This BLT Pasta Salad is a classic sandwich in pasta salad form! It’s made with tender noodles tossed with bacon, lettuce, and tomato, then coated in a tangy, creamy red wine mayonnaise dressing.
Is there anything better than a fresh pasta salad in the summer? Personally, I don’t think there is.
This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is one of my favorites to whip up. Not only is it so simple, but it’s such a fun take on a classic BLT sandwich…all of the flavors and textures but loaded into a tasty pasta salad.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Fun twist on a classic – A BLT sandwich in pasta form? Count me in!
- Side dish or entree – Enjoy this recipe as a side dish with your favorite summer entrees OR serve it as a meal all on its own.
- Crowd favorite – Bring this to your next grill out or potluck. It’s sure to be a hit!
Recipe Notes
This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is as simple as promised! Just a quick 10 minutes of prep for a family friendly meal or side dish.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make this Easy BLT Pasta Salad to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Pasta – You can use any pasta shape you like just as long as it’s a smaller one.
- Romaine Heart
- Grape Tomatoes
- Bacon – I usually cook my bacon in the oven, but you can use your preferred method of cooking bacon.
- Dressing – Our dressing is a delicious combination of olive oil mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic, dried basil and oregano, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Use other mix-ins – This recipe is designed to emulate a classic BLT, but you can get creative with other mix-ins too! Try it with diced red onion, avocado, celery, croutons, shredded carrot, or shredded cheddar cheese. The possibilities are endless!
- Make it vegetarian – You can easily make this recipe vegetarian by simply leaving out the bacon. If you want to add a protein, try it with your favorite variety of vegetarian bacon or swap the bacon out for chickpeas.
- Make it spicy – Try adding jalapeño to the pasta salad or some spicy seasonings to your dressing such as cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. You can also swap the dressing out completely for my Jalapeño Ranch Dressing.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Creamy BLT Pasta Salad.
Cook the bacon in the oven, and cook the pasta according to package instructions. In a small bowl, combine all of your dressing ingredients.
Whisk the dressing until completely smooth.
Combine pasta, bacon bits, tomato, and lettuce in a mixing bowl.
Drizzle on the dressing, then stir until the pasta and mix-ins are completely coated.
Recipe Tips
- Use a small pasta shape – Smaller pasta shapes work better in pasta salad. They incorporate better with the add-ins. You get a little bit of everything in each bite! Try bowtie pasta, rotini, elbow macaroni, penne, you name it.
- Rinse the pasta after cooking – After boiling and draining the pasta, give it a quick rinse with cold water. This stops the cooking process and removes excess starch for the perfect al dente texture.
- Add dressing just before serving – If you’re prepping your pasta salad ahead of time, hold off on adding the dressing for the best texture.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Make the dressing in advance – The red wine mayonnaise dressing will last for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Feel free to make it ahead of time so it’s ready to go!
- Assemble the pasta salad sans dressing – You can combine the cooked pasta and mix-ins and store that in the fridge for up to 2 days without the dressing. When you’re ready to serve, simply add the dressing and enjoy!
What to Serve with BLT Pasta Salad
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of a BLT sandwich, it will pair well with many of your favorite summery side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Turkey Burger Sliders – Make your summer BBQ the talk of the town with these Turkey Burger Sliders. These mini sandwiches are made with soft slider rolls layered with tender turkey burgers, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, and mayo.
- Summer Fruit Salad – What’s more summery than pasta salad and a fresh fruit salad? This Summer Fruit Salad features strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, and blackberries finished with a squeeze of fruit juice and vanilla extract.
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon – This Broccoli Salad with Bacon is a delicious pairing for BLT Pasta Salad. It’s made with crunchy broccoli florets, red onion, craisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon tossed with red wine vinegar and mayonnaise.
Pasta Salad Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
Recipe FAQ’s
What kind of pasta do you use for pasta salad?
Whatever you want! Just make sure you use a small pasta shape such as rotini, penne, bowties, etc.
What kind of dressing do you put on BLT pasta salad?
I love to coat my BLT pasta salad in a tangy, creamy and flavorful red wine mayonnaise dressing. It’s the perfect way to round out the flavors in the salad.
More EASY Summer Salad Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy side dish recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite summery salads below.
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried pasta
- 1 romaine heart, chopped
- 8 ounces grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces bacon
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place the bacon in a single layer on a baking sheet with edges. Place in a cold oven and turn on to 400˚F. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until crispy.The time will vary based on the thickness of your bacon.Once done, transfer to a paper towel lined plate and let it cool, then crumble.
- Cook pasta per package directions. Once done, rinse with cold water to cool the pasta and drain.
- Make the pasta salad dressing by whisking together olive oil, mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, garlic, basil, oregano, mustard, salt and pepper.
- To make the salad, combine the pasta, lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon, then toss with the dressing. Serve immediately.
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