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June 14, 2022

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Name: BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 6 oz uncooked rotini pasta (about 2 cups); 4 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce (rinsed, chopped and spun-dry); 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved); 8 oz bacon; 1/3 cup red onion (finely chopped); 1/4 cup Ranch dressing; 1/4 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup mayo; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 3 Tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed); ¼ tsp fine sea salt (or to taste); ⅛ tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)

This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is that perfect summertime pasta salad for potlucks and barbecues. The pasta combined with juicy tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon is like having a classic BLT Sandwich served as a salad.

If you love Creamy Macaroni Salad the BLT Chopped Salad, then this BLT Pasta Salad is sure to become a new favorite side dish.

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The Best BLT Pasta Salad

A BLT Pasta Salad is essentially cooked pasta combined with crispy bacon pieces and tomatoes in a creamy homemade dressing. This has the best salad dressing which really makes this salad.

This is the perfect pasta salad for a large party, family gathering, or even a summer picnic. It’s so easy to throw together and is such a crowd-pleaser. It can also be enjoyed as a quick dinner or lunch as it’s so filling.

Ingredients

The ingredients for the pasta salad are so simple and inexpensive, and you most likely already have them on hand in your pantry and refrigerator.

Bacon – Any bacon will work in this recipe. We like to use our Oven Baked Bacon or Air Fryer Bacon for perfectly cooked bacon.
Lettuce – We used romaine but iceberg lettuce will work just fine.
Pasta – Any short pasta will work. You can use bowtie, rotini, elbow, penne, ziti, etc.
Tomato – Any tomato on hand will work, just cut it into small bite-size pieces.
Onion – You can use either red onion or sweet onion.
Dressing – The dressing consists of Ranch, sour cream, mayo, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Salad ingredients in a blue bowl unmixed.

How to Make BLT Pasta Salad

Cook Pasta – Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
Cook bacon – Cook the bacon using your favorite method of cooking.
Cut lettuce – Rinse, chop and dry the lettuce.
Make the dressing – In a bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the dressing.
Combine – Add salad ingredients to a bowl and toss to combine. Pour the dressing just before serving and gently toss to combine.

Pro Tip: To make sure the salad is not watery or soggy, after rinsing and chopping your lettuce, use a salad spinner to remove any excess water. This will also help keep your greens crisp longer.

Variations

There are so many different ingredients you can add to the classic salad recipe. Here are some of our favorite add-ins for BLT Pasta Salad:

Diced avocado
Cheddar cheese, grated or diced
Chopped bell peppers
Diced cucumbers

BLT pasta salad topped with ground black pepper.

Common Questions

Can I use store-bought dressing?

If you don’t want to use our homemade dressing, you can use your favorite store-bought ranch dressing. You can also try the dressing from our Classic BLT Salad.

Do I have to rinse my pasta with cold water?

Yes, rinsing it under cold water stops the cooking process of the pasta and keeps the pasta from sticking together and becoming mushy.

Can I use a different pasta?

Yes, you can use any short pasta for this recipe.

How long will the salad last once mixed?

This salad is best when enjoyed fresh as the lettuce will start to get soggy. Store any leftover salad in the refrigerator.

A white bowl with blt pasta salad topped with ground black pepper.

Make-Ahead

Refrigerating – This pasta salad can totally be made up to one day in advance! Keep the salad ingredients in one bowl and the dressing in a separate container or mason jar. Cover both and refrigerate.
To Serve – Once you have added the salad dressing, serve right away so the lettuce doesn’t get soggy.

More Salad Recipes

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

4.99 from 70 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is that perfect summertime pasta salad for potlucks and barbecues! The pasta combined with juicy tomatoes, lettuce and bacon is like having a classic BLT sandwich served as a salad.

Author: Valentina Ablaev

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: blt pasta salad, pasta blt salad

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $12-$14

Calories: 484

Servings: 6 as a side salad

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

6 oz uncooked rotini pasta, about 2 cups
4 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce, rinsed, chopped and spun-dry
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
8 oz bacon, baked or air-fried and chopped
1/3 cup red onion, finely chopped

For the Dressing

1/4 cup Ranch dressing
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 Tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
¼ tsp fine sea salt, or to taste
⅛ tsp ground black pepper, or to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain the pasta and rinse under cold water, set aside to cool.
In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing and whisk until creamy.
In a large salad bowl, add the cooked pasta, chopped romaine, halved tomatoes, cooked bacon, and chopped red onion and toss.
Just before serving, add the dressing to taste and gently toss until combined.

Nutrition Facts

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 484 Calories from Fat 297

% Daily Value*

Fat 33g51%

Saturated Fat 8g50%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 14g

Monounsaturated Fat 10g

Cholesterol 51mg17%

Sodium 957mg42%

Potassium 466mg13%

Carbohydrates 27g9%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 3g3%

Protein 18g36%

Vitamin A 2974IU59%

Vitamin C 14mg17%

Calcium 47mg5%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition Disclosure

Valentina Ablaev

I am Valentina, the creator behind the food blog Valentina’s Corner where I share our family’s favorite recipes. When I am not in the kitchen, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband and 5 children. We invite you to join us on our blogging journey!