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BLT Pasta Salad is always a crowd pleaser. There is something about that creamy ranch dressing combined with the bacon and veggies that make this so delicious.
Pasta salad is one of my favorite side dishes and this BLT Pasta Salad is amazing. I could make a meal out of just this because it is so flavorful and delicious.
This is definitely a must try easy salad recipe. Another easy and delicious side dish we love is this easy baked beans recipe.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
If you love a classic BLT Sandwich then you will love this BLT Pasta Salad. The BLT Pasta Salad Ingredients are simple which also makes it so frugal. I can make a huge batch of this for a cookout or a potluck for very little.
You love the way this pasta taste and it is always a crowd favorite.
Ingredients
- Ranch Dressing – If you are out, make Homemade Ranch Dressing.
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Salad Dressing Ingredients – You can substitute a portion of they mayo with sour cream. We have even squeezed fresh lemon juice for added flavor. Add in fresh herbs or other spices such as onion powder or garlic powder for added flavor.
- Crispy Bacon – Try using turkey bacon in the recipe.
- Pasta – Any type of pasta will work in this BLT pasta salad recipe.
- Vegetables – Feel free to add any veggies you like. We have added in arugula, baby spinach and chopped broccoli. We have even added diced avocado.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
- Step 1 – Whisk together mayonnaise and ranch dressing.
- Step 2 – In a large bowl assemble the drained pasta, grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes, cheese, red onion, lettuce and bacon.
- Step 3 – Pour the dressing over and toss to combine.
- Step 4 – Garnish with parsley and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Prepare Veggies – To easily chop onions, romaine lettuce and other veggies, use a small food chopper or food processor to quickly and easily chop the vegetables in bite size pieces. I usually just chop the entire vegetable and freeze what I don’t need. Learn and how to freeze onions and also how to freeze peppers to save so much time in the kitchen.
- Combining Ingredients – Combine the dressing in a separate bowl. After combining the pasta and other salad ingredients toss with the dressing. For the best flavor make sure that everything is combined.
- Cook Farfalle Pasta – Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions. You want the pasta to be al dente so make sure to not overcook it.
- Bacon – For the best flavor, cook bacon in a large skillet to get extra crispy. But you can also use already cook bacon or cook bacon ahead of time.
Serving Ideas
We think it is the perfect side dish to go along side Grilled hot dogs and Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe. It is also so tasty with this Easy Grilled Chicken Kabob Recipe or Grilled Balsamic Glazed Chicken.
This pasta salad goes with just about anything. I can literally just eat a bowl of it alone and be satisfied. We love to serve in a clear bowl so you can see all of the pretty colors from the tomatoes and other ingredients.
The pasta salad is gorgeous in a glass bowl or even a trifle dish is pretty.
Frequently Asked Questions
We do recommend rinsing the pasta before combining with the other ingredients to remove the gummy texture. Rinse the pasta with cold water.
Store the leftover pasta salad in a airtight container in the refrigerator. This pasta salad will last up to 3 days.
We recommend to prepare the vegetables and pasta ahead of time. Then when you are ready to serve, combine the dressing with the pasta salad ingredients.
More Easy Pasta Salads Recipes
- Easy Pasta Salad Recipe
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad Recipe
- Cowboy Pasta Salad
- Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- 21 Easy Cold Pasta Salad Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 10 slices bacon cooked crisp and diced
- 16 oz pasta cooked and cooled bowtie or rotini
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/3 cup red onion diced
- 1 cup romaine lettuce
- fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise and ranch dressing
- In a large bowl assemble the pasta, tomatoes, cheese, red onion, lettuce and bacon.
- Pour the dressing over and toss to combine.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
I made this as meal prep for my husband and I for lunches, and the little bit we tried was so scrumptious my husband dipped into more! Easy enough to make. It’d be great if you could include metric measurements in the recipe but I was able to find them out.
Definitely a keeper! We use a locally made ranch dressing (Coyote Ranch)and it was amazing! Great summer meal without using the oven! Also, I used spinach since I had it on hand, still tasted wonderful!
So glad you love it!
Love this salad !!!! It’s my husbands new favourite. For those asking about making it ahead, I make mine ahead and I’ll add the romaine right before serving. This way the lettuce doesn’t get soggy from sitting too long.
I haven’t had an issue with the lettuce browning. I usually just make it the night before serving. I do not make it multiple days in advance.
The lettuce won’t brown if made ahead of time?
Yes, this would be great to make a day ahead of time!
Hi this looks delicious. Just wondering if it would be good if prepared ahead of time and left in the fridge for a day?
So glad it worked out great! Thanks for sharing!
I made this today. Really easy to make – I left out the lettuce and used real bacon bits because I was being kind of lazy – it turned out so great!!
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Turned out great!! Thanks
I love a good pasta salad and this is a really good pasta salad! Thanks for the recipe!