BLT Pasta Salad
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This BLT Pasta Salad is the perfect way to transform the iconic classic bacon sandwich into a tasty summer side dish! Picture this: perfectly cooked pasta, crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy romaine lettuce all tossed together in a creamy Ranch dressing and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. It’s a flavor explosion that’s just too good to resist – a summer staple that’ll have everyone coming back for seconds… and thirds!
Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned classic BLT Sandwich!?! It’s such a super tasty sandwich made with layers of crispy bacon, lettuce, and tomato all sandwiched between some toasted bread coated in mayo. But what if you took the core of a BLT and transformed it into a delicious pasta salad!?! That my friends is exactly what we are doing here today!
Introducing the BLT pasta salad! It’s made with just a handful of ingredients including bacon, lettuce, and tomato, just like the sandwich. But this recipe calls for some pasta instead of toasted bread and some creamy ranch dressing instead of mayo! And for a little extra yumminess, some parmesan cheese has been added to the mix. So you’re basically just tossing the layers of a BLT together with some pasta!
And let’s face it, crispy bacon just makes everything taste better! In fact, my German Potato Salad is another one of my favorites that is loaded with bacon. So give this BLT pasta salad recipe a try at your next BBQ and let me know what you think! It is amazing when paired with my Grilled Chicken Breast recipe.
Why You’ll Love This BLT Pasta Salad
- Simple Side! You can whip this tasty bacon pasta salad together with just 6 basic ingredients in under 30 minutes! It’s also super easy to customize this recipe.
- BLT In A Bowl! With crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, and fresh lettuce, all the best parts of BLT are tossed together with some creamy ranch dressing to make this yummy salad!
- Crowd Pleaser! Everyone loves a good pasta salad, perfect for picnics, potlucks, parties, or an everyday lunch. And this BLT inspired dish is sure to impress your guests.
- Pasta – I used fusilli pasta but any shape of small-size pasta will work including gluten-free varieties. Some other good options are rotini, farfalle, elbow macaroni, or rigatoni.
- Bacon – You will need some already cooked crispy crumbled bacon. Feel free to use any kind of bacon you like including turkey bacon slices. And this recipe is a great excuse to give my Air Fryer Bacon a whirl!
- Cherry Tomatoes – I like to use cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes. Yet, you can also use chopped tomatoes if that’s all you’ve got on hand. As long as they are fresh!
- Romaine Lettuce – Most types of lettuce tend to get really limp when tossed with dressing, but romaine stays nice and crispy. This makes it perfect for pasta salad! Iceberg lettuce is the next best option.
- Ranch Dressing – Any store-bought bottled ranch dressing will do the trick! Or, you can make your own homemade ranch dressing! And if you don’t have any ranch, just use mayonnaise with the addition of a few dried herbs and a pinch of lemon juice.
- Parmesan Cheese – Adds some cheesy goodness to the dish. You can also use other types of cheese like cheddar cheese if you prefer.
This amazing pasta salad layered with flavor is quite easy to make! Once you cook the pasta all you have to do is toss everything together in some herby ranch and serve!
To make pasta salad you need pasta! So bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Then add the fusilli and cook it to al dente according to the instructions on the package. Then when it’s done, immediately drain the pasta in a colander and rinse it with cold water to stop it from continuing to cook.
After the pasta is cooked, put it in a large bowl. Next, add the cooked bacon, cherry tomatoes, and romaine lettuce to the bowl and toss everything together until it’s evenly distributed.
Then pour the ranch dressing over the pasta mixture followed by the grated parmesan cheese. Now, toss the salad together until it’s fully coated in the dressing.
Once the salad is made, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and then put it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour. This gives all the flavors some time to meld together. Then serve the BLT pasta salad with some freshly ground black pepper if you like and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of pasta for this salad?
Absolutely! While fusili pasta is used in this recipe for its ability to hold onto the dressing and ingredients, you can substitute it with any small pasta shapes like penne, macaroni, or bow tie.
How do you keep the pasta salad from getting soggy?
For starters, don’t overcook the pasta! It’s really important to only cook the pasta just until it reaches al dente, which means still firm to the bite. Also, when making pasta salad you need to rinse the pasta with cold water right after it’s finished cooking to stop it from cooking even more.
I’m vegetarian. Any substitutes for the bacon?
For a vegetarian version, you can substitute the bacon with a plant-based bacon alternative or add some smoked paprika to give the pasta a bit of a smoky flavor.
I don’t like Ranch dressing. Can I use a different dressing?
Yes, you can use your preferred salad dressing. A Caesar or a simple vinaigrette would also work well in this salad.
Expert Tips
- Drain the bacon. Make sure to use some paper towels to remove the excess grease from the cooked bacon. Not doing so can make the pasta salad greasy.
- Salt your pasta water. You want to add plenty of salt to the pasta cooking water to season the fusilli. If pasta is boiled in just plain water the salad will lack some flavor.
- Rinse the pasta. Once it’s cooked, make sure to run cold water over your drained pasta in the colander. This step is important to stop the pasta from continuing to cook.
- Preparing Lettuce: Make sure your lettuce is thoroughly washed and dried before chopping. Any excess moisture can dilute the dressing and make the salad soggy.
- Dressing the Salad: Don’t be shy with the dressing! The pasta will absorb some of it, so it’s better to err on the side of a little too much than too little. However, if you’re making the salad in advance, you might want to add a bit more dressing just before serving.
Storage
This BLT pasta salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container! In fact, this salad is sometimes even better the next day, which means it’s a perfect make-ahead side dish. However, pasta salad does not keep well in the freezer.
Other Pasta Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Italian Pasta Salad – This vibrant and hearty salad is a medley of al dente pasta, tangy olives, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and salami, all tossed together in a rich Italian dressing. It’s a feast of flavors and textures that embodies the spirit of Italian cuisine!
- Greek Pasta Salad – A refreshing pasta salad that combines the robust flavors of Greece. It features pasta, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, crunchy red onions, and feta cheese, all coated in a zesty homemade Greek dressing.
- Taco Pasta Salad – This fun twist on a classic pasta salad brings together the comforting flavors of tacos. It’s loaded with pasta, seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cheese, all tossed in a creamy taco-inspired dressing. Perfect for when you can’t decide between tacos and pasta!
- Chicken Ranch Pasta Salad – This hearty and creamy pasta salad is a crowd pleaser. With tender pasta, juicy grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies all tossed in a creamy Ranch dressing, it’s a satisfying meal that’s sure to impress.
- Asparagus and Peas Pasta Salad – A fresh and vibrant pasta salad that celebrates the flavors of spring. It features tender pasta, crisp asparagus, sweet peas, and tangy feta cheese, all tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette. It’s the perfect light and refreshing side dish!
- Antipasto Salad – This is a robust and hearty salad filled with the flavors of Italy. Combining salami, provolone, olives, artichokes, tomatoes, and pepperoncini with pasta, this salad is tossed in a flavorful Italian vinaigrette. It’s like having an antipasto platter in a bowl!
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BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fusili pasta (or any other small shaped pasta)
- ¾ pound bacon (cooked and crumbled)
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 6 cups romaine lettuce (chopped)
- 1 cup Ranch dressing
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Cook the fusilli pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water.
- In a large bowl combine the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce. Toss well.
- Pour the ranch dressing over the salad and add the Parmesan cheese. Toss well to coat.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving, to allow the flavors to meld together.
Video
Notes
- Pasta Choice: You can use any small pasta shape for this recipe. Penne, farfalle, or macaroni would all work well.
- Bacon: For a vegetarian version, substitute the bacon with a plant-based alternative or add a pinch of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
- Dressing: If Ranch isn’t your thing, feel free to substitute with your favorite dressing. A Caesar or a vinaigrette would also work nicely.
- Add-Ins: This salad is highly customizable. Feel free to add in extras like cubed avocado, boiled eggs, shredded chicken, or crumbled blue cheese.
- Make-Ahead: This salad can be made ahead of time, but for the best texture, add the lettuce just before serving.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Again, if you’re planning to store it, it’s best to add the lettuce when you’re ready to eat.
Nutrition Information
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
