Home » Soups, Salads, Sides, and Beverages » BLT Pasta Salad
posted by Christy Denneyon May 29, 2022 (updated Jan 30, 2023) 35 comments »
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BLT Pasta Salad has tender pasta, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomatoes with a creamy ranch dressing. This cold pasta salad is based off your favorite sandwich and great for potlucks, BBQs, and get togethers!
EASY PASTA SALAD RECIPE
When I asked you guys on Instagram whether you wanted to see this BLT Pasta Salad or The Best Pancakes Ever recipe, the response was an overwhelming vote for this salad that tastes like the classic BLT sandwich.
Which tells me that you already have a stellar pancake recipe or that you know that the Fourth of July is right around the corner and you know you’ll be asked to bring a side dish. How do I know that? Because I was just asked to bring a side dish to a BBQ next week.
It’s the season of BBQs, potlucks, and get togethers. I never want summer to end. I love the casual entertaining, the late sunsets, and all the water. Pool and beach on repeat. It’s my birthday next week and I’m a Cancer which apparently has the sign of water in astrology.
Adding pasta to salad isn’t an entirely new concept. Remember this Bowtie Chicken Caesar Salad? It’s a great way to bulk up a regular salad and even turn it into a main dish. Although in this instance, we’re doing the reverse.
We’re adding lettuce to a pasta salad. It brightens up the dish with a fresh element so we don’t feel like we’re eating straight carbs. Not to mention it taste just like a BLT sandwich. On second thought, croutons would be a great addition. Or cheddar cheese? Huh? Right?
This BLT salad is hearty enough to be the main course.
HOW TO MAKE THIS BLT PASTA SALAD SUCCESSFULLY
- Use homemade ranch dressing. There’s nothing better than homemade dressing. The bottled stuff doesn’t cut it.
- I like to use a thick cut bacon. Makes it so much better!
- The bacon, lettuce, and parsley must be added right before serving otherwise they will get soggy if they sit in the creamy dressing.
- Don’t overcook the pasta. Pasta with a little bite to it is much more appetizing than soggy pasta. Make sure to cook it al dente.
- You can use any bite-sized pasta. Rotini pasta, penne, or even elbow macaroni.
OTHER SALAD RECIPES
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad
- Broccoli Salad
- Crunchy Pea Salad
- Frito Corn Salad
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Taco Pasta Salad
- Vegetable Orzo Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
4.57 from 60 votes
This easy BLT Pasta Salad recipe has bow-tie pasta, crunchy bacon, lettuce, and juicy cherry tomatoes with a creamy ranch dressing. This is a great recipe for potlucks, BBQs, and get togethers!
PrintPinRate
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
Ranch Dressing:
- 1 (1 ounce) package dry Ranch dressing mix
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 lb bow-tie pasta, (farfalle pasta)
- 1 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup finely chopped flat leaf parlsey
Instructions
For the Ranch dressing: Whisk together the Ranch dressing mix, milk, and mayonnaise. Chill at least 30 minutes in the fridge to thicken.
Cook the pasta according to the package directions in a large pot of salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the hot pasta from cooking further.
In a large bowl, add the pasta, tomatoes, red onion, and pepper. Toss with the Ranch dressing, reserving 1/2 cup for later. Chill until ready to serve. Right before serving add the cooked bacon, lettuce, and parsley tossing well. Add the remaining dressing if needed as the pasta will soak up the dressing.
Video
Notes
I have tried this with both bottled and fresh Ranch dressing and fresh is 100% better. If you have a dressing you love, you can use it instead of making it from the mix.
Source: Allrecipes
Serving: 1grams
Cuisine: American
Course: Salad
Author: Christy Denney
All Recipes Bacon Feeding a Crowd Main Dishes Potluck Favorites Salad Sides Soups, Salads, Sides, and Beverages
originally published on May 29, 2022 (last updated Jan 30, 2023)
35 comments Leave a comment »
100 of my favorite recipes! This is the family-friendly cookbook for anyone looking to plan quick-and-easy meals and wants a way to bring people together, feasting on food which can only be described as scrumptious.
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35 comments on “BLT Pasta Salad”
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Mindi — Reply
Can I make this the day before? Dressing and all….?
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Christy Denney — Reply
No it will get too soggy. I would add right before.
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Karen — Reply
Just made this, awesome and very tasty!
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Christy Denney — Reply
Thank you!
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Birdie — Reply
Best summer salad…we love it…needs no tweaking, absolutely delish!
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Christy Denney — Reply
Thank you! It’s one of my favorites!
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Kylie schrock — Reply
Everyone loves when I make this. I’ve added grilled chicken before to make it a meal.
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Christy Denney — Reply
Genius! I love it!
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Sha Gautney — Reply
This was easy and wonderfully tasty on a summer day thank you!!!
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Christy Denney — Reply
You are welcome!
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Kylie — Reply
this recipe is ALWAYS a hit.
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Christy Denney — Reply
Thank you! I agree!
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Bonni — Reply
You can make your ranch dressing mix with a DIY. Just a bunch of herbs you probably already have already, and it’s fabulous! also be used for making recipes that call for a packet of ranch dressing mix
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Christy Denney — Reply
Yes very true!
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Steph — Reply
This recipe looks delish! What I would like to know is what would the measurments be for making this just for three people?
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Christy Denney — Reply
I would probably just half it because dividing by 3 would be weird measurements.
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Julie — Reply
Can you use Miracle Whip instead of Mayo?
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Christy Denney — Reply
I guess that’s up to personal preference?
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Sharon weir — Reply
One comment said the ingredients weren’t rite you said computer glitch. What was wrong is it the milk in dressing or was suppose be buttermilk? Thank you
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Christy Denney — Reply
It was just a double listing of an ingredient. The milk is correct since it’s ranch but you could definitely use buttermilk as well.
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Nick — Reply
if you want it to be gross, sure
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Kathy Callori — Reply
Made this for today’s barbecue. Was easy to make and tastes great
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Christy Denney — Reply
Glad you liked it! It’s one of my favorites!
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wuxiaworld — Reply
That dish looks very attractive.I will do it for my dinner!
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Christy Denney — Reply
Thanks!
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Melinda Delano — Reply
This turned out so delicious. It’s a refreshing take on pasta salad & it made so much, that I shared with my neighbors, who loved it! Keep up the great work! Thanks!
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Christy Denney — Reply
You’re welcome! I’m glad you loved it!
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Paige Cassandra Flamm — Reply
This salad looks amazing! Totally adding it to our menu for the fourth!
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Christy Denney — Reply
I love hearing that!
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Linda — Reply
OMG! This is a perfect dinner or lunch! The tomatoes are so good right now and bacon makes everything better. I’m happy you didn’t instruct to skimp on the bacon! Thanks for sharing.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda-
Christy Denney — Reply
Yesss! It’s a must with a BLT.
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BETH — Reply
So homemade dressing is just dressing you make from a mix?
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Christy Denney — Reply
Ha. Yes.
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Cindy — Reply
Is it me or are the directions for this all messed up?
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Cindy — Reply
OK, it was me. I think my computer glitched.
I’ve had this recipe at potlucks and I’m here to say it’s DEVINE!
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