BLT Pasta Salad

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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.

BLT Pasta Salad in a bowl with a spoon

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 in a bowl
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BLT Pasta Salad: Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the labeled ingredients in this BLT Pasta Salad recipe
  • 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.
a fork taking a bite of BLT Pasta Salad on a plate

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.

a spoon scooping rotini noodles cooked in a pot out of the pot
cooked rotini noodles in a colander

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

Prepare in Advance

You can prepare the pasta a day in advance by cooking it & storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight.

rotini pasta in a glass bowl with a wooden spoon

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).

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - bacon on a baking sheet before cooking
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - cooked bacon on a baking sheet

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.

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - bacon being transferred ot a paper towel lined plate with tongs
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - bacon grease in a glass bowl

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

cooked & diced bacon on a plate

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.

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - dressing ingredients in a bowl before whisking
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - dressing in a bowl after whisking

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.

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - ingredients in a bowl before stirring
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - after stirring ingredients together

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

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - dressing added before stirring
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - dressing stirred into the salad

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

how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - lettuce added before stirring
how to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe - after stirring in lettuce

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:

BLT Pasta Salad in a serving bowl

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 in a bowl with a spoon

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe FAQS

Can I use a different dressing?

Yes, you can choose your favorite dressing just be aware it will change the flavor profile of the dish.

How long does BLT pasta salad keep?

This recipe stays fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

Can I halve or double this recipe?

Absolutely, this recipe is easily scaled to fit your needs.

BLT Pasta Salad in a bowl

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BLT Pasta Salad

Laura
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.
No ratings yet
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 16 Servings
Calories 349
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Chiling3 hours
Total Time3 hours 32 minutes

Ingredients 
 

  • 16 ounces rotini pasta
  • 16 ounces bacon (cooked and diced, greased reserved)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (2 cups, halved)
  • 4 green onions (¼ cup, sliced thin)
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce (shredded, loosely packed)
  • 1 avocado (diced)

Dressing

Instructions 

Cook Pasta

  • Cook 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

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake bacon until done (see post: how to bake bacon)
  • Remove bacon from the oven, use tongs to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate. Pour the bacon grease from the pan into a glass measuring cup or bowl to save.
  • Once bacon in cool, transfer it to a cutting board and cut into strips ½ to 1” pieces

Make the Dressing

  • In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of reserved bacon grease, and the rest of the dressing ingredients.

Assemble & Chill

  • Ad, tomatoes, onion and bacon to cooled pasta and stir to combine.
  • Stir in dressing until evenly distributed.
  • Secure the lid and chill completely (at least 3 hours).

Serve

  • When ready to serve, stir in the lettuce. Taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking.
  • If desired, add avocado.
  • Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with extra bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, salt and pepper and serve.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitution Notes
  • 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.
  • 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.
Store
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 349kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 366mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 725IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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