BLT Pasta Salad turns a classically perfect flavor combo into a fun summer dish that everyone will rave about! Crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and rotini pasta are tossed in a creamy homemade dressing to create a flavor combo that you will not be able to get enough of.
This easy pasta salad recipe is great for any cookout or even as a lunch or light summer meal! Using homemade dressing makes this recipe next level!
I am sort of known as the pasta salad queen when it comes to cookouts, barbecues, or potlucks. I will almost always be bringing along a delicious cold pasta salad with me, whether it is a Italian Pasta Salad or a tangy Greek pasta salad!
When I created this BLT pasta salad recipe, I knew I was onto something. It was the first thing gone at our last barbecue and my family requested it again within the same week! I love using rotini pasta in this recipe, because the yummy dressing sneaks into the crevices. BLT bow tie pasta salad or even BLT tortellini salad (using cheese filled tortellini) are also great options if you feel like changing things up a little bit!
The pasta salad dressing for this recipe is a combination of ranch and mayonnaise. The ranch adds flavor while the mayonnaise makes it nice and creamy! While you can use a bottled ranch dressing, as with most recipe homemade tastes best so I always use a quick batch of my fave homemade ranch dressing. A few extra minutes but definitely worth the time!
This makes it the absolute perfect side dish, because you can easily make it ahead of time and bring it with you!
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- Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad – Make ahead.
What To Put in Pasta Salad
This BLT pasta salad is seriously the bomb dot com. Not only are the classic BLT ingredients all there, but the addition of fresh avocados, cheddar cheese, and red onions really turns this into a legendary pasta salad recipe!
All pasta salads are super versatile, meaning you can add or remove just about anything you’d like. If you don’t eat pork, I have had success subbing the bacon out with turkey bacon in this BLT pasta salad. If you have produce you need to use up, peppers, carrots, celery, and onions all make great additions. The options are endless here! If you’re missing the bread from your favorite BLT sandwich, toss in a handful of croutons!
Just keep in mind that if you are adding any protein to your pasta salad, it will not last as long as if you omit it. Chicken will only last a couple days in the fridge, and bacon only lasts about 3. If you plan on making BLT pasta salad in advance, I would suggest making it within a day prior to the potluck or barbecue you plan to bring it to!
Ingredients
- 10 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, grease reserved
- 12 ounces rotini or penne, cooked and cooled
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¾ cup ranch dressing
- 1 ½ cups diced fresh tomatoes
- ½ avocado diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, ranch dressing and 1 tablespoon bacon grease (optional).
- In a large bowl assemble the pasta, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, red onion, lettuce and bacon.
- Pour the dressing over and toss to combine.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Video
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Main Course
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I made this salad ( I don’t eat avocado, so I left it out.) and it was so delicious. i made the salad dressing too that was also delicious. Thank you very much.
So glad you enjoyed the both! :)
My wife and made this salad. And it was out of this world. We both love it!!! I’ll make it again thank you
I’m so glad you both loved it!
Will the avocado turn brown after putting it in the salad ?
The avocado doesn’t brown if you make it shortly before serving.
Add a little lemon juice to the avacado
This looks delicious! If I make this the night before taking it to a potluck, will the avocados turn brown?
I would suggest leaving the avocado out and adding it just before serving. :)
I don’t know for sure but generally if a recipe has onion in it the avocado doesn’t brown. It is also coated with the dressing so that would not allow air to hit it as much and that’s what will brown the avocado. I’m making this tonight for a potluck tomorrow, hopefully I’m right!
I tried this salad and it was good! I added diced chicken and a dash of pepper. I would leave out the avocado. I didn’t think it went well with the BLT theme. I would use either lightly cooked green peas or diced cucumber instead if I were to make it again.
Glad you enjoyed it Julia!
This went right on my recipe book and I haven’t even tried it yet!
Enjoy Annie!
Is this served hot or cold?
This is served cold.
What would be good to use instead ranch! Allergic.
Another creamy dressing would work… I usually make my own ranch (so you can leave out the ingredients you’re allergic to).
Here is my homemade ranch dressing.
I think a creamy cucumber dressing would be good!
I went with the hubby to gis bowling league and one of his teammates Son, he is 16, said My Mom.made this BLT salad for dinner and it was SO GOOD, if a 16 year old boy(who a is the rough.and tumble type) says it’s good, I want that recipe! His Mom.sent the link , guess what a going with dinner tomorrow♡♡ I can’t wait!!!
Ahh, that’s such a huge compliment! :) Thank you for stopping by Danielle, I hope you love it!
Delicious..
omitted the avocado. Recipe is a keeper
So glad you loved it Evelyn!
Hi Holly, I writing to ask if there something you can change the avocado with??? Salad looks very good can u taste the avocado in the salad ????!
You can leave the avocado out if you prefer.
Aww thank you so much for sharing Emily, I really appreciate it!
How much bacon grease do you put in the dressing?
Sorry Linda, it should be about 1 tablespoon. I’ve udpated the recipe.
hi holly recipe looks wonderful ! one question..can you omit the avocado and how much does it add to it.?.my boyfriend is not a fan !
You can certainly leave the avocado out in this recipe (or just add a few chunks to your own serving if you’d like). Enjoy!
OMG, I can’t wait to make this for camping this weekend. Perfect summer salad!
Thank you Sandy!! We love this recipe!
Just made and ate this for dinner, omg! This is so good. Will have it again..
Thank you for posting this delicious recipe, if you haven’t tried this let me tell ya
it’s a must have.
So glad you loved it Tina! :)
I make a pasta salad using the same salad ingredients but I use Jamaican Mistake Salad Dressing. Mix everything with the salad dressing and toss. cover and let sit in fridge for a few hours. Toss salad again right before serving. It is delicious!!!
Yum Louise, I’ll have to give it a try!
Such a delicious and crowd-pleasing side for summer entertaining! Now I’m craving a bowl of this for dinner :)
Yum!
This looks like a great salad for a summer BBQ. Lots of flavor and easy to make!
Thank you Kathryn! We love this one!
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BLT salad isn’t new, I’ve been making it for over 10 years. Only thing I do different is the dressing. I use mayo with a touch of ketchup. Also don’t add the bacon or tomatoes until right before you serve.
For the BLT pasta salad 502calories, what is the portion size, is it a cup of pasta?
The recipe makes 8 portions.