BLT Pasta Salad
Servings: 8-10 | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 10 minutes | Chill Time: 1 hour
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This BLT Pasta Salad takes all the classic flavors of a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and transforms them into a creamy, satisfying pasta salad that’s perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, and backyard barbecues. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser—everyone loves bacon, and this salad is packed with it!
The creamy dressing, crisp bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce come together in a way that’s both familiar and new. It’s the perfect side dish for grilled meats, but it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
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1 pound rotini or bowtie pasta
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1 pound bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
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2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
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1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
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½ red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
For the Creamy Dressing:
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1 cup mayonnaise
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½ cup sour cream
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2 tablespoons milk
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1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon salt
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¼ teaspoon black pepper
Directions
1. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain well.
2. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, red wine vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
3. Combine. In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, and red onion (if using). Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
4. Chill. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
5. Add lettuce and serve. Just before serving, gently fold in the chopped romaine lettuce. This keeps the lettuce crisp. Serve chilled.
Variations
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Lighter version: Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and light mayo
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Add avocado: Fold in diced avocado just before serving
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Extra crunch: Add croutons or crispy fried onions
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Swap the greens: Try spinach or arugula instead of romaine
Expert Tips
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Add lettuce at the end. This keeps it from getting soggy
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Save some bacon. Reserve a little bacon for garnish on top
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Drain the pasta well. Excess water can water down the dressing
Storage
Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make-ahead: Prepare the salad without the lettuce up to 2 days ahead, and add greens just before serving.
Final Thoughts
This BLT Pasta Salad is pure summer perfection—creamy, crunchy, and packed with smoky bacon flavor. It’s guaranteed to be the hit of any gathering!