BLT Pasta Salad
And I decided this summer was just the right time to try a new pasta salad idea I’ve been toying with for a while: BLT Pasta Salad.
If you think about it, the BLT is kind of the perfect sandwich. It’s so simple, yet so complete. The crisp, smoky bacon, tender lettuce, juicy tomato, chewy bread, and tangy mayo provide just the right balance of flavors and textures.
It’s pretty much a natural to adapt into a salad, too, since two of the three ingredients are veggies already. All I had to do was substitute bowtie pasta for the bread, crumble the bacon, and add a dressing that would tie all the flavors together. Plain mayonnaise was too heavy for the job, so I cut it with avocado ranch dressing and a little vinegar, and pepped it up with some salt, pepper, mustard, and just a pinch of sugar to cut the sharpness.
And voila! The perfect sandwich is now the perfect summer salad. Now all we need is a perfect summer day to enjoy it.
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How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
- Add the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded lettuce, and cherry tomatoes to a large bowl. Toss to combine and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, avocado ranch dressing, apple cider vinegar, ground black pepper, ground mustard, sea salt, and pinch of sugar.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently to combine.
- Allow to chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Stir well before serving.
HOW SHOULD I STORE THIS BLT PASTA SALAD?
- Most pasta salads last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days but it really depends on the ingredients used. Since this BLT Pasta Salad includes fresh salad ingredients, I recommend that you only store it for 1-2 days maximum otherwise the lettuce and tomatoes may become soggy which will impact on the texture and flavor of this delicious pasta dish.
- When storing your BLT Pasta Salad, use an airtight container or store leftovers in the serving bowl with plastic wrap tightly covering the top.
- Do not freeze this BLT Pasta Salad. The fresh salad ingredients will not hold up well in the freezer and you’ll end up with a mushy pasta dish.
HOW CAN I MAKE THIS BLT MACARONI PASTA SALAD IN ADVANCE?
- I’m a strong advocate of preparing pasta just prior to serving so that you get the beautiful soft al dente texture without it having soaked up too much of the wet ingredients which can make it soggy.
- For this reason, I recommend that you prepare the bacon, dressing and salad ingredients ahead of time and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator for 2-3 days prior to assembling your pasta salad. In fact, it’s best if you leave the lettuce till serving time as well.
- If you still want to make and assemble your entire BLT Macaroni ahead of time, do so only a day before serving and store in the refrigerator. The macaroni pasta may absorb some of the creamy dressing while sitting in the refrigerator so if you see that your pasta is a little dry the following day, simply add a touch more mayo.
TIPS FOR MAKING BLT MACARONI SALAD
- Cooking your pasta till it’s al dente will ensure that you don’t end up with overly soft pasta. Remember, your pasta will still cook slightly after being removed from the boiling water.
- This BLT Pasta Salad is intended to be served at room temperature or slightly chilled. Don’t heat it up in the microwave prior to serving as this will wilt your crunchy salad ingredients.
- You can enjoy this pasta salad as a main meal or a side dish. Homemade dinner rolls, grilled chicken kebabs, corn on the cob or hamburgers all go well with this BLT Pasta Salad.
BLT Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 12 ounces bowtie pasta cooked and drained
- 8 ounces bacon cooked and crumbled- about 8 slices
- 4 ounces shredded lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup avocado ranch dressing or regular ranch dressing
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Pinch granulated sugar
Instructions
- Add the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, shredded lettuce, and cherry tomatoes to a large bowl. Toss to combine and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, avocado ranch dressing, apple cider vinegar, ground black pepper, ground mustard, sea salt, and pinch of sugar.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and stir gently to combine.
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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What kind of lettuce did you use? I can’t see it in the Salad. I’m thinking to use Baby Romane, & slicing it into ribbons. I found 40% less sodium real bacon recently in my store YAY! We’re lovin’ ALL of your salads! Thanx 😍
I have made this a couple times now, and my favorites are Romaine lettuce or butter lettuce. I hope you love it Angelina!
I want to make this recipe for a family vacation we are going on but my question has to do with the lettuce. I like really crisp lettuce and once this salad is eaten, any leftovers would have very wilted lettuce the next day. Would it be okay to put shreds of lettuce on the side and have everyone mix them into the pasta salad at the time it is served? Please advise! Thanks.
I think that is a great idea Victoria.
We had this last night for dinner and it was quick, easy and delicious! It’s been a scorcher here in Florida and this was the perfect summer meal.
Yes! This has been our go-to this summer! So happy you love it!