This BLT Pasta Salad is everything you love about a classic BLT sandwich in a chilled, creamy pasta salad. Made with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, fresh romaine lettuce, and bow tie pasta tossed in ranch dressing, it's an easy side dish that works for any picnic or potluck.
This recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy summer pasta salads. It's right up there with Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad and Dill Pickle Pasta Salad. Cool, creamy, and perfect for warm weather meals and outdoor gatherings.
Why You'll Love This Salad
Quick and simple: it comes together fast with just a few ingredients.
Crispy, creamy, and fresh: crunch bacon, lettuce, and croutons balance perfectly with the creamy ranch.
Perfect for gatherings: always a hit at cookouts, BBQs, and family dinners.
Ingredients You'll Need
Bow tie pasta: the fun shape holds onto dressing and mixes well with the other salad ingredients.
Thick Cut Bacon: adds savory, salty crunch to every bite. I love using my air fryer bacon method.
Ripe Tomatoes: cherry or grape tomatoes work well, but fresh garden tomatoes are best.
Romaine lettuce: stays crisp and gives this salad it's "BLT" flavor.
Ranch dressing: homemade ranch dressing or bottled both work here. Creamy ranch ties everything together.
Croutons: adds a crunchy finish. Use store bought or make my buttery homemade croutons.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Swap bow tie pasta for rotini or elbow macaroni.
- Use bacon bits if you're short on time.
- Try honey chipotle dressing instead of classic ranch for a sweet and spicy twist.
Recipe Variations
- Stir in shredded cheddar cheese or fresh mozzarella chunks.
- Add diced avocado for a BLAT twist.
- Mix in thinly sliced red onion for more flavor.
Top Tips
- Let pasta cool before mixing so it doesn't wilt the lettuce.
- Toss the bacon and lettuce in just before serving to keep them crisp.
- Add the croutons right before serving for crunch.
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. It's best eaten the same day while everything is still crisp, but will hold up for a day or two without the croutons mixed in.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this salad with a Tomato Avocado Salad Stack, or serve it next to Bacon Tomato Grilled Cheese for a classic combo. It also works great with Buttery Garlic Bread Chips, or Toasty Tuna Melts.
More Pasta Salad Recipes
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📖 Recipe
BLT Pasta Salad
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces bow tie pasta
- 6 slices cooked bacon , broken into bite sized pieces
- 1 large tomato , diced
- 1 small Romaine
- ½ cup Homemade Ranch Dressing
- 2 cups Homemade Croutons
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, bacon, tomato, and lettuce.
- Pour the ranch dressing over top of the pasta mixture and toss to coat.
- Serve with croutons.
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