Take all your favourite flavours from a BLT sandwich and stir them into a bowl of pasta for the ultimate summer pasta salad.
You know how mouthwateringly delicious a really well made BLT sandwich is… crispy salty, smoky bacon, cool crunchy lettuce and sweet juicy tomato all smothered in creamy mayonnaise…
Well… stirring those BLT sandwich fillers through a bowl of freshly cooked pasta makes for the ultimate summer pasta salad.
BLT Pasta Salad is definitely a great go-to recipe for BBQ’s, parties and potlucks.
And remember… this is your pasta salad, if you don’t have time for making ranch dressing or just don’t fancy the extra work then you can cheat and buy it ready made.
Just do what’s best for you.
BLT Pasta Salad Ingredients
For the BLT pasta
- 500g dried penne pasta
- large pinch salt
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 16 slices of streaky bacon
- 400g baby plum tomatoes – halved
- 2 little gem lettuce – shredded and washed
- 4 spring onions – peel outer layer and then finely sliced
- 100g cheddar cheese – grated
For the ranch dressing
- 1/2 cup creme fraiche
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- handful of finely chopped flat leaf parsley
- handful of finely chopped chives
- splash of tabasco sauce (optional)
- splash of Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 clove garlic – finely grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Cooks Tip! If you are using shop bought salad dressing instead of mixing up your own then you’ll need approximately 4-5 tablespoons of dressing. But use more or less depending on how you like your salad.
Equipment Needed
- Large saucepan
- Baking tray
- 3-4 sheets of kitchen paper
- Colander
- Salad spinner
- 1/2 cup
- Tablespoon
- Teaspoon
- Chopping board
- Sharp vegetable knife
- Scissors
- Grater
- Large mixing bowl
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How To Make BLT Pasta Salad
You’ll just LOVE how easy it is to put together our delicious summery pasta salad recipe.
- Cook the pasta as per the packet instruction– in salted boiling water, stir gently with a fork every few minutes to prevent it sticking – once cooked drain using a colander and rinse under cold running water to cool quickly. Set aside.
- Heat the oven to 200C / 400F / Gas Mark 6
- Cook the bacon in the oven for around 15 minutes or until crispy and cooked through – be careful not to burn it. Once cooked rest the bacon on kitchen paper to absorb the grease – once cool cut into strips using scissors.
- Mix up the ranch dressing – add the creme fraiche, mayonnaise, herbs and garlic – season with salt and pepper. Optional – add a dash of tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and sprinkling of paprika to taste.
- Mix the BLT pasta salad together in a large bowl – Put the pasta, bacon, grated cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and spring onions into a large bowl and mix gently – pour in the creamy ranch dressing and toss everything well to coat it all.
Pasta Salad Tips
Yes – rinsing the cooked pasta under running water using a colander is the quickest way to cool hot pasta down ready to use in your pasta salad.
You can eat a cold pasta salad alongside loads of different dishes. Try eating it with roast chicken or ham, alongside grilled fish, kebabs or as a BBQ or picnic side dish.
Well pasta salad can be a really healthy meal option… but! And here’s the BUT it depends on what’s in it, and how you make the dressing. A pasta salad dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, filled with freshly grilled fish and vegetables is a healthy meal. One filled with salty meats and creamy dressings, not so much. So just keep that in mind with your portion sizes and as part of a wider balanced diet.
This is down to personal preference really. I like to eat my pasta salad when it’s freshly made. Storing the pasta salad in the fridge does tend to make it a little claggy. If storing in the fridge you can reserve some of the dressing and add it just before serving so that it loosens the pasta salad up again.
If you’re taking pasta salad to a potluck, picnic, or as a packed lunch then it’s best to pack the dressing separaetly and stir through just before you eat it.
You can add anything you fancy into a pasta salad – just think – pasta is the carbs, add 2-3 lots of vegetables, some protien in the form of meat, chicken, cheese, tofu or nuts, then add your favourite dressing.
Choose a pasta that has deep grooves if you can, then the pasta salad dressing will mingle it’s way into all the grooves and taste oh so good!
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BLT Pasta Salad Variations
When making BLT pasta salad there’s lots of ways you can switch up the recipe to suit yourself or different variations to try.
- Add red onion – thinly sliced red onion is a delicious addition to a pasta salad.
- Make it vegetarian – Skip the bacon for a vegetarian version.
- Add some sliced sausages – Try making the pasta salad with sliced hot dog sausages in place or bacon (or add both)
- Use a shop bought dressing – Short on time? Use a ready made ranch dressing from the shop instead. Or try out different dressings, garlic mayonnaise, Caesar salad dressing or blue cheese dressing are delicious!
- Add in more veggies – Try cooked and cooled mushrooms, cucumber slices or tinned sweetcorn.
- BLT pasta salad without lettuce – you can make your pasta salad without lettuce if you prefer or you could choose to make your BLT pasta salad with spinach if you like.
How To Make Healthy BLT Pasta Salad
If you want your BLT pasta salad to be a little on the healthier side, then try making it with a reduced fat dressing made with fat free Greek yogurt.
Or skip the dressing altogether and use super ripe and juicy tomatoes, with just a splash of olive oil which will add a lovely sweet tang to the pasta without adding too many extra calories.
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More Pasta Salads You Need In Your Life!
You know how much we LOVE a pasta salad here at Daisies & Pie. They’re just so easy to make, and when you’ve a house full of kids, they’re great to have made up in the fridge for easy lunches or snacks.
Here’s a few of our favourite pasta salads for you to try.
Get loads more easy dinner recipes here
- Easy Ranch Pasta Salad – a loaded pasta salad with shredded home cooked ham and lots of salad vegetables. Dressed in a creamy ranch dressing.
- Greek Orzo Pasta Salad – all the flavours of a classic Greek salad but with added pasta. This one is LUSH, we love it for packed lunches.
- Big Italian Pasta Salad – a big flavour pasta salad with salami, baby mozzarella balls, olives, peppers and plenty of fresh herbs.
Love pasta salad? Get loads more delicious tasty pasta salad recipes here
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BLT Pasta Salad
BEST BLT pasta salad recipe
Ingredients
- 500g dried penne pasta
- 1 tsp salt
- 16 slices streaky bacon
- 400g baby plum tomatoes
- 2 little gem lettuce - shredded
- 4 spring onions - finely sliced
- 100g grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup creme fraiche
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tbs flat leaf parsley - finely chopped
- 1 tbs chives - finely choppped
- splash tobacco sauce (optional)
- splash Worcestershire sauce (optional)
- 1/2 tsp paprika (optional)
- 1 clove garlic - finely grated
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta as per the packet instruction in salted boiling water - once cooked drain and rinse under cold running water to cool quickly. Set aside.
- Heat the oven to 200C - cook the bacon in the oven for around 15 minutes or until crispy and cooked through - be careful not to burn it. Once cooked rest the bacon on kitchen paper to absorb the grease - once cool cut into strips.
- Mix up the ranch dressing - add the creme fraiche, mayonnaise, herbs and garlic - season with salt and pepper. Optional - add a dash of tabasco, Worcestershire sauce and sprinkling of paprika to taste.
- Put the pasta, bacon, grated cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and spring onions into a large bowl and mix gently - pour in the creamy ranch dressing and toss everything well to coat it all.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 425Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 922mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 16g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.
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