BLT Pasta Salad is a fresh, creamy twist on the classic BLT sandwich—combining bacon, lettuce, tomato, and pasta with a tangy dressing. It’s perfect for potlucks, picnics, or quick summer meals.
🥓🍅🥬 BLT Pasta Salad
🧾 Ingredients
🍝 Salad base
- 3 cups cooked pasta (rotini, penne, or shells work best)
- 6–8 slices bacon (crispy, chopped)
- 1–2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 2 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce (chopped)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- 2–3 green onions (sliced)
🥣 Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
👨🍳 Instructions
1. Cook pasta
- Boil pasta until al dente.
- Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
- Let it cool completely.
2. Cook bacon
- Fry bacon until crispy.
- Drain on paper towels and chop into pieces.
3. Make dressing
- Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Stir until smooth and creamy.
4. Combine
- In a large bowl, add pasta, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, and green onions.
- Pour dressing over and mix well.
5. Add lettuce (important)
- Gently fold in chopped lettuce just before serving so it stays crisp.
🍽️ Serving ideas
- 🥖 With garlic bread or rolls
- 🍗 Alongside grilled chicken
- 🥪 As a side for sandwiches or burgers
- 🧊 Best served chilled
🔥 Tips for best BLT pasta salad
- Add lettuce last to avoid sogginess.
- Chill pasta before mixing for better texture.
- Use thick-cut bacon for stronger flavor.
- Add dressing gradually so it doesn’t get too heavy.
🔄 Variations
- 🧀 BLT pasta salad with ranch dressing
- 🥑 BLT avocado pasta salad
- 🌶️ Spicy BLT with chipotle mayo
- 🍋 Light version with vinaigrette instead of mayo
If you want, I can also make a meal-prep version, a low-calorie healthy BLT salad, or a restaurant-style creamy deluxe upgrade.
