BLT Pasta Salad is loaded with crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a secretly nutritious Greek yogurt ranch dressing. Serve as a meal or side and watch it disappear!
BLT pasta salad is a giant bowl of bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado tossed with pasta and creamy Greek yogurt ranch dressing. It's perfect as a meal on its own, or as a side dish for summer picnics! It's easy to make and always disappears!
Need more picnic salads? Grab this healthy macaroni salad, loaded baked potato salad, Asian slaw recipe, or quick coleslaw.
Key ingredients
- rotini spiral pasta - or any pasta
- lettuce - use romaine or iceberg lettuce, or a combo of both
- tomatoes - cherry tomatoes are my fav, but any will work
- bacon - use precooked, crumbled bacon or make your own
- onion - I prefer red onions but you can use any variety
- avocado - adds a nutty richness that always wins with bacon
- ranch dressing - I used my Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing but you can use any ranch you like
How to make BLT Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta. (get Instant Pot instructions in recipe below)
- Rinse with cool water, drain, and set aside.
- Make the dressing in a small bowl.
- To serve, place pasta in a large bowl with bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and onion.
- Drizzle ranch dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently and serve.
Recipe tips for success
Pasta: Always rinse the cooked pasta in cold water when it's finished cooking. This stops it cooking, cools it down, and removes excess starch. Also, chill it before using it with pasta salad.
Lettuce: You can prep it a day or two before serving, just be sure to air dry the lettuce completely before storing it in the fridge.
Bacon: Cook bacon a day or two in advance to avoid extra tasks the day of your event. Refrigerate it in an airtight container until ready to use.
Avocado: For optimal avocado freshness, I recommend waiting to dice the avocado until you're ready to dress and serve BLT salad.
Dressing: Feel free to serve this pasta salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing instead of the Greek yogurt ranch.
Storage tip: Keep all prepped ingredients separate from each other until you're ready to toss the salad together.
More salad recipes we love
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups Spiral Pasta, uncooked
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt, add this to pasta water
- 1 head Romaine Lettuce, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- ½ pound Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ medium Red Onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 Avocado, about 1 cups diced
- ½ cup Greek Yogurt Ranch Dressing, or bottled Ranch dressing
Instructions
- Cook PASTA according to package instructions (See Instant Pot instructions in recipe footnotes).
- Drain pasta, rinse to cool, and set aside.
- Place pasta in a large bowl with BACON, LETTUCE, TOMATO, ONION, and AVOCADO.
- Drizzle RANCH DRESSING over the pasta salad. Toss gently to combine and serve chilled.
Traci's Recipe Notes
-
Add PASTA and 4 cups WATER to the Instant Pot. Push pasta under the liquid to submerge.
-
Secure lid, turn pressure valve to "Sealing", and select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" on HIGH for 2 minutes (for ditalini, elbow macaroni, or rotini spirals) or 1 minute (for thinner "shell" pasta).
-
When cook cycle completes, allow a FULL 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR). Don't rush this...the pasta is still cooking.
-
Turn pressure valve to "Venting" to release any remaining steam. Press "Cancel".
- Continue with #2 instructions above.
Equipment
- serving bowl
- serving utensils
NUTRITION
Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.
Patricia Ciapciak says
We LOVED your BLT Pasta Salad! It is absolutely DELICIOUS. Your recipes are THE BEST and easy to modify for many allergies! THANKS SO MUCH, Kitchen Girl!!
The Kitchen Girl says
Aww thank you, Pat!! I'm so glad you've been with me through the years and are enjoying my contribution to the recipe realm ❤️
Farah says
All my favorite flavors in one pasta salad, this is inspired! BLT sandwich but so much more elevated. Can't wait to try this Traci! Thank you for the gorgeous recipe.
Traci Antonovich says
Aww, thank you for the kind words, Farah. Yes, you will LOVE the BLT salad version of the sandwich 🙂
Alexandra says
This is such a delicious recipe for the whole family to enjoy! Ranch is such a yummy dressing, and the BLT and avocado combination works so well! Yum!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Alexandra! We literally gobble this one down every time 🙂
Josi says
This looks fantastic. I love BLTs and love Salads so this is perfect! I think I'll make it for our next church potluck!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Josi! Just be sure to make enough...b/c it WON'T last long 😉
Natalie says
This is such a great idea for dinner or light lunch! I love the idea of making a BLT pasta salad instead of sandwich.
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Natalie! We love it too...although, nothing against a stacked up BLT 😉
Megan Ellam says
OMG! This recipe looks so good! I was looking for just this kind of inspiration for a salad for tonight. Thank you so much!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks, Megan! So happy to inspire you! Hope you love the BLT salad 🙂
Meeta says
I so agree about having a good salad repertoire over the summer months and I have to admit nothing beats a BLT Salad. So awesome tips on salad making here too.
Traci Antonovich says
So glad to hear it, Meeta! Hope you get to enjoy it sometime 🙂
Sara says
This looks fabuolous! All of the flavor I crave without the guilt!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yep! Exactly my thoughts about it 🙂 Thanks Sara!
Jessica Formicola says
This is my kind of pasta salad! So perfect for summer!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jessica! This is the perfect season for it 🙂
Jamie Young says
When you can combine "skinny" and "ranch" you have a winner for me! I have a potluck next weekend and this is going to be my contribution!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yep, I'm all about the skinny AND the ranch 🙂 Thanks Jamie!
Jessie says
This looks Amazing!!! Must try for my gathering!
Traci Antonovich says
Great Jessie! Hope it's a hit! 🙂
nicole triebe says
I've been craving salads all summer and this one looks to die for!! Can't wait to make it!
Traci Antonovich says
Yay thanks Nicole! Hope you love it like I do 🙂
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love the idea that this is skinny! sounds and looks terrific!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Claudia! Skinny means we can eat MORE, right?! 😉
debi at Life Currents says
This looks like a great pasta salad to take to a BBQ, pool party, or picnic this summer! Thanks!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Debi! You'll be the hit of the party with this one 🙂
Pam Greer says
Oh this salad sounds amazing! I love the ranch dressing. Especially that it's a skinny version!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Pam! I'm with you...gimme ALL the skinny ranch 🙂
Zuzana Paar says
Finally, we have a bit better weather and therefore time for recipes like this. Have to try it
Traci Antonovich says
Haha thanks Zuzana! You're so right...loving the season ahead 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
This salad looks amazing!! I honestly don't make enough salad, but this looks like a great one to save for the summer 🙂
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Cathleen! Love hearing this 🙂
Jill says
Looks like a really delicious pasta salad dish to bring to a picnic this season!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jill! Yep, you might be the hit of the party if you bring this 🙂
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Everything about this salad sounds good to me! I'd love a big bowl for dinner!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Cynthia! This does make a great dinner salad too...I've done it 🙂
Lisa Huff says
Love that this has pasta and lettuce! Best of both worlds!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Lisa...love hearing you put it like that 🙂
Hayley says
You've basically solved the question of what I'm going to bring to every gathering this summer. A secretly healthy salad I can make in advance? That's perfect!
Traci Antonovich says
Haha yes!!! I love hearing that! Thanks...and hope you love it!
Jenni LeBaron says
This looks so fresh and tasty. Perfect for a work-friendly, packable lunch.I especially love the skinny ranch dressing on top!
Traci Antonovich says
Thanks Jenni! Yep, very work-friendly...party-friendly too! 🙂