Recipes » Salads

BLT Pasta Salad

ByTammi Updated on
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This loaded BLT Pasta Salad recipe with a creamy ranch dressing is a perfect summertime pasta salad for gatherings and potlucks. With bacon, tomato, lettuce, cheese, and pasta – it’s like having a classic BLT sandwich served as a salad.

a large bowl of cold pasta salad.

Last year we attended a pot luck and of course one of the perks is the huge variety of foods from appetizer trays to desserts. There was one particular cold pasta salad that I tried, and immediately loved.

I managed to find the woman that brought the salad, and that is how I scored the recipe for this amazing BLT Pasta Salad made with classic blt ingredients! This is the best pasta salad recipe that quickly replaced my usual go-to for gatherings.

Here are more great salads for you to try: Taco Salad, Broccoli Salad, and this Garden Fresh Pasta Salad!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • DELICIOUS – This perfect pasta salad is just like your favourite classic blt sandwich with fresh veggies and bacon.
  • SIMPLE RECIPE – Easy to make and using few common ingredients make this a go-to salad for anyone.
  • CROWD PLEASER – It’s a great addition for potlucks, parties, picnics, and gatherings just like our Grape Salad Recipe or even our Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad.
  • VERSATILE – Can also be enjoyed as a quick dinner or lunch as it’s so filling that it doubles as main dish. Our Oriental Chicken Salad Applebees is the same.
  • Total Time: 20 Minutes
  • Serves: 6

Ingredients and Notes

Simple ingredients are needed to make this easy blt pasta salad recipe, which is the perfect summer side dish. The full recipe is in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

  • Cooked Pasta – Any short shaped pasta will work, yet I like to make sure it’s a spiral pasta so there’s goodness in the pasta grooves. Try rotini pasta, elbow macaron or even bowtie pasta. I suggest the same with our Mexican Macaroni Salad Recipe too.
  • Ranch Salad Dressing – I use store-bought creamy dressing, yet you can make your own homemade ranch dressing if you want.
  • Large Tomatoes – You can use chopped fresh tomatoes, or halved cheery tomatoes or grape tomatoes.
  • Swiss Cheese – you could also use cheddar cheese, marble cheese, or even feta cheese if you’d like.
  • Red Onion – you can also use a white onion or sweet onion if preferred.
  • Cooked Bacon – you want crispy bacon. You can also use turkey bacon if you prefer.

BLT Pasta Salad Tips

  • Make your own homemade ranch dressing by mixing mayo with a packet of ranch seasoning. You might need a little bit of milk if it’s too thick..
  • Add the lettuce if serving right away, or else it will get soggy.
  • Make sure to cook the pasta only to el dente. If it’s overcooked, it might get mushy, especially if not served right away.

Optional Additions

While this recipe is great as is, there are ways to bring it to the next level. To make your pasta salad a little extra, here are some ideas on what to add.

  • Green Onions
  • Diced avocado
  • Chopped Bell Peppers
  • Diced Cucumbers
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese

How to Make BLT Pasta Salad

  1. Cook the pasta according to directions until cooked al dente.
  2. Drain pasta and toss with enough ranch dressing to lightly coat the pasta, so it doesn’t stick together. Refrigerate until cold.
  3. In a large bowl toss the cold pasta with tomatoes, Swiss, onions, bacon and lettuce (either iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce).
  4. Add enough dressing to generously coat everything. Taste and season with salt and black pepper if needed.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this pasta salad at a summer bbq or a potluck, it’s a real crowd pleaser, just like our Chicken Greek Pasta Salad recipe.

This bacon lettuce tomato pasta salad is also a filling and hearty salad that can be enjoyed as a light lunch or for dinner. Alone or as a side with pretty much anything.

a bowl of pasta salad on a table with a spoon in it.

Storage and Leftovers

Cover this salad with aluminum foil or plastic wrap (or place in an airtight container) and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This salad is just as good the next day, so you can make it ahead of time.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This blt salad with pasta can totally be made up to one day in advance! Keep the salad ingredients in one bowl and the dressing in a separate container or mason jar. Cover both and refrigerate. When ready to serve, add the salad dressing, serve right away so the lettuce doesn’t get soggy.

Recipe FAQ

What goes in a BLT pasta salad?

It’s like a blt sandwich, in a bowl. So bacon, lettuce, tomato, dressing, cheese onion and pasta. Yet there’s plenty of room of recipe variations.

What dressing do you put on a BLT salad?

Our recipe calls for ranch dressing, yet you can also make your own. You want a creamy dressing for this salad, so you could even do a combination of ranch and mayonnaise.

More Salad Recipes

If you’ve tried this BLT Pasta Salad or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!

A dish is filled with pasta and salad, with BLT Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Bring on the Summer BBQ’s and serve BLT Pasta Salad! This yummy easy salad recipe is full of bacon, tomato, lettuce, pasta and more – one of my favourites!
4.97 from 28 votes
Print Pin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Author: Tammi

Ingredients 

  • 8 ounces spiral pasta ((or another type of medium-sized pasta))
  • 1 bottle Ranch Salad Dressing
  • 1 1/2 cup tomatoes (diced )
  • 1 cup Swiss cheese (cubed )
  • 1/2 cup red onions (thinly sliced )
  • 1 pound bacon (cooked until crispy and chopped)
  • 2 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce (finely chopped )
  • salt and black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to directions until cooked al dente.
  • Drain pasta and toss with enough ranch dressing to lightly coat the pasta, so it doesn’t stick together. Refrigerate until cold.
  • In a large bowl toss the cold pasta with tomatoes, Swiss, onions, bacon and lettuce.
  • Add enough dressing to generously coat everything and season with salt and pepper to taste

Notes

Cover this salad with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. This salad is just as good the next day, so you can make it ahead of time.
Tried this recipe?Tag @MyOrganizedChaosBlog so I can share!

Nutrition

Serving: 6Servings | Calories: 542kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 20g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 546mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g
Pin Recipe

Tammi Roy is a Canadian-based food creator at My Organized Chaos. Founded in 2009, My Organized Chaos is where she shares her love for family-friendly recipes that take some of the chaos out of daily life. *Learn more about Tammi here.

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41 Comments

  1. Great recipe, Tammi! This is a perfect potluck example too…you can never have too many salads.

    Reply

  4. Oh wow, I think I would absolutely love this salad! It would be perfect for picnics and BBQ’s! Yum!

    Reply

  5. I love a good pasta salad because they travel so well and are perfect for potlucks and BBQ’s. I will add this to my pasta salad repertoire.

    Reply

  6. Pasta…really do not need to say more but I will. lol I love pasta salad, always perfect for a BBQ or long weekend with company.

    Reply

  11. This looks lovely and such a great recipe for the summer. I’ll have to try your recipe out soon.

    Reply

  12. So glad I’m not the only one who will stalk people at a pot luck for the recipe! The swiss cheese would add a nice sharp touch to this

    Reply

  13. I love pasta salad. Never thought about making a BLT version. What a great idea. I am totally going to make this!

    Reply

  14. I’m not a huge fan of pasta salad, but this one actually sounds delicious to me! What a unique twist! And obviously love the addition of the bacon!

    Reply

  15. My husband is going to LOVE this recipe. He can’t possibly get enough bacon…haha

    Reply
4.97 from 28 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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