Looking for a summer side dish that’s fresh, satisfying, and guaranteed to impress? This BLT Pasta Salad is the answer! It combines the classic flavours of a BLT sandwich into a creamy, crunchy, and vibrant pasta salad that’s guaranteed to be a hit at your next picnic or barbecue.
I love a crispy BLT sandwich! For those who don’t know, BLT typically stands for: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. For this BLT Pasta Salad recipe, I’ve taken this classic combo up a notch with a few extra ingredients like red onions, avocado, and cheese (because, honestly, why not?). This is kind of more like a BLTCAO? Yeah, that’s a bit of a mouthful…I decided to keep it simple and stick with BLT Pasta Salad instead. But you get the idea.
P.S. like all my best recipes, this one can be found within Fraîche Table—easy access at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere!
How to Make a BLT Pasta Salad
This recipe is super simple, yet it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Just combine your chopped toppings with cooked and cooled pasta, then toss it all together with creamy ranch dressing. You can definitely use store-bought ranch if you’re in a pinch, but I’ve included my homemade ranch recipe below because trust me, it’s next level! Let me tell you, it’s totally worth the small extra effort.
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Why You’ll Love This Salad
Who wouldn’t love this salad? Just look at how beautiful it is…after all, we do eat with our eyes first!
This BLT Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavour-packed dish that’s perfect for warm weather meals. The combination of creamy avocado, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy romaine lettuce offers the best of a BLT sandwich we all know and love, but in a salad form. Whether you’re serving it at a BBQ, picnic, or just looking for an easy weeknight meal, this recipe is sure to become a favourite in your rotation.
This is the type of salad that always gets gobbled up first. The bowl seemingly licked clean, where the bowl’s empty before you even have a chance to ask, “Who wants seconds?”
Tips & Tricks for the Best BLT Pasta Salad
Keep it Fresh: To keep your pasta salad tasting fresh, avoid adding the dressing too far in advance. The pasta will absorb it over time, leaving you with a soggy salad (and nobody wants that). Keep the dressing separate and toss it just before serving. And if you’re using avocados, only cut and add them right before enjoying to prevent them from browning.
Meal Prep It: This BLT Pasta Salad is a great option for meal prep. You can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days, so it’s perfect for lunches, quick dinners, or snacks. Just consider leaving dressing separate like I mentioned above.
Make it a Main Dish: Looking to turn this side dish into a full meal? Just add some grilled chicken, shrimp, or even hard-boiled eggs to make it more substantial and filling. It’s an easy way to elevate the salad and serve it as a main course.
Simple Pasta Salad Recipes
I’m a huge fan of pasta salads. They’re hearty, flavourful, and always a crowd-pleaser! I’ve got plenty of delicious recipes to prove it. Check out some of my other favourites below:
These next recipes are straight from Fraîche Table (my online meal planner), home to (quite literally) thousands of simple, balanced, family-friendly recipes. Warning: these will make you hungry.
Unlock full access by becoming a member—it’s free to try!
BLT Pasta Salad
Try this BLT Pasta Salad for a fresh twist on the classic sandwich, loaded with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and creamy ranch dressing! It's a guaranteed hit!
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked bowtie pasta (approx. 4 cups cooked)
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cubed small
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1/4 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 avocado diced
Homemade Ranch (makes about 3/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon parsley roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 lemon juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool completely.
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Make the Dressing: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use.
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Add the bacon to a pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
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In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped bacon, cherry tomatoes, cheddar cheese, lettuce, red onion and avocado.
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When ready to serve, toss the salad in the ranch dressing to taste.
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