This BLT pasta salad recipe is a delicious twist on the classic summer side dish. Pasta, tomatoes, bacon and more are tossed in a flavorful homemade dressing.

This BLT pasta salad recipe is next-level delicious. Made with all the best pieces of the classic BLT sandwich, this new spin on pasta salad is a crowd-pleaser sure to become summertime staple.

In this recipe, pasta is combined with tomatoes, bacon, lettuce, onion and avocado. Then, everything is tossed in a delicious bacon grease infused, mayonnaise-based dressing – because no BLT is complete without mayo.

The flavor and texture profile of this dish is other-worldly. So delicious you must make it asap!

BLT Pasta Salad: Ingredients & Substitutions

• Pasta: You can easily make this dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta. Choose your favorite shape (rotini, penne, etc.).
• Cherry Tomatoes. diced large tomatoes like heirloom or Roma also work well.
• Bacon. I suggest making this oven baked bacon for this BLT pasta salad.
• Avocado is optional but recommended.
• Lettuce. Romaine, iceberg, red leaf, green leaf, etc. are all great choices.
• Mayonnaise. I suggest organic mayo for the best taste.
• Dijon Mustard. choose your favorite variety such as yellow, honey mustard, spicy, etc.
• Honey. granulated sugar is a good substitute.
• Lemon juice. freshly squeezed or bottled both work well.

How to Make BLT Pasta Salad

Let’s discuss how to make this recipe together, and be sure to watch the video.

Cook the Pasta

Begin by cooking the pasta in salted water until al dente. Once cooked, drain but do not rinse.

Transfer the pasta to a large bowl to cool, stirring occasionally to release heat.

Bake Bacon & Reserve Grease

While the pasta is cooking, bake the bacon in the over set to 400 degrees F. Bake bacon until cooked to your liking (see post: how to bake bacon).

Once it’s cooked, remove the bacon from the oven and use tongs to transfer it to a paper-towel lined plate.

Then, pour the bacon grease from the pan into a glass measuring cup or bowl to save and use in the dressing.

Once bacon in cool, transfer it to a cutting board and cut into strips ½ to 1” pieces

Make the Dressing

Next, make the dressing by whisking the mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon grease, and the rest of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or glass measuring cup.

Assemble the BLT Pasta Salad

Once all the components are prepped, it’s time to assemble the BLT pasta salad. Add the tomatoes, onion and bacon to the cooled pasta and stir to combine.

Then, stir in the dressing until evenly distributed. Secure the lid on the bowl and chill the salad for at least 3 hours.

When ready to serve, stir in the lettuce and avocado. Then taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.

Serve

Transfer the BLT pasta salad to a serving dish, garnish with extra bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, salt and pepper and serve with your favorite barbecue recipes. Here are some suggestions:

• Serve it with your favorite grilling recipes like homemade hamburgers, chicken kebabs, or BBQ chicken.
• It pairs well with sides like coleslaw, potato salad and broccoli salad.

Store

Store leftover BLT pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I do not recommend freezing this recipe.

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe FAQS

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