Name: BLT Pasta Salad
Yield: 12

This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe turns the classic sandwich into a fresh, flavor-packed salad with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a zesty avocado-ranch dressing.

author’s note

The Pasta Salad I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About!

Last summer, I went to a baby shower and tried a BLT pasta salad for the first time. I’m not exaggerating when I say I thought about it so many times after that. It was one of those recipes I could not get out of my head, so I knew it was time to make my own version.

I texted my friend and asked how she made it, and she said she didn’t have an exact recipe, but she gave me the general idea. I started there and tested a few different dressings, but then I got a little creative and came up with this avocado-ranch dressing.

And I’m not exaggerating when I say it might be one of a reliable dressings of all time, which is saying something because I could practically drink my Cafe Rio dressing. It’s creamy, fresh, loaded with flavor, and SO good with the crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, crunchy romaine, and pasta.

This salad is absolutely my new go-to for get-togethers, but honestly, my kids love it and beg for it for dinner too. It’s fresh, filling, and one of those recipes that disappears fast.

Ingredient shot-- image of all the ingredients used in this dish

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe Ingredients

Ingredient	Why It Works
Rotini pasta	Cook the pasta al dente: Be sure not to overcook the pasta–nobody wants mushy, shapeless macaroni!
Bacon	It is satisfying to to bake it up! Let it cool before chopping so it stays crisp.
Romaine lettuce	Romaine gives the salad that classic BLT crunch. Make sure it’s dry before adding it.
Cherry tomatoes	Halve them so they mix in better.
Avocado	Use ripe avocados for the best flavor and texture.
Fresh dill	This makes the dressing taste bright and fresh. Don’t skip it unless you truly don’t like dill.
Red onion	Slice it thin so it doesn’t over power.

Process shots of BLT Pasta Salad-- images of the avocado being added to the blender with all the other ingredients

How To Make This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Bacon: Pre-heat oven and bake the bacon on a rack set over a sheet pan.
Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain, cover, and chill until cooled.
Veggies: Chop romaine, halve tomatoes, slice red, dice avocado, and chop the dill.
Dressing: Add the avocado, buttermilk, mayo, lemon, dill, and seasonings to a blender. Blend until smooth and thick.
Toss: Add everything to a large bowl. Toss gently and serve right away.

chelsea’s recipe tip

My Top Tips For Success

Cool pasta: Warm pasta will wilt the lettuce and soak up too much dressing.
Use a large bowl: This salad has a lot of mix-ins, so a big bowl makes it easier.
Add the avocado last: Diced avocado is soft, so fold it in at the end to keep it from getting mashed.
Keep extra dressing nearby: Pasta can soak up dressing as it sits, so a little extra on the side is always a good idea.

Process shots-- images of the pasta, lettuce, bacon, tomato, avocado, onion, and dressing being added to a bowl and mixed together

Storage

This BLT Pasta Salad recipe is best served right after it’s tossed. For leftovers, store the dressing, pasta, lettuce, bacon, and avocado separately, then assemble just before eating to keep everything fresh and crisp.