BLT Pasta Salad (Printable)

A fresh blend of pasta, crispy bacon, tomatoes, and creamy dressing for quick summer meals.

# Ingredient List:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz short pasta (rotini, penne, or fusilli)

→ Bacon

02 - 7 oz streaky bacon, diced

→ Vegetables

03 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 3.5 oz romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 avocado, diced (optional)

→ Dressing

07 - ½ cup mayonnaise
08 - ¼ cup sour cream
09 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley

# How to Prepare:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
02 - Cook diced bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
03 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
04 - In a large bowl, mix cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, red onion, optional avocado, and cooked bacon.
05 - Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
06 - Sprinkle chopped chives or parsley on top. Serve immediately or chill up to 2 hours before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer in a bowl—crispy, fresh, and utterly addictive.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually gets better as the flavors meld, perfect for meal prep or potlucks.
  • The creamy dressing clings to every piece of pasta, so there's no sad, dry bites.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the pasta—starchy, warm pasta won't hold the dressing the way cold, rinsed pasta will.
  • Chop the vegetables with intention; uneven pieces mean some bites are vegetable-heavy and others are mostly pasta.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before and let it meld in the refrigerator—it tastes even better the next day.
  • If the salad sits too long and dries out, whisk together a little extra mayo and lemon juice and toss it in to refresh everything.
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