. Overcooked pasta can become mushy when mixed with the dressing.
  • Chill Your Ingredients: For a refreshing salad, ensure all ingredients are well-chilled before mixing. This includes rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking.
  • Crispy Bacon: For the crispiest bacon, cook it on a wire rack placed over a baking sheet in the oven. This method allows the fat to drip away, resulting in perfectly crisp bacon.
  • Dress Just Before Serving: To keep the lettuce crisp, add the dressing just before serving. This prevents the lettuce from wilting and keeps the salad fresh.
  • Customize Your Dressing: Feel free to adjust the dressing to your taste. Adding a bit of lemon juice or a dash of hot sauce can give it a unique twist.
  • Make Ahead: You can prepare the components of the salad (cook the pasta, prepare the dressing, cook and crumble the bacon) ahead of time. Store them separately in the fridge and combine just before serving.
  • Add Avocado: For an extra creamy and nutritious touch, add diced avocado just before serving.
  • Experiment with Greens: If you want to switch things up, try using different greens like arugula, spinach, or mixed baby greens instead of traditional lettuce.
bacon-lettuce-tomato-salad

More Summer Salads

BLT-Pasta-Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Yield: 1 pound
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

BLT pasta salad combines bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and pasta with a creamy homemade dressing that is the perfect dish to serve all summer long.

Ingredients

  • 16 oz bowtie pasta cooked
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce
  • 4 oz cherry tomatoes
  • 10 slices crumbled bacon
  • 4 oz cheddar cheese cubes

dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise 
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup creamy ranch dressing
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dressing: In a medium bowl, mix together all the dressing ingredients until creamy and smooth.
  2. Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to cool it down quickly.
  3. Assemble the Salad:
  4. Bacon: Cook the bacon until crispy, then crumble it into small pieces.
  5. Tomatoes: Slice the fresh cherry tomatoes in half.
  6. Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh lettuce.
  7. Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and mix well to ensure everything is evenly coated.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 325Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 451mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 10g

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© Adventures of a Nurse
Cuisine: American / Category: Salads

FAQs about BLT Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad is a delightful and refreshing dish that combines the beloved flavors of a classic BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) sandwich with the satisfying texture of pasta. This salad typically features cooked pasta, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomatoes, all tossed together with a creamy dressing.

Short pasta shapes that hold the dressing well are ideal. Some great options include rotini, penne, bow tie pasta (farfalle), and fusilli. These shapes have plenty of surface area and crevices to catch the dressing and other ingredients.

Store BLT Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. If you anticipate leftovers, consider keeping the dressing separate and adding it just before serving to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.

Yes, you can prepare the individual components (cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, sliced tomatoes, and dressing) ahead of time and store them separately in the refrigerator. Combine everything and add the dressing just before serving for the freshest taste.

Store BLT Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days.

Yes, feel free to customize your salad by adding other vegetables such as diced bell peppers, cucumbers, red onions, or avocados. These additions can enhance the flavor and nutritional value of the salad.

While the classic BLT Pasta Salad uses a creamy dressing, you can experiment with other types of dressings like a balsamic vinaigrette, ranch, or even a light lemon and olive oil dressing.

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Welcome to the place where my two passions—healthcare and culinary arts—merge. I’m Carla Bushey, and I’ve transitioned from a dedicated nursing career of over 25 years into the dynamic world of food blogging. This space is dedicated to bringing you a treasure trove of recipes, each a testament to the tastes and traditions that resonate with my soul. My home, the beautiful Upstate New York, serves as the backdrop to my culinary creations, often inspired by the rich cultural heritage and the classic Italian cuisine of my hometown, Utica. Dishes like the beloved Chicken Riggies and the comforting Utica Greens are more than just recipes—they are stories, shared from my kitchen to yours.

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