BLT PASTA SALAD

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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.

Table of Contents

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

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 (either iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce).
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

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!
Our Greek Chicken Pasta Salad has the best homemade Greek vinaigrette.

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!

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

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 20

Servings:

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

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41 Comments

Mary says:

06/11/2025 at 1:09 pm

The best BLT Pasta Salad ever! Love this recipe!

heather says:

10/10/2017 at 1:37 pm

I have never heard of this recipe but it sounds like one I would love.

Doris Calvert says:

09/02/2017 at 7:01 am

This looks great for any BBQ with pork chops, chicken or steak! Trying it tomorrow with our company, thanks!

kristen visser says:

08/29/2017 at 9:08 am

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 🙂

Carole D says:

06/20/2017 at 11:50 pm

That looks so good! We love Pasta Salad!

dawn says:

07/04/2015 at 3:54 am

i loveee pasta and this is mouth watering. wow.

4.97 from 28 votes (24 ratings without comment)