This is the best BLT Pasta Salad that is loaded with crispy lettuce, cherry tomatoes, bacon, Parmesan cheese, and your favorite pasta. The recipe is so easy to put together and will be a perfect side dish for a Summer party or a BBQ cookout!
This BLT Pasta Salad is my absolutely favorite dish during the Summer time! It’s perfectly light and refreshing and has a variety of flavors and texture.
Loaded with crispy lettuce, sweet cherry tomatoes, smoky bacon, crunchy croutons, and your favorite pasta, this recipe is a must for a BBQ cookout party or a small picnic celebration.
Table of contents
How to cook bacon
I like to cook bacon ahead of time. Place it on a baking pan with a wire rack, and bake it for about 18 minutes at 400°F, flipping it half-way through. Depending on your oven, timing may vary, so make sure you don’t overcook. When it is done, pat-dry in between of two sheets of paper towels and let it cool off. When I chop the bacon for the salad, I like to trim it a little bit removing fat to reduce the calories.
How to make BLT Pasta Salad
There is nothing easier than making a salad.
While my pasta is cooking, I chop the lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and bacon and grate Parmesan cheese. Put in a large mixing bowl.
When pasta is cooked to your liking, drain and let it cool off for about 10-15 minutes. Then add to the salad and mix.
Add your favorite croutons, Caesar or Ranch dressing and mix again until well combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can add pretty much any ingredients you like. Here are a few of my favorite add-ons:
– Grilled or rotisserie chicken
– Red onion
– Avocado
– Sharp cheddar cheese
You can use any bite-size pasta. My favorite ones are rotini, bowtie, penne, ziti, fusilli, and shells.
To speed up the cooling process, you can rinse pasta. Although, if you do so, make sure you drain it very well before adding to the salad, so it won’t have too much liquid.
You can prep the salad in the morning and refrigerate it without dressing for later the day. I do not recommend to make it a day before serving.
It is best to be consumed the same day. If you have any leftovers, you can put it in the fridge overnight.
You can serve this salad with:
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Lamb Shank
- Baked Chicken Cutlets
- Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
- Oven Baked Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
- Instant Pot BBQ Ribs
- Instant Pot Pulled Chicken
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups Romane lettuce chopped
- 2 cups pasta cooked
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ¼ cup bacon cooked and chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups croutons
- ¼ cup Cesar or Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Place bacon on a baking pan with a wire rack, bake it for about 18 minutes at 400°F, flipping it half-way through. When it is done, pat-dry in between of two sheets of paper towels and let it cool off. Trim the fat and chop.
- Cook pasta according to the box instructions, drain and let it cool off.
- Chop lettuce and cut cherry tomatoes in halves.
- Add all the ingredients together (lettuce, cherry tomatoes, bacon, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and cooked pasta), add the dressing and mix it together.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- You can add pretty much any ingredients you like. Here are a few of my favorite add-ons:
– Grilled or rotisserie chicken
– Red onion
– Avocado
– Sharp cheddar cheese - You can use any bite-size pasta. My favorite ones are rotini, bowtie, penne, ziti, fusilli, and shells.
- To speed up the cooling process, you can rinse pasta. Although, if you do so, make sure you drain it very well before adding to the salad, so it won’t have too much liquid.
- It is best to be consumed the same day. If you have any leftovers, you can put it in the fridge overnight.
I can only imagine how crunchy this salad is and how satisfying! Absolutely perfect for a BBQ party.
Wow, I never thought to add bacon to my pasta salad, it looks so flavorful. Perfect salad for summer BBQ’s.
Pasta salads are so easy and so delicious! Perfect to bring to parties, potlucks, or when entertaining at home. Great flavors in this one!
We often have BLT’s for dinner at my house. We would LOVE this in a salad form! Looks amazing!
I love this pasta salad. You usually only see a pasta/veggie, not pasta, vegetables & lettuce too!
I love everything about this! I always forget how good the combination of pasta and lettuce can be in an awesome salad like this!
I love that you’ve turned these classic flavors into a great summer dish! It’s perfect for all the upcoming BBQs.
This looks AWESOME! I may just end up making this to bring to my in-laws’ house for Father’s Day! It looks like it’d be perfect alongside some BBQ!
BLTs are one of my favorites. They’re simple and delicious. I love how you transformed the same concept into a salad. I bet this would be a HUGE hit at a picnic!
Who doesn’t love a good blt? Love this twist with a salad! And just in time for the bbq season! This one will be happening soon 🙂
This salad absolutely screams “summer”! What a perfect recipe to bring to all those picnics and potlucks! Great tips on how to customize it, too – like dressing choices and those Trader Joe’s croutons (why haven’t I tried those before???)!
I love BLT’s and having it in a pasta salad is brilliant! I can’t wait to make this on this weekend as my sister is having a BBQ and I’m to bring a salad!! Yay!
I’ve never added bacon to pasta salad, but it seems like a no-brainer because it’s great on anything. Your addition of lettuce and croutons, though, is totally genius!