BLT Pasta Salad
BLT pasta salad is tender bowtie pasta tossed with crispy bacon, chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and a creamy buttermilk ranch dressing. It tastes like a classic BLT sandwich but in pasta salad form. Perfect for potlucks, BBQs, picnics, or when you want all the BLT flavors without the bread. Ready in 30 minutes, serves 8-10 people using simple ingredients.
This BLT pasta salad has all the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich! Salty bacon, fresh tomatoes, and crisp lettuce, but with pasta instead of bread.
I can’t resist a traditional bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwich. It’s the combination of salty bacon, juicy tomatoes, and crisp lettuce that I can’t stop eating. The bread is really just a vehicle to get them all together, so I thought – why not turn it into a pasta salad? I love pasta so much!
Just toss all those yummy flavors with some pasta and a homemade buttermilk dressing and you are good to go! The whole thing takes less than 30 minutes and tastes even better after a little time in the fridge.
You can also prep all the ingredients ahead and store in the fridge until you’re ready to toss everything together. Perfect for potlucks and BBQs!
More Pasta Salad Recipes
- Southern Macaroni Salad – Classic creamy
- Italian Pasta Salad – Tomato and mozzarella
- Taco Pasta Salad – Mexican-inspired
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad – With hard-boiled eggs
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See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.
Ingredient Notes
Bowtie Pasta – Also called farfalle. Substitute any medium or short pasta like penne, fusilli, or rotini.
Bacon – Cooked and crumbled. I prefer thick-cut bacon! Turkey bacon works for lighter version.
Romaine Lettuce – Chopped romaine stays crisp. Substitute iceberg, spring mix, arugula, or spinach.
Cherry Tomatoes – Halved cherry tomatoes are perfect. Diced regular tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes work too.
Red Onion – Adds pop of color and sharp bite. Swap for diced sweet onion or sliced green onions.
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing – Homemade with Greek yogurt, buttermilk, mayo, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt, and pepper. Store-bought ranch works for easier prep!
Fresh Parsley – Chopped for fresh herb flavor.
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How To Make BLT Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely. Drain well.
- Mix cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped lettuce, diced red onion, and chopped parsley in a large bowl.
- Whisk together Greek yogurt, buttermilk, mayo, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
- Pour dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors combine. Give the salad a quick toss before serving. Serve chilled, topped with extra bacon if you like!
For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Storage & Make-Ahead
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 3 days.
Gets Dry: After a day or two, the pasta absorbs the dressing. Just add another tablespoon of yogurt or dressing and stir.
Prep Ahead: Chop all ingredients and make the dressing up to 3 days ahead. Store each in separate containers and mix before serving.
Best After Chilling: Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. It’s even better the next day!
Variations
BLAT Version: Add diced avocado right before serving for Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado, Tomato pasta salad!
Add Veggies: Toss in diced cucumber, yellow or orange bell peppers, fresh corn, or sliced olives.
Add Cheese: Mix in shredded cheddar, crumbled feta, or diced mozzarella.
Store-Bought Ranch: Use bottled ranch dressing for easier prep.
Spicy: Add a dash of red pepper flakes or diced fresh jalapeño for heat.
No Onion: Skip the onion if you don’t like them.
Make Buttermilk: Mix whole milk with a little lemon juice or vinegar if you don’t have buttermilk.
Different Greens: Try arugula for peppery bite or spinach for milder flavor.
Related Recipes
More Pasta Salads:
- Chicken Macaroni Salad – With hard-boiled eggs
- Southern Macaroni Salad – Classic BBQ side
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad – Tangy and crunchy
- Ramen Noodle Salad – Asian-inspired
Serve This With:
- Marry Me Chicken – Creamy sun-dried tomato chicken
- Honey Lemon Chicken – Sheet pan dinner
- Grilled Chicken – Simple summer meal
- Burgers – Cookout classic
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Chop all ingredients and make dressing up to 3 days ahead. Store separately and mix before serving. Or make the whole salad a day ahead – it tastes even better!
Up to 3 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container. Add extra dressing if it gets dry.
Absolutely! Use bottled ranch for easier prep. About 1/2 to 1 cup should work.
The pasta absorbs the dressing as it sits. Just add another tablespoon of Greek yogurt, mayo, or dressing and stir.
Yes! Add diced avocado right before serving so it doesn’t brown. Makes it a BLAT pasta salad!
Use real cooked crumbled bacon. Store-bought bacon bits don’t have the same flavor or texture.
Mix whole milk with a little lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes and it’s ready!
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook pasta al dente so it doesn’t get mushy when you add dressing.
- Cool hot pasta completely by rinsing under cold water. Hot pasta wilts the lettuce!
- Don’t use store-bought bacon bits. Real cooked bacon is best. Use thick-cut bacon for best flavor and texture.
- Chop everything bite-sized so it’s easy to eat.
- Substitute Greek yogurt with sour cream and mayo if needed.
- Let chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors get so much better!
- Add extra dressing if the salad gets dry after a day or two.
- Add avocado right before serving if using. It browns quickly.
- Store-bought ranch dressing makes this even easier for busy days.
This BLT pasta salad recipe has all the classic sandwich flavors! Make it for your next potluck and watch it disappear.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ five-star review in the comment section below. Thanks!
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 8 ounces pasta bowtie or your fave shape
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped
Dressing
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the bowtie pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it sit until it’s completely cooled.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, red onion, and chopped parsley leaves.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, buttermilk, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad ingredients and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors mix.
- Before serving, give the salad a quick toss. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Serve chilled, garnished with extra crumbled bacon and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente so it doesn’t get mushy when you add dressing.
- Cool hot pasta completely by rinsing under cold water. Hot pasta wilts the lettuce!
- Don’t use store-bought bacon bits. Real cooked bacon is best. Use thick-cut bacon for best flavor and texture.
- Chop everything bite-sized so it’s easy to eat.
- Substitute Greek yogurt with sour cream and mayo if needed.
- Let chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. The flavors get so much better!
- Add extra dressing if the salad gets dry after a day or two.
- Add avocado right before serving if using. It browns quickly.
- Store-bought ranch dressing makes this even easier for busy days.
Nutrition
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