BLT Pasta Salad (Print)

Crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce tossed with a creamy dressing for easy summer meals.

# Components:

→ 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

# Directions:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat, add diced bacon, and cook until golden and crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - In a large bowl, gently combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, avocado if using, and crispy bacon.
05 - Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle chopped chives or parsley on top. Serve immediately or chill for up to 2 hours before serving.

# Chef Secrets:

01 -
  • It tastes like your favorite sandwich transformed into something you can scoop with a fork, endlessly satisfying and surprisingly filling.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually improves as the flavors meld together in the fridge, which is rare for pasta salads.
  • Every bite has texture contrast, crunchy bacon against soft pasta, cool lettuce against rich creamy dressing.
  • It feeds a crowd without much fuss, and you probably already have most of these ingredients on hand.
02 -
  • Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water immediately to stop it from overcooking and turning gummy, this step is not optional if you want the texture to stay right.
  • Add the lettuce at the very last moment before serving or it will wilt into the dressing and lose all its crunch, which is half the point of this salad.
  • Drain the bacon thoroughly on paper towels or the rendered fat will make the dressing greasy and heavy instead of creamy and light.
03 -
  • Use thick cut bacon if you can find it, the extra meatiness and crunch make every bite more satisfying and the pieces hold up better when tossed.
  • Chill your mixing bowl in the freezer for ten minutes before assembling, it keeps everything cool and crisp especially on warm days when the lettuce is prone to wilting.
  • Add a pinch of smoked paprika to the dressing for a subtle smoky depth that echoes the bacon and makes people ask what the secret ingredient is.
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