This BLT pasta salad recipe is full of veggies, avocado, pasta and crispy bacon, all tossed in a cool and creamy dressing. The perfect easy meal or side dish that’s great for potlucks.

I love great salad recipes, especially in the summer time. Some of my favorites include Greek pasta salad, pesto pasta salad, and this irresistible BLT version.

BLT pasta salad in a creamy ranch dressing.

Sometimes I am in dire need of a quick and easy dinner with minimal fuss. This BLT pasta salad is the perfect example, it’s made with just 7 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes. It’s got all the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich but in salad form. This salad is the perfect main course or side dish, and is always the first thing to go at a potluck! Serve it with other warm weather favorites such as slow cooker ribs, smoked tri tip, or chicken soaked in chicken thigh marinade. You can also offer some corn on the cob recipes, and don’t forget the roasted figs with ice cream for dessert!

BLT Pasta Salad Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need rotini pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, shredded romaine lettuce, avocado, ranch dressing and parsley.

How Do You Make BLT Pasta Salad?

Cook your pasta in a large pot to al dente, then drain the pasta and run cold water over it. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl, and toss with the ranch dressing. Gently fold in the bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Bacon, lettuce, tomato, pasta and avocado in a bowl.

Tips For BLT Pasta Salad

  • I typically use rotini for this recipe, but any short variety of pasta will work – penne or farfalle are two great options.
  • If you don’t have romaine lettuce on hand, iceberg or even baby spinach would be great substitutes.
  • Chop your veggies and bacon into bite-sized pieces for the best results.
  • Look for firm but ripe avocados so that they don’t get mushy in the salad when tossed.
  • I recommend serving this dish soon after it’s made so that the lettuce doesn’t wilt and the avocado does not turn brown. If you need to make this in advance, toss the pasta and tomatoes with the dressing then add the bacon, avocado and lettuce right before you plan to eat. You can also toss your avocado in a little lemon juice before adding it to the salad to help preserve the green color.
  • I find that creamy ranch dressing adds so much more flavor when compared to a classic mayonnaise dressing. You can use homemade ranch dressing or a high quality store bought refrigerated ranch dressing.

Quick Tip

You can use pre-cooked bacon and pre-shredded lettuce if you’re looking to save on prep time.

Ranch dressing being poured over tomatoes, lettuce, bacon and avocado.

Recipe FAQs

How long does pasta salad last in the fridge?

Pasta salad typically stays fresh for 3 days in the refrigerator when it’s stored in an airtight container. This BLT pasta salad has a shorter shelf life because the avocado will turn brown and the lettuce will wilt over time. I recommend storing BLT pasta salad for no more than 6-8 hours.

Do you let pasta cool before making pasta salad?

It’s best to let the pasta cool before you make it into a salad. Warm pasta can wilt fresh veggies and lettuce and melt cheese when that’s not the desired effect! Run your cooked pasta under cool water so that it’s ready to be tossed in a salad.

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A serving spoon filled with BLT pasta salad.

Flavor Variations

While I love this salad as-is, you can add other ingredients to the mix to make it more of a main course meal.

  • Protein: Add diced cooked chicken, shrimp, cubed cheddar cheese or ham for a heartier salad.
  • Vegetables: You can add diced red onion, artichoke hearts, bell pepper, black olives or sliced cucumber. Try using arugula or baby spinach instead of romaine lettuce.
  • Herbs: Instead of parsley try chopped dill, green onions or basil.
  • Cobb Style: Add chopped deli turkey, hard boiled eggs and crumbled blue cheese.
  • Mexican Style: Stir in black beans, corn, 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon chili powder.

This BLT pasta salad is especially delicious in the summer when tomatoes are ripe and in season. However, I’ve been known to serve it year round, because it’s a classic flavor combination that can’t be beat!

A bowl of BLT pasta salad with avocado in a creamy dressing.

More Great Salad Options

BLT Pasta Salad Video

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Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

5 from 20 votes

BLT Pasta Salad

AuthorSara Welch
BLT pasta salad in a creamy ranch dressing.
This BLT pasta salad recipe is full of veggies, avocado, pasta and crispy bacon, all tossed in a cool and creamy dressing. The perfect easy meal or side dish!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Serves 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb rotini or other short pasta
  • 1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 3 cups shredded romaine letuce
  • 2 avocados peeled, pitted and diced
  • 1 1/2 cups ranch dressing
  • 2 tablespoons parsley chopped

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.
  • Drain the pasta and run cold water over the pasta until cool.
  • Place the pasta in a bowl and toss with dressing. Add the bacon, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and avocado. Stir gently to coat. 
  • Sprinkle with parsley then serve immediately.

Notes

  1. You can use pre-cooked bacon and pre-shredded lettuce if you’re looking to save even more time.
  2. I typically use rotini for this recipe, but any short variety of pasta will work – penne or farfalle are two great options.
  3. Look for firm but ripe avocados so that they don’t get mushy in the salad when tossed.
  4. I typically use a high quality store bought refrigerated ranch dressing or homemade ranch dressing. 

Nutrition

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 611mg | Potassium: 338mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 215IU | Vitamin C: 9.5mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1.4mg

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5 from 20 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This pasta salad is super delicious. I don’t often serve pasta salads for dinner but this one was a winner and my entire family loved it. I’ll definitely be making this again.

  2. 5 stars
    So many fresh and delicious flavours in this. I really enjoyed it. It’s such a great summertime lunch!

  3. 5 stars
    We made this pasta salad alongside our burger night dinner tonight, and it was great! Easy to make, not too heavy, and really delicious!