Creamy BLT Pasta Salad with Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing and Crispy Bacon
A delightful pasta salad that combines the classic flavors of a BLT sandwich with creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies, perfect for summer barbecues and gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Pescatarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 3 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp dried dill weed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Remember to stir occasionally! Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- While your pasta is cooking, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the thick-cut bacon slices and cook until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, crumble once cooled.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the green onions and set aside in a mixing bowl.
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, fresh chives, parsley, and dill in a bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy, adjusting salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, chopped lettuce, and green onions to a large mixing bowl. Pour the ranch dressing over and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Give your salad a taste test and adjust flavors if necessary.
- Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors.
Notes
For the best taste, enjoy the salad fresh. Add the lettuce right before serving for optimal crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: pasta salad, BLT salad, ranch dressing, summer recipes, bacon pasta salad