BLT Pasta Salad

Pinterest Hidden Image

Rule #343: Take a sandwich, make it a pasta.

This BLT Pasta Salad is a delicious, cold pasta salad with an easy semi homemade dressing that makes it the perfect side dish for a backyard bbq or grilling night! The best part is that you can make this little number a day ahead and whip ‘er out when it’s time to eat.

BLT Pasta Salad side dish easy

I mean, pasta, bacon, and a creamy dressing. Where is the flaw I ask you?

summer BLT Pasta Salad

Let’s get to work so we can get to eatin’, shall we? First, boil 1 lb. of rotini pasta in a large pot of heavily salted (like the sea) water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

boil pasta in heavily salted water until al dente

For the dressing, combine 3/4 cup ranch dressing, 1/2 cup mayonnaise with olive oil, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, and 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt in a large bowl. Whisk until well mixed.

add italian seasoning kosher salt and black pepper to mayonnaise and ranch

Then, add in your cooked rotini pasta.

add cooked rotini

Toss until the dressing coats every piece of perfectly curly, tender pasta.

toss blt pasta salad to combine

Next, add in 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes. This will put the T in our BLT Pasta Salad.

add halved cherry tomatoes

Then, add in 5 oz. (about 3 cups) chopped spinach. This here is the L in our BLT Pasta Salad.

add chopped spinach

Finally, we add the main star of this here show: Bacon. Now, since B is the first letter in our BLT Pasta Salad, we need to make sure he’s well represented. That said, we add in 1 lb. of cooked, chopped bacon. That’s right ladies and gents. One. Pound.

Finally, the

add cooked chopped bacon

Give everything a good ole toss-a-rooni so all the flavors can coat every piece of this deliciousness. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day ahead of time.

toss to combine

I don’t know if this bowl could get any better. I really don’t.

BLT Pasta Salad easy

Oh wait, it did. Closer is better, yes indeed.

pasta BLT Pasta Salad

This BLT Pasta Salad would pair well with almost any grilled meat or BBQ you’re serving. The best part is that it’s a cold salad that can be made ahead, making it a hit at pot lucks and group meals of all kinds!

BLT Pasta Salad

Oh my stars. Pardon my drool.


pasta BLT Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

This BLT Pasta Salad is a delicious cold pasta salad with an easy semi homemade dressing that makes it the perfect side dish for a backyard bbq or grilling night! Make it a day ahead for easy serving.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 508 kcal

Ingredients
  

Salad

  • 16 oz. rotini pasta
  • Pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 5 oz. spinach chopped (about 3 cups)
  • 1 lb. bacon cooked and chopped

Dressing

  • ¾ cup ranch dressing
  • ½ cup mayonnaise with olive oil
  • ½ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp. Kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot of heavily-salted water, boil the rotini pasta until al dente (about 8 minutes).
  • Meanwhile, make the dressing by combining all dressing ingredient in a large bowl and whisking to combine.
  • Once the pasta has cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. Add the pasta to the dressing, then add in tomatoes, spinach, and bacon. Toss until combined.
  • Chill for 1 hour (up to 1 day ahead), and serve.

Notes

*Pasta and bacon can be cooked and stored in airtight containers in the fridge up to 3 days ahead of time.
Optional Toppings
Mozzarella pearls
Cubed Swiss or cheddar cheese
Chopped avocado

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 13gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 743mgPotassium: 223mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 61IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary, and Pineapple House Rules makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Keyword BLT Pasta Salad, Pasta Salad, side dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know your thoughts!
Home | Recipes | BLT Pasta Salad

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating