BLT Pasta Salad (Printable)

A fresh mix of bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and pasta finished with a tangy creamy dressing for easy summer meals.

# What Goes In:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)

→ Bacon

02 - 7 oz streaky bacon, diced

→ Vegetables

03 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 3.5 oz romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 avocado, diced (optional)

→ Dressing

07 - ½ cup mayonnaise
08 - ¼ cup sour cream
09 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water following package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water, and set aside.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Cook diced bacon until golden and crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
03 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, chopped lettuce, diced red onion, optional avocado, and cooked bacon.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to evenly coat all components.
06 - Sprinkle with chopped chives or parsley. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It combines all the flavors of a classic BLT into a dish you can actually bring to a picnic without it falling apart in your hands.
  • The creamy tangy dressing clings to every piece of pasta and makes even the lettuce taste like something you'd choose to eat.
  • You can prep most of it ahead and toss it together right before serving so it stays crisp and bright.
02 -
  • Don't add the lettuce or avocado until right before serving if you're making this ahead, or they'll turn sad and brown and ruin the whole vibe.
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water isn't just to cool it down, it also washes off the excess starch that would make the dressing gummy and thick.
  • If the bacon isn't crispy enough, it will steam in the salad and turn chewy, so make sure it's properly golden before you pull it from the pan.
03 -
  • Let the pasta cool completely before adding the dressing, or the heat will make the mayo break and turn oily.
  • Use thick cut bacon if you can find it, the chunkier pieces hold up better in the salad and give you more to bite into.
  • Taste the dressing before you add it to the salad, it should be bold and tangy on its own because the pasta will mellow it out.
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