This Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe will be the side dish star of your BBQ or potluck! This is the absolute best pasta salad recipe with tender pasta mixed with bacon, spinach, tomatoes, and an amazingly delicious ranch dressing.
This BLT Pasta Salad is hands down my absolute favorite pasta salad recipe. I have a ton of pasta salads on this site but this one definitely holds the number one spot! All the amazing flavors of a BLT sandwich, mixed with pasta and a super tangy ranch dressing mixture! If you are a BLT fan or have lots of summer tomatoes to use, try these BLT Potato Skins or BLT Pinwheels.
What is in a BLT?
Traditionally, a BLT has bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. The first time I made this salad, we all instantly fell in love with the creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, and freshness of the tomatoes and spinach! If you have lots of garden tomatoes, this is the perfect way to use them! No cooking required! I subbed the traditional lettuce in a BLT for spinach as it holds up better and doesn’t get soggy and gross. Any leafy green will work but I think spinach is definitely the best. You could throw in kale too if you are a fan!
This easy side dish recipe is perfect for serving alongside grilled meats or for taking to a potluck. It is always a hit anywhere I take it! When making the dressing, feel free to sub sour cream or Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise. You can use low fat or fat free as well.
Can you use other pasta shapes to make BLT Pasta Salad?
Yes! Macaroni noodles, penne noodles, or even mini rigatoni would be good! The farfalle holds the dressing well which is why I always use it, but use what you have!
Need an amazing summer salad recipe for your next party or picnic? Everyone will love this amazing BLT Pasta Salad full of fresh summer flavors, topped with a ranch dressing mixture!
Looking for more pasta salad recipes?
Orzo Salad with Roasted Vegetables
Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan Tortellini Salad
BLT Pasta Salad
This amazing pasta salad recipe is like your favorite BLT sandwich, in salad form!
Ingredients
- 12 oz. farfalle pasta noodles
- 10 slices of bacon cooked crisp and then broken into pieces
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes quartered
- 2 cups of baby spinach
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- For the dressing:
- 2/3 cup ranch dressing
- 1 heaping tbsp. mayonnaise can sub sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 2 tsp. dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. Italian dressing
Instructions
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Boil pasta according to instructions and drain well when finished.
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While pasta cooks, add quartered tomatoes and cooked bacon to a mixing bowl.
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In a small bowl, add all the dressing ingredients and whisk until combined.
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Once pasta is finished, add it to the bowl of bacon and tomatoes. Stir well and then add half the dressing. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
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One hour before serving, add the spinach and the remaining dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Return to the fridge until ready to serve.
BLTs are my favorite summertime sandwich… so I have to guess that this pasta salad would be my favorite summertime side dish! Yum!!
They are my favorite too! I think you would love this salad!