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BLT Pasta Salad

BLT pasta salad with creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, and crisp lettuce for a classic potluck picnic salad. Rotini or penne is rinsed cold to keep the pasta springy, then chilled for a thick, creamy finish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 610
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 1 lb pasta (rotini or penne) Cook until al dente, then rinse with cold water to cool quickly.
Bacon and vegetables
  • 12 slices bacon Cook until crispy, then crumble.
  • 2 cup cherry tomatoes Halve before mixing.
  • 3 cup romaine lettuce Chop into bite-size pieces.
Creamy ranch dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 cup ranch dressing
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice Helps brighten the creamy dressing.
  • salt Add to taste.
  • pepper Add to taste.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook and prep
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions, then drain and rinse under cold water until cool.
  2. Cook the bacon until crispy in a cast iron skillet, then drain and crumble while still warm.
  3. Halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the romaine lettuce so everything is bite-size for mixing.
Assemble the salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, and chopped romaine lettuce.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ranch dressing, and lemon juice with salt and pepper until smooth.
  3. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss thoroughly until every piece looks coated.
Chill and serve
  1. Refrigerate the BLT pasta salad for at least 1 hour so it firms up and tastes blended before serving.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the hot pasta with cold water right after draining so it doesn’t keep cooking. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; freeze is not recommended because the lettuce and dressing won’t hold up. If you want a lighter version, use light mayonnaise and a reduced-fat ranch dressing while keeping the same lemon juice and seasoning balance.