BLT Pasta Salad
Bring on the Summer BBQ’s and serve loaded BLT Pasta Salad with a creamy ranch dressing! This yummy easy cold pasta salad recipe is full of bacon, tomato, lettuce, pasta and more – one of my favourites!
Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Last year we attended a pot luck meet and greet with the 2014 Cheerleading team and all the parents. Of course, one of the perks of pot lucks is the huge variety of foods from appetizer trays to desserts.
There was one particular cold pasta salad that I tried, and loved. After going around the room and asking a few people, I managed to find the woman that brought the salad.
I scored the recipe for this amazing BLT Pasta Salad made with classic blt ingredients!
Here are more great salads for you to try: Taco Salad, Broccoli Salad, and this Garden fresh Pasta Salad!
If you haven’t tried this easy blt pasta salad recipe yet, you are truly missing out. While I had made a more typical pasta salad in the past, for our own family meals and for taking to pot lucks, this one quickly replaced my usual go-to.
Really, this delicious pasta salad is that good! It’s become a great option for when a cold pasta salad is needed.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
Here are the simple ingredients to make this easy blt pasta salad recipe. The full details and instructions are below in the printable recipe card
- cooked pasta
- Ranch Salad Dressing
- large tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- Swiss cheese or cheddar cheese
- red onion
- cooked bacon, cooked until you have crunchy bacon
- romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce
- salt and black pepper
To Make: Cook the pasta in a large pot, according to package directions and until cooked al dente. Drain excess water from pasta.
Rinse with cold water, drain, and refrigerate until cold. Toss with enough ranch dressing to lightly coat the pasta, so it doesn’t stick together.
In a large mixing bowl (or the large bowl you’ll want to serve this in) toss the cold pasta with juicy tomatoes, Swiss, onions, crispy bacon pieces and fresh lettuce.
Add enough dressing to generously coat everything and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Optional Ingredients: You could also add some green onions to this recipe, it’s a great addition.
What Kind of Pasta to Use
I like to use spiral pasta, rotini pasta, or elbow macaroni. Any pasta that is shaped so that the ingredients can attach to the pasta is great. I’ve also used bowtie pasta in the past.
Storage and Leftovers
- Cover this salad with aluminum foil or plastic wrap (or in an airtight container) and store in the refrigerator until serving.
- Store leftovers the same way and keep for up to 3-4 days. This salad is just as good the next day, so you can make it ahead of time.
Why You Need to Make this BLT Salad
This italian pasta salad is like your favourite classic blt sandwich served in salad form. While it’s a great side dish and for potlucks since it’s such a crowd pleaser, we have been known to make this as a hearty main dish too.
This classic sandwhich turned salad is made with ranch dressing has that right kind of tang .. it’s just one great salad to have in your recipe box.
You could also make your own homemade ranch dressing for this creamy pasta salad recipe, yet grocery store creamy dressing is just as good.
Now, bring on the barbecues, the beloved classic flavors of a blt are a great excuse to serve this easy pasta salad recipe!
This homemade pasta salad is so much better than a store bought version, it’s our favorite summer salad.
More Salad Recipes:
- BBQ Chicken Salad, it has a three ingredient dressing that is out of this world!
- This Taco Pasta Salad can be made ahead and won’t get soggy!
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!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spiral pasta {or another type of medium-sized pasta}
- 1 bottle Ranch Salad Dressing
- 1 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup cubed Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onions
- 1 pound bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped
- 2 cups finely chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- salt and black pepper
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
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 6 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 542Saturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 546mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 20g
My husband is going to LOVE this recipe. He can’t possibly get enough bacon…haha
Oh bacon is needed in this recipe – a must! 😉
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!
If you are going to try a pasta salad, try this one. Seriously, so good!
I love pasta salad. Never thought about making a BLT version. What a great idea. I am totally going to make this!
I’m so happy I went to this potluck!! 😉
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
You can find the best recipes at a potluck!
Thank for sharing!
This looks lovely and such a great recipe for the summer. I’ll have to try your recipe out soon.
This looks delish and perfect for summer bbq’s.
Looks so yummy. Thanks 🙂
I need to try this! You can’t go wrong with bacon as an ingredient.
looks really tasty
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.
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.
Oh wow, I think I would absolutely love this salad! It would be perfect for picnics and BBQ’s! Yum!
Yum! I will have to try this, I love a good BLT.
sounds yummy can’t wait to try it
Great recipe, Tammi! This is a perfect potluck example too…you can never have too many salads.
I seem to stumble upon your food posts when I am hungry! I think I will be making this today and perhaps just calling it dinner. However, I don’t want to wait that long.
Sounds like a delicious pasta salad! BLT is one of my favourite sandwiches, so this has to be good!
Thanks.
This is one of my favorite salads. This is a must try everyone!
YUM! Anything with bacon is a plus, this is the perfect summer BBQ recipe!!
This definitely sounds like a recipe my whole family would eat right up! We’re big ‘salad’ fans in the house (I.E. potato salad, egg salad, tuna salad, etc) so this will probably be tried out 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
Any recipe that includes bacon is A-okay in my book!! This would be great to serve at our cookouts this summer. I bet it would be the first thing to go!
I love pasta salad… never thought of turning it into a BLT..love the idea…. looks delicious thanks for sharing, will pin so I can dish it up soon, too
Looks perfect for BBQ season! We have already been grilling and this would go great with it!!
Looks easy enough and very colorful. I really love bacon so this great.
This sounds wonderful . I’ve been craving a BLT sandwich lately, but should try this instead! 🙂 Always looking for something different to take to parties.
This looks delicious! I love potlucks, a chance to try something new.
My husband says that everything is better with bacon. This salad looks awesome!
Perfect dish for summer! Looks delicious! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Definitely going to make this on the weekend for our bbq
This sounds like the perfect bbq recipe!! We have been invited to a couple of them this summer, I will have to tr this recipe out.
i loveee pasta and this is mouth watering. wow.
That looks so good! We love Pasta Salad!
instant craving! this looks amazing. we love pasta salads but definitely dont do them enough. this would be perfect along side a steak 🙂 I have it bookmarked 🙂
This looks great for any BBQ with pork chops, chicken or steak! Trying it tomorrow with our company, thanks!
I have never heard of this recipe but it sounds like one I would love.