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A large bowl filled with creamy rotini pasta salad, featuring chopped lettuce, grape tomatoes, red onion, and crispy bacon pieces, set on a checkered surface in a bright kitchen.

BLT Pasta Salad

If there’s one pasta salad that disappears fast at cookouts, pool days, summer parties, or backyard dinners, it’s this creamy BLT pasta salad. It’s smoky, tangy, crunchy, creamy, and packed with bold flavor in every bite. The crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, crunchy romaine, and rich creamy ranch-style dressing make this taste like something you’d order at a restaurant — but it’s ridiculously easy to throw together at home.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Salad

  • 16 ounces rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 1 pound bacon
  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes quartered
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
  • 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Colby Jack cheese

For the Creamy BLT Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 of a lemon's juice.
  • 1 tbsp of a packet dry ranch seasoning dip mix
  • 1 tbsp warm bacon fat
  • 1 cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 splash white wine vinegar over the pasta

Instructions
 

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon

  • Fry the bacon slow and low so it renders plenty of fat. Once it's crispy remove the bacon and place on paper towels to drain. Reserve 1–2 tablespoons of the bacon grease for the dressing.
  • Once cooled, crumble the bacon into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Make the Dressing

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, lemon juice, cracked black pepper.
  • While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the warm bacon fat until fully combined and creamy.

Step 4: Toss the Pasta First

  • Place the pasta into a large bowl, sprinkle and add a splash of white wine vinegar then toss it with about half of the dressing first. This step helps the pasta absorb all that flavor before adding the other ingredients.

Step 5: Add the Mix-Ins

  • Fold in the tomatoes, red onion, and cheese.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors come together.

Step 6: Add the Crunch Before Serving

  • Right before serving, fold in the chopped romaine lettuce and crispy bacon. Add the remaining dressing and toss everything together until creamy and fresh.
  • Serve cold and enjoy.
Keyword BLT Pasta Salad
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