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BLT Pasta Salad

Recipe by Evelyn Marcella Rivera

This loaded BLT pasta salad is creamy, crunchy, and packed with crispy bacon, cheddar cubes, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and romaine — all tossed in a homemade ranch dressing that takes just 30 minutes to chill into perfection. The ultimate summer side dish.

  • Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 16-ounce box Rotini Pasta (cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water)
  • 13 slices bacon (cooked and chopped)
  • 1/2 large red onion (finely diced)
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese (cut into cubes (measured after cubed))
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce (cut or torn into bite size pieces (measured after torn))
  • 1 avocado (cut into small pieces)
  • 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half (measured after cut))
  • 1/4 cup parsley (chopped)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1 1-ounce packet Hidden Valley Dressing Mix (dry)
  • 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

  1. Whip Up the Ranch Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Whisk until silky smooth with no lumps. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors fully develop.
  2. Cook and Cool the Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse thoroughly with cold water until completely cool, and drain again well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  3. Assemble the Salad: Add the cooked and chopped bacon, finely diced red onion, cheddar cheese cubes, avocado pieces, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and torn romaine lettuce to the bowl with the pasta. Pour the chilled dressing over all ingredients and use tongs to gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  4. Serve Immediately: This salad is best served fresh right after assembling for maximum crunch and creaminess.

Notes

For best results, serve immediately after tossing. The lettuce and avocado don’t hold up well over time. If prepping ahead, keep the dressing, avocado, and lettuce separate and combine just before serving. Use full-fat mayonnaise for the creamiest texture. Cube the cheddar cheese rather than shredding for better texture and flavor distribution.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Salad, Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Calories: 550
  • Sugar: 3
  • Sodium: 750
  • Saturated Fat: 12
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 15
  • Cholesterol: 50

Find it online: https://blesseddish.com/blt-pasta-salad-the-summer-side-that-steals-the-show/