Easy BLT Pasta Salad

This easy BLT pasta salad recipe is unique with it’s creamy basil dressing and fun shaped pasta. Load it up with salty, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and don’t forget the smokey cheddar cheese! BBQ side dishes are jealous when our best pasta salad shows up!

STOP cooking your pasta al dente for pasta salads! This might go against everything you’ve ever heard, but pasta that is slightly overcooked will hold the flavor of the dressing better making a more flavorful pasta salad.

BLTs are Claire’s obsession and she’s always encouraging me to make it into another recipe, so here we are with another pasta salad recipe. We like this served at room temp or slightly warm though cold works as well, but tbh an accidental warm pasta was used once and we’ve really never gone back as it turned out the best.

We also used to make a mayo-based dressing for this pasta salad, but we tried it with this healthier basil dressing and we’ve only used it since. So that’s the dressing we are including in the recipe with a shortcut for using a store-bought ranch if you’re short on time.

If you aren’t familiar with a BLT sandwich, BLT stands for bacon, lettuce and tomato. For a sandwich, we layer those between two pieces of toast that have been slathered with mayo and then devour. We are keeping those same delicious flavors in this tasty pasta salad and adding a fabulous basil dressing, pasta, smoky cheese and creamy avocado.

Ingredients for BLT Pasta Salad

You’ll need a few ingredients for making the homemade dressing, but the pasta salad itself is only needs 6 simple ingredients. Here is everything you will need:

For the Dressing

• Plain Greek Yogurt: lightens up the dressing a little while adding good protein
• Mayonnaise: adds creaminess and tang to the dressing
• Buttermilk: added to thin out the dressing a little while keep the tangy flavor
• Fresh Herbs: Basil, Parsley, Dill and Chives
• Worcestershire: adds depth of flavor
• Seasonings: Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Kosher Salt and Black Pepper

For the Salad

• Radiatore or Cavatappi Pasta
• Smoked Cheddar Cheese: sharp cheddar cheese
• Romaine Lettuce: chopped into bite-sized pieces
• Cherry Tomatoes: halved
• Bacon: cooked ahead of time and chopped
• Avocado: adds creaminess and healthy fats

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Easy BLT Pasta Salad

You’ll have a few different things going on to make all the components of this pasta salad, but it’s still so simple. I like to make the basil dressing first and then get the pasta cooking. While the pasta is boiling, I chop the veggies, bacon and cheese. Here are the steps:

1. Make the Dressing: Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and blend until smooth. Salt and pepper to taste.
   • NOTE: If you’re taking the store-bought ranch shortcut, put the ranch with all the herbs and Worcestershire into a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt the water heavily. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook PAST al dente (see section below). Drain the pasta and set it aside. We don’t want it cool though so don’t put it in the fridge.
   • NOTE: Do not rinse the pasta! We actually want the starch to remain on the pasta. It helps the dressing cling to the noodles better.
3. Toss the Salad: Add the pasta and cubes of cheese to a large serving bowl and toss with the dressing. Right before serving, add the lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and avocado.
4. Serve: The pasta salad can be served warm, room temperature or cold.

Check out the following pictures to see the steps for this recipe. Keep scrolling to the end of the post for all the instructions in full detail.

Overcook the Pasta? Really!?

If you’ve ever made our macaroni pasta salad, you’ll know that I say to overcook your pasta a little. I’ve gotten so much push back on that! It’s totally counterintuitive but trust me (and The Kitchn and America’s Test Kitchen)! If you overcook the pasta slightly past al dente, when you add the dressing, the pasta won’t soak up all the dressing and suck all the flavor out of the dish.

What Kind of Pasta is Best for Pasta Salad?

For pasta salads, you want a pasta that is bite-sized and a fun shape with lots of nooks and crannies to grab onto the dressing. You also want to use dried pasta and not fresh pasta. For this recipe, we love radiatore or cavatappi.

Variations

Like most pasta salad recipes, this one is so versatile. I’d recommend keeping the bacon, lettuce and tomatoes to stay true to the BLT, but you can add other ingredients or swap/omit things. Here are some ideas:

Additions: chopped red onions, grilled corn, croutons or hard boiled eggs

Substitutions: Use sharp cheddar cheese instead of smoked or swap for parmesan cheese.

Omit: Skip the avocado if desired, but then we probably can’t be friends!

What to Serve with BLT Pasta Salad

Fire up the grill or Traeger and let’s have a summer shindig! A few of our favorite main dishes to enjoy alongside this pasta salad are:

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep for up to 1-2 days but the lettuce and bacon will get soggy the longer it sits. It is best stored separately if you haven’t combined everything yet.

Put a twist on the classic BLT sandwich with this delicious pasta salad recipe! Loaded with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy dressing, BLT Pasta Salad is the perfect dish for any summer gathering, potluck or grill out.

How to Make BLT Pasta Salad

More Salads Perfect for Summer: