Easy BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad combines all the delicious flavors of a BLT sandwich into a creamy pasta salad that’s perfect for summer potlucks, family gatherings, or a satisfying main course. With crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh romaine lettuce, this easy pasta salad recipe is sure to be a huge hit with the whole family.
What makes this salad so special is it’s like a BLT flavor in salad form! This salad is quick to prepare and delivers a burst of flavors in every bite, making it an ideal dish for the summer months. It’s my new favorite salad to eat!
Craving more salad ideas? Try this Sunshine Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps, or Tuna Salad.
Don’t forget to serve this with my Easy Garlic Bread – it’s a match made for any gathering!
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For an easy BLT pasta salad recipe, combine fresh lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and romaine lettuce in a large bowl. Cook pasta until al dente, then rinse under cold water to cool. Add cooked pasta, classic bacon, and bite-sized pieces of fresh tomatoes. In a small bowl, mix sour cream, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, and homemade ranch dressing for a creamy homemade dressing. Toss the salad ingredients with the dressing. Use paper towels to pat the thick-cut bacon dry before crumbling it into the salad. Next time, add cheddar cheese and lemon juice for a zing.
Serve this cold pasta salad at room temperature as a main dish or side dish at summer potlucks. This easy recipe, inspired by a classic sandwich, is sure to be the best pasta salad and a great addition to your easy pasta salad recipes.
What you’ll love about this Bacon Pasta Salad:
EASY TO MAKE – This BLT Pasta Salad is straightforward and simple, perfect for cooks of any skill level.
RICH & FLAVORFUL – Packed with crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and creamy dressing, it’s a taste that’ll win everyone over.
ULTIMATE SUMMER DISH – Think fresh, crisp ingredients perfect for those warm summer months. This salad is like a refreshing breeze on a hot day.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this amazing pasta salad with bacon:
INGREDIENT NOTES:
- Bacon: I absolutely love thick cut bacon, but use any you like, it’s bacon, and it’s all good!
- Pasta: I love using Rotini pasta, but elbow pasta works great too.
- Tomatoes: I like to use grape tomatoes, but feel free to use cherry tomatoes instead.
HOW TO MAKE Easy BLT Pasta Salad: STEP-BY-STEP
Check out the quick visual guides below. For full instructions and ingredients, see the printable recipe card at the end.
You’ll need the following ingredients to make the best Pasta Salad:
- Rotini pasta
- Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Grape tomatoes, halved
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Additional chopped lettuce and halved grape tomatoes for garnish
STEP 1: Cook the Pasta: Start by cooking the rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process. This step is crucial to prevent the pasta from becoming mushy in your pasta salad.
STEP 2: Prepare the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled rotini pasta, crumbled bacon, halved grape tomatoes, and chopped romaine lettuce. For the best results, use thick-cut bacon cooked to a perfect crisp.
STEP 3: Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. This creamy dressing is what makes this BLT Pasta Salad so irresistible.
STEP 4: Combine and Toss: Pour the creamy dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Ensure every bite is packed with the classic flavors of a BLT sandwich.
STEP 5: Chill: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend together. This step also helps the salad to reach the perfect serving temperature.
STEP 6: Serve: Before serving, give the salad a good toss and garnish with additional chopped lettuce and cherry tomatoes if desired. Serve in a large bowl and enjoy this delicious salad as a main dish or a perfect side.
Recipe Tips:
Cook Pasta Al Dente: Ensure your pasta is cooked to al dente for the best texture.
Cool the Pasta: Rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it quickly.
Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh lettuce and juicy tomatoes make a big difference in the flavor.
Toss Before Serving: Give the salad a good toss before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Prepare Ahead: This salad can be made a day in advance and stored in the refrigerator, which allows the flavors to blend even more.
Pro Tip:
I like to double the dressing for this BLT Pasta Salad because it tends to soak up the dressing while chilling in the fridge. This way, the salad stays creamy and flavorful.
Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store your BLT Pasta Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, keep any additional dressing in a separate container to add before serving, ensuring the salad stays creamy and fresh.
Additions & Substitutions
ADDITIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Bacon: Substitute with turkey bacon or store-bought bacon bits.
- Pasta: Use bowtie pasta, fusilli, or other short pasta shapes.
- Dressing: Swap homemade dressing with a creamy ranch dressing for a different flavor.
- Vegetables: Add diced red onion or green onions for extra crunch.
FAQs about this Cold Pasta Salad:
What Can I Serve with this Easy Pasta Salad Recipes?
This makes a hearty meal on it’s own, but you can add some chicken for a BLT Pasta Salad with Chicken. Or serve with green beans and bread on the side to make a complete meal.
Easy BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 8 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 2 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Additional chopped lettuce and halved grape tomatoes for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse
- under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool down; set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled rotini pasta, crumbled bacon, grape tomatoes, and chopped romaine lettuce.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard,
- garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend together.
- Before serving, give the salad a good toss and, if desired, garnish with additional chopped lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
- Serve chilled.
Notes
- Mayonnaise: 1 cup
- Sour Cream: 1/2 cup
- Apple Cider Vinegar: 4 tablespoons
- Dijon Mustard: 2 teaspoons
- Salt: 2 teaspoons
- Garlic Powder: 1 teaspoon
- Black Pepper: 1 teaspoon
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
I’m excited for you to try this (Easy BLT Pasta Salad) Recipe! After you make it, please leave a rating to let me know your thoughts on it – I’m eager to hear if you loved it as much as we do!
I usually make BLT pasta salad one day ahead of time. It’s super convenient and delicious. This recipe turned out great; I’ve bookmarked it!
That was one delicious pasta salad! I used tri-color rotini to make it, and everyone raved about it.
This Bowl is just best for my family. Best Dinner option as well as a Happy Meal too. Colorful, nutritious and yummy combinations.
I love BLTs and this pasta salad version is terrific! It’s such a good way to serve a light and easy meal for dinner!
This turned out great! I loved the homemade creamy dressing with the pasta and bacon!
This pasta recipe is great! The elements are on point and you can tell that it is fresh, you can mess this up i tell you. It is so inviting!
What a fun idea! I don’t usually love pasta salad, but this sounds like something I’d love.
My husband made this for lunch today and we are obsessed. I’m actually excited for leftovers for once! Thank you.
I’m so happy to hear!!
This blt pasta salad was perfect for a picnic! The dressing is nicely balanced and so tangy and creamy. Just what I was craving on this hot summer day!
I love BLTs and this was the perfect way to incorporate it into a pasta recipe. The quick preparation will definitely attract me to make this time and time again! Thank you for sharing!