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Home » Recipes » Pasta Salads

Creamy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Published: Jul 17, 2023 by Bowl Me Over · Leave a Comment

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This BLT pasta salad recipe boasts soft and tender pasta generously coated in creamy coleslaw dressing and mixed together with juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, lettuce, and crunchy shallots! Always the perfect side dish!

BLT Pasta salad in bowl with spoon.

Next time try this Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe!

Jump to:
  • Why you'll love this recipe   
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions 
  • Equipment
  • FAQ's 
  • Tips
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Related recipes
  • Serve with 
  • Creamy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Why you'll love this recipe   

This salad I perfect for your next potluck and all those summer picnics! So grab the hot dogs and make this creamy pasta salad recipe!

  • It’s such an easy recipe made with simple ingredients that you already have in the pantry and fridge. A real crowd-pleaser, this is a recipe the whole family will enjoy.
  • You’ll love this creamy, crunchy, delicious BLT pasta salad recipe, it's a great side dish!
  • Just like your favorite blt sandwiches, this yummy pasta salad will be a family favorite!

Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make pasta salad recipe. With print overlay.

You'll need classic blt ingredients. Please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for the exact measurements. 

  • pasta - this recipe uses rotini pasta, but you can use bow tie pasta, elbow macaroni or penne pasta, really any small pasta you have available.
  • sweet fresh cherry tomatoes - though you can also use grape or diced tomatoes as well.
  • shallots, red onion or thinly sliced green onions
  • crispy, crumbled salty bacon - I prefer a good smoky bacon, but you can substitute turkey bacon if you'd prefer.
  • crunchy, fresh lettuce - romaine, iceberg, or red leaf lettuce or baby spinach is also delicious!
  • olive oil and seasoning salt
  • coleslaw, poppyseed dressing or creamy ranch dressing

Instructions 

Two photos with instructions to make macaroni salad recipe. With print overlay.

This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!

  1. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water to al dente. Drain well. Transfer pasta to a large bowl and sprinkle with one teaspoon olive oil and one teaspoon seasoning salt and mix well - refrigerate until completely chilled.
  2. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy. Drain well on paper towels and crumble. Add crunchy bacon to the pasta.
  3. Chop tomatoes, shallot, and romaine lettuce. Add to the cooked pasta and toss well to combine.
  4. Add about one cup of salad dressing and mix well. Refrigerate until well chilled. Before serving mix again and if the BLT macaroni salad seems dry, add a bit more creamy dressing.

Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   

  • Large mixing bowl - these are fun and festive!
Pasta Salad in clear glass bowl with serving spoon.

FAQ's 

Can I make this cold pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes, this can be made the day before! Boil the pasta, drain and chill. Cook the bacon, chop the shallots and tomatoes, and make the homemade dressing. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator. Assemble the ingredients and toss the salad!

What Does BLT Stand For?

BLT is short for Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. The combination of these three ingredients originates from the famous BLT sandwich although combination has now been adopted into many different recipes, including this easy macaroni salad recipe.

Can I make this salad gluten-free?

Absolutely! Simply use gluten-free pasta. The rest of the ingredients are already gluten-free!

Why should I chill the BLT Pasta Salad?

Chilling the salad helps the dressing and all the flavors of the ingredients infuse well, intensifying the taste of this delicious dish!

Tips

  • Don't overcook the pasta.
  • Drain hot pasta well and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • Chill the pasta completely before adding dressing. If the pasta is hot, it will absorb the dressing and get mushy!
  • Serve the salad chilled. Give it a stir before serving. Add additional salad dressing if necessary.

Variations

  • Use your favorite short pasta - macaroni, bow tie, rotini, penne, or fusilli.
  • For a low-carb option, ditch the pasta altogether and enjoy a BLT salad with additional lettuce and other favorite leafy greens.
  • Create a BLT coleslaw side dish by omitting the pasta and lettuce and instead using a bag of coleslaw mix. 
  • Go ahead and include your favorite salad ingredients in this delicious pasta salad such fresh avocados and cubed cheddar cheese.

As you can see, it doesn't take much - bacon, lettuce, tomato, shallots - I also recommend a homemade poppy seed salad dressing. But if you use store-bought…I won't tell! 😋

Either coleslaw or poppyseed dressings are recommended for this recipe.

B L T Pasta Salad in bowl with serving spoon.
Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Storage

Refrigerate: Store BLT pasta salad recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The fresh salad ingredients will wilt and become soggy if stored longer.

Freezer: I do not recommend freezing this salad.

Related recipes

Here are more great side dishes and easy recipes.

  • Southern Style Ham Macaroni Salad - a super creamy macaroni salad.
  • Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad, or Chicken Caesar Pasta, are easy pasta salads, just to name a few!

And if BLT pasta is more your thing, this BLT Spaghetti Carbonara is a great example of how you can mix and match ingredients to your heart’s desire. 

Serve with 

This easy pasta salad recipe is satisfying enough to be enjoyed as a main dish on its own but it also makes are great side dish! Serve it with these yummy recipes -

  • Air Fryer Hamburger Recipe
  • Kimchi Burger with Spicy Mayo
  • Grilled Turkey Burgers

Instant Pot Corn on the Cob and homemade rolls makes great side dishes for your meal!

Don't forget to check out my Amazon storefront for some of my favorite products! 🛍️

If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! 

BLT Pasta Salad in large bowl with serving spoon.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Creamy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Everything from your favorite classic BLT sandwich combines for an easy to make side salad!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time40 minutes mins
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 333kcal
Author: Deb Clark
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz box of pasta
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 shallot chopped
  • 8 strips bacon cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1 cup coleslaw dressing

I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions (aldente). Drain well. Rinse with cold water. Transfer pasta to a large bowl and sprinkle with one teaspoon olive oil and one teaspoon seasoning salt and mix well - refrigerate until completely chilled.
  • Cook bacon until crispy. Drain well and crumble. Add to the pasta.
  • Chop tomatoes, shallot, and romaine lettuce. Add to the pasta and toss well to combine.
  • Add about one cup of salad dressing and mix well. Refrigerate until well chilled. Before serving mix again and if the pasta salad seems dry, add a bit more salad dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1.4mg
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About Bowl Me Over

Welcome to Bowl Me Over! My name is Debra and I send warm greetings from sunny California. I am a serious foodie – I’ve been known as the go-to girl in our family for years, catering weddings and anniversary parties. In the summer I help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl Me Over! Let's stay connected, you can email me at [email protected] and find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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