BLT Pasta Salad
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This BLT Pasta Salad brings together the best of a classic BLT in a fun, pasta-filled twist. Crispy bacon, fresh chopped lettuce, and juicy cherry tomatoes combine with tender bowtie pasta, all tossed in a creamy ranch dressing.
Fresh avocados, sharp cheddar cheese, and diced onions add extra layers of flavor and texture. It's the perfect blend of savory and satisfying in every bite!
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This refreshing BLT Pasta Salad includes all of the classic ingredients of a classic BLT sandwich, but in a pasta salad form! With crispy cooked bacon, chopped romaine lettuce, and fresh cherry tomatoes, combined with tender bowtie pasta and a creamy ranch dressing, it's a flavorful recipe that everyone is guaranteed to love.
If you're on the hunt for a fun side dish to serve at your next barbecue or family picnic, this BLT pasta salad is the perfect pick and sure to become a new summertime favorite! If you're throwing a party and need some other good pasta salad options, try our Amish Pasta Salad, Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, or Cheddar Broccoli Pasta Salad!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy - This BLT Pasta Salad is a super quick recipe that you'll have prepared and ready to serve in no time!
- Simple to throw together - You most likely already have the majority of ingredients for this pasta salad at home already, making it a simple recipe to make when you don't have the time to buy so many other ingredients.
- Refreshing - During the summer, this recipe is the perfect refreshing pasta salad to serve at your outdoor barbecue or family picnic. The fresh vegetables and other flavorful ingredients make for an amazing summer combo - oh, and so does this Watermelon Feta Salad!
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients below to make this BLT bowtie pasta salad!
- Bowtie pasta is tender and holds onto the flavors of the dressing and other ingredients perfectly. Using a smaller cut pasta will ensure all of the flavors stick to the pasta.
- Bacon is a staple in any BLT, so what would this pasta be without it? Crispy, skillet-cooked bacon adds a savory taste and perfect crunch to this pasta salad that is undeniably delicious. If you're a bacon fan, you'll love this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad too!
- Ranch dressing is the creamy and flavorful "glue" that holds together this pasta salad and brings all of the ingredients together. You can make your own homemade ranch dressing or use a store bought ranch.
- Cherry tomatoes are amazingly juicy and add a burst of flavor to the pasta salad.
- Avocado adds a smooth and creamy texture to your pasta salad, as well as a subtle, yet delicious flavor.
- Cheddar cheese brings a rich, sharp taste to this dish, enhancing the overall flavor of the pasta salad.
- Lettuce gives this BLT pasta salad a great crunch and amazing freshness. Be sure to wash your romaine before adding it!
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can use any pasta you'd like, but shorter pasta with ridges will hold onto the dressing and ingredients better.
- Feel free to add any extra veggies to your pasta salad, such as grilled corn, broccoli, or peas!
- To spice up your dressing, you can add fresh herbs such as cilantro, or some chopped red peppers for spice. You can also make homemade ranch dressing instead of using a store bought ranch if you prefer.
- Add some chopped grilled chicken to this recipe for some more protein and savory flavor.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
Once you've gathered all your ingredients, follow the steps below for a fresh summertime salad!
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk Miracle Whip, ranch dressing, and 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, add tomatoes, avocado, cheese, red onion, lettuce, and bacon. Gently stir to combine.
- Add the pasta and pour sauce over top of salad. Toss to combine.
- Add pepper to taste and enjoy.
Helpful Tips
- The longer your pasta salad sits, the better the flavors will absorb and meld together.
- If you're serving your pasta cold, you can rinse your pasta so that the noodles don't stick together and clump up your pasta salad.
- Let the pasta cool completely before mixing it with other ingredients to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- Cook the bacon until it's crispy to add a nice crunch to the salad.
- If making in advance, wait to add the dressing until just before serving to keep the salad fresh and vibrant.
- When mixing the salad, toss gently to avoid crushing the tomatoes and avocados.
Recipe FAQs
Bacon can be cooked in a pan, in the oven, in the air fryer, or even in the microwave. For the crispiest and juiciest bacon, cook your bacon in a pan.
This pasta tastes best if prepared and served within 24 hours. If you are planning to make this pasta ahead of time, be sure to leave out any ingredients that you want to stay as fresh as possible and add them right before serving. This also applies to bacon, so add it to your pasta salad last so that it stays crispy!
This pasta salad should only sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours before it needs to cool back down in a cooler or your fridge. This serving bowl can help keep your salad chilled for hours!
Whip up another batch of dressing to refresh the leftover pasta salad before enjoying it again. This will bring back the salad's original creamy texture and enhance its flavors.
Storage & Freezing Instructions
Storage Instructions
Leftovers of this BLT Pasta Salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Whip up another batch of dressing to refresh the leftover pasta salad before enjoying again.
Freezing Instructions
Freezing BLT pasta salad with lettuce is not recommended because the lettuce will become limp and watery upon thawing, and the creamy dressing may separate. It's best to enjoy this salad fresh or store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
More Summer Salads You'll Love
Looking for other amazing potluck-style salads? Try these:
If you decide to try this BLT salad or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the 💬 comments below! I'd love to hear from you!
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta (cooked according to package directions and cooled)
- 10 slices of bacon (cooked and chopped (reserve 1 tablespoon bacon grease for sauce))
- 1 cup Miracle Whip
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 1 ½ cups halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ avocado (diced)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup chopped red onions
- 1 cup chopped lettuce
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk Miracle Whip, ranch dressing, and 1 tablespoon of bacon grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, red onion, lettuce, and bacon. Gently stir to combine.
- Pour sauce overtop and toss to combine.
- Add black pepper to taste and enjoy.
Notes
- The longer your pasta salad sits, the better the flavors will absorb and meld together.
- If you're serving your pasta cold, you can rinse your pasta so that the noodles don't stick together and clump up your pasta salad.
- Let the pasta cool completely before mixing it with other ingredients to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- Cook the bacon until it's crispy to add a nice crunch to the salad.
- If making in advance, wait to add the dressing until just before serving to keep the salad fresh and vibrant.
- When mixing the salad, toss gently to avoid crushing the tomatoes and avocados.