BLT Pasta Salad

5 from 8 votes

This BLT Pasta Salad is a knockout side dish that's easy to whip up and a sure crowd pleaser. Crunchy bacon, crisp veggies, and al dente pasta in a creamy Ranch-flavored dressing make this pasta addictively good.

Prep Time5

Cook Time35

Total Time40

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Bailey

Ingredients

1 12 oz package of bacon Turkey bacon or vegan bacon will also work.
1 lb rotini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes
¼ cup parmesan cheese
⅓ cup chopped onion
2 medium sized bell peppers
¼ cup chopped parsley
avocado slices for topping *optional
2 cup thinly sliced romaine *optional

BLT Pasta Salad Dressing

1 cup mayo or sour cream Vegan mayo or sour cream will also work.
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ cup milk of choice
¼ cup a ranch seasoning packet more as needed

Instructions

First, cook the bacon however you would like. I typically bake mine in the oven on 375º for about 20 minutes but you can also cook in in a skillet, turning often for 8-15 minutes.
Next, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool while bacon is finishing.
Make the dressing. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise or sour cream, milk, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
Add the pasta, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, onion, parsley and half of the crumbled bacon to the bowl with the dressing. Gently fold all of this together to coat. Top with remaining bacon, avocado slices if using and serve.

Notes

Storing: Store your BLT pasta salad in the fridge for up to two or three days after it's fully mixed. It will become a bit soggy, especially the bacon and lettuce, when it sits. If possible, try to keep the lettuce and bacon separate if you know you will leftovers. I do not recommend freezing it.

Al Dente Pasta: Make sure you follow the directions for cooking the pasta to al dente. This means it should still have just a bit of bite to it. If it's too soft you will end up with a mushy pasta salad.

Serving on Hot Summer Days: For It's recommended that you don't allow the salad to sit out for longer than two hours. My recommendation if it happens to be out of refrigeration pasta that mark to throw out the leftovers.

Chopping the Veggies: Small equal sizes is the goal when chopping them for your salad. This way you get a mix of ingredients with each bite.

Nutrition