BLT Pasta Salad
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This BLT Pasta Salad recipe is a super delicious spin off of the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich turned into a super yummy family favorite side dish! Perfect to take to potlucks, cookouts, and BBQs!
When late spring and summer hits, my brain instantly thinks: PASTA SALAD TIME. I just love a big ol’ pile of creamy pasta salad on the side of some yummy grilled food or a nice cheeseburger. The idea for BLT Pasta Salad came from my love of BLTs and my love for pasta salads. It only made sense to marry the two and put them on my plate.
So how many of you LOVE cookouts? I’m going to take a wild guess and say.. ALL OF YOU.
I sure do! My favorite part of any get together, big or small is… the food, especially summer food! I totally used to be the one who couldn’t fit all of the goodies on my plate. I’d be back for seconds and sometimes thirds (hey the paper platers are wimpy, mmmk?) normally piled with a delicious burger, pasta salad, potato salad, chips and dip…. the list goes on and on. Anyone else getting hungry while reading this? Because I sure am!
My easy BLT Pasta Salad is a little more healthy, but still totally delicious. You can easily take this to any party and no none will question if it’s a little lightened up or ridden with copious amounts of regular mayonnaise like most any other proper creamy pasta salad recipes.
This version of a BLT Pasta Salad recipe is still super creamy just the way a pasta salad should be. It’s still bursting with flavor from the crispy savory bacon, diced green onion, and creamy ranch-y dressing that I could die over. I hid some carrots in there for extra texture and nutrition-y stuff too. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next get together. You can be like me, and just make it for the week and eat it every single day. Nobody is judging. Nobody said you have to go to a party to eat this.
How to make this Easy BLT Pasta Salad recipe:
Gather your ingredients!
Ingredients
- uncooked pasta- I tend to use medium shells most, but have used elbow macaroni and rotini pasta too
- raw carrots- I personally like the flavor and crunch these add. You can use diced celery too, but don’t boil it with the noodles like I do with carrots.
- cooked center cut bacon-I’m a big fan of using center cut bacon in place of regular bacon. it’s more meat-y and less fatty- crisp up slices in your air fryer, oven, or in a skillet!
- low fat buttermilk- yes you can make your own if you don’t tend to keep buttermilk on hand! Just add one tablespoon of white vinegar (or lemon juice) in a measuring cup then fill with 1% milk to the one cup mark. Let it set for about 5 minutes. Voila! Buttermilk!
- light mayonnaise- you can use full fat too!
- Hidden Valley Ranch packet- if you don’t want to use the packet or can’t find it- you can season with a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dill for the same flavor profile. my favorite seasoning blend from the Hidden Valley Ranch packets are the “restaurant style” packets.
- diced green onions- you can switch out for finely diced red onion.
- cherry tomatoes- well it wouldn’t be a BLT pasta salad without the T! You can easily use whatever tomatoes you have on hand and dice them up- garden fresh summer tomatoes are BEST here.
Can I use Turkey Bacon?
Listen, there’s a time and place for turkey bacon. I actually like turkey bacon a bunch depending on the situation, but I just don’t think it has the same effect in this recipe. By all means though, try it out and let me know how it goes! I understand wanting to try and use a leaner protein if you’re paying attention to macros, but this recipe isn’t super loaded with bacon. A little goes a long way!
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. When the water is boiling add uncooked pasta. Boil for about 5 minutes and then add chopped carrots and cook together for another few minutes until the pasta is cooked. You don’t want the carrots to be mush.
Drain carrots and noodles in a colander and rinse with cold water.
In a large bow add mayo, buttermilk, ranch seasoning mix, green onions, and cooked bacon. Stir together until combined well.
Add the carrots and pasta to bowl and stir it all up until the noodles are coated with creamy dressing.
Add diced tomatoes! I also like to serve with shredded romaine lettuce because what’s a BLT Pasta Salad without a little lettuce? But, I don’t mix it into the salad itself because it can get pretty wilty especially any leftovers. So I just throw it on the side. Admittedly, I don’t always do this, but it’s an extra delicious optional step!
Here are a few other tasty side dish recipes you might wanna try soon too!
This post was originally published on 05/28/2016, but I recently updated photos and instructions.
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz medium pasta shells
- 5 slices Center Cut Bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup Light Mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup Low Fat Buttermilk
- 1½ tbsp hidden valley ranch seasoning mix (or one 0.4 oz packet if using the hidden valley restaurant style seasoning packed)
- 1/2 cup diced green onions or about 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1½ cup fresh diced carrots
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
- freshly shredded romaine lettuce optional
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add noodles and cook for about 5 minutes.Be sure to salt the water! It should taste literally like salt water.
- Add chopped carrots into the water with the pasta and continue to cook together for another few minutes until the noodles are done. You don't want the carrots to be mush so they will still have a bite to them.
- Drain noodles and carrots in a colander then rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- In a large bowl combine mayo, buttermilk, ranch seasoning, green onions, and bacon. Stir together until combined.
- Stir carrots and noodles into the mayo mixture with carrots and noodles until combined. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before serving.
- Serving immediately: add tomato and serve!Prepping for later: Dice tomatoes, store separately, and add in when serving! If serving with romaine lettuce: keep on the side and let people add to individual servings (it just gets so mushy if you add it in).
I was wondering why there are two different nutritional listings on some of your recipes?
This was amazing! Best pasta salad I’ve made. Loved the dressing.
It’s good, Starr! Thanks for sharing!
Summer perfection in a bowl – super delicious. Even my picky husband said it was THE BEST!!
This pasta salad is SO delicious!! Not to mention, super easy to make! The whole fam loved it. We’ll definitely be making this in rotation through the summer!
So happy y’all enjoyed it!!
I can’t wait to try this…sounds delish!!! I think I may add in some chicken – gotta have my chicken!!! I’m going to make it this weekend so I have my lunches all week!
Could you sub Greek yogurt for mayo??
You sure can, but it does taste differently because greek yogurt is more tangy.
Sounds delish! I know it’s probably not WW friendly, but would there be a way to incorporate blue cheese crumbles? Thank you for continually providing yummy recipes!
Anything is WW Friendly really. You can totally use some!
My favorite pasta Salad! I don’t miss the box stuff at all!
This was great! I have to admit I was a little bit leery of the carrots, but they didn’t change the flavour at all. They just added a nice interesting texture to it. Thanks for sharing, I will definitely make this again!
So happy you loved it! The carrots just add a bit of extra nutritional value a HINT of sweet.
Made this today for our 4th of July celebration- huge hit!!! Your recipes never fail to please! Happy 4th!
I made this last year for a cookout at my in-laws’ house. And now I have to make it every time we have a dinner there. They lavish praise about “my pasta salad.” I do give you all the credit, but they go on and on about it. They’re obsessed! I feel guilty because it’s so easy! Thank you for this—and all—your recipes. I just had to comment today as I prepare to make it for my in-laws’ annual New Year’s Day dinner. 🙂
I made this last year for a cookout at my in-laws’ house. And now I have to make it every time we have a dinner there. They lavish praise about “my pasta salad.” I do give you all the credit, but they go on and on about it. They’re obsessed! I feel guilty because it’s so easy! Thank you for this—and all—your recipes. I just had to comment today as I prepare to make it for my in-laws’ annual New Year’s Day dinner. 🙂
I like that I’ll be able to enjoy pasta salad within reasonable Weight Watchers points. I’m fixing it for the July 4th family barbeque. Thanks so much for sharing.
I hope you enjoy the pasta salad. I made it today for a family bbq too! It’s a serious favorite in these parts.
I did make the pasta salad and it was a hit with everyone!
I like that I’ll be able to enjoy pasta salad within reasonable Weight Watchers points. I’m fixing it for the July 4th family barbeque. Thanks so much for sharing.
I hope you enjoy the pasta salad. I made it today for a family bbq too! It’s a serious favorite in these parts.
I did make the pasta salad and it was a hit with everyone!
What can I use to substitute the low fat buttermilk??? Thanks
You could use a little extra light mayo and a little bit of regular low fat milk instead
What can I use to substitute the low fat buttermilk??? Thanks
You could use a little extra light mayo and a little bit of regular low fat milk instead
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I
am impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last
part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info
for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I
am impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last
part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this particular info
for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Definitely one of my favorite pasta recipes right now! SO yummy!
This is Pepper’s FAVORITE thing in the world. She eats this up like there’s no tomorrow!
Definitely one of my favorite pasta recipes right now! SO yummy!
This is Pepper’s FAVORITE thing in the world. She eats this up like there’s no tomorrow!
Hi Star – could you leave out the carrots or maybe not cook them but cut them very very finely?
I’m not a fan of cooked carrots. 🙂
You sure can! I actually forgot the carrots when I made it last time. Tasted just as good! I’m sure you could add them in raw if you wanted too also! I love carrots in pasta salad cooked or cold!
Thanks! I will have to try this soon. Love the ideas that you come up with.
Thank you so much! 🙂 hope you like it when you make it!
Hi Star – could you leave out the carrots or maybe not cook them but cut them very very finely?
I’m not a fan of cooked carrots. 🙂
You sure can! I actually forgot the carrots when I made it last time. Tasted just as good! I’m sure you could add them in raw if you wanted too also! I love carrots in pasta salad cooked or cold!
Thanks! I will have to try this soon. Love the ideas that you come up with.
Thank you so much! 🙂 hope you like it when you make it!
I LOVE this recipe!!! Thank you! will have it all summer~
I LOVE this recipe!!! Thank you! will have it all summer~
What a lovely and fun recipe! I loved reading about how your father left the grill and now Eric is manning the grill. We all just keep switching places with the next generations! Beautiful recipe, writing, and tone! xo
Awwwww your comments always make me SO happy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You’re the best!!
What a lovely and fun recipe! I loved reading about how your father left the grill and now Eric is manning the grill. We all just keep switching places with the next generations! Beautiful recipe, writing, and tone! xo
Awwwww your comments always make me SO happy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You’re the best!!