BLT Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad — a creamy, tangy cold pasta salad loaded with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce. Ready in just 25 minutes, it's the perfect easy pasta salad recipe for BBQs, potlucks, and summer meal prep.
Equipment
- large pot
- colander
- skillet or baking sheet for cooking bacon
- mixing bowls
- whisk
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 500 g short pasta (rotini, penne, or farfalle)
- 300 g thick-cut bacon
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a skillet or oven until very crispy. Drain on paper towels and let cool, then crumble.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta just past al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until fully cooled.
- Halve cherry tomatoes, lightly salt, and let sit briefly to remove excess moisture.
- In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, toss cooled pasta with most of the dressing until evenly coated.
- Add tomatoes and red onion, tossing gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
- Before serving, toss with remaining dressing, then fold in lettuce and most of the bacon.
- Top with remaining bacon, garnish, and serve immediately.
Notes
Add bacon and lettuce just before serving to maintain crisp texture. Salt and drain tomatoes briefly to avoid excess moisture. Reserve some dressing to refresh before serving. For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise or use turkey bacon.