BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing + Video

BLT Pasta Salad is bursting with flavor and so easy and quick to throw together. Even better, it’s prepped and ready in 30 minutes or less and can be made ahead of time. This BLT pasta salad recipe is a simple but so delicious twist on your favorite sandwich that is always a hit at potlucks and parties!

BLT Pasta Salad

I love a good cold pasta salad, but it’s so easy to fall in a rut with the same ingredients over and over. Then, I got the idea to use some of my favorite sandwiches for inspiration!!

From Cubans and Muffalettas to Po’ Boys and even a Big Mac, I’ve got plenty of recipes to choose from — but not much beats a classic BLT.

Crispy, crumbled bacon, crunchy lettuce, and sweet cherry tomatoes are tossed with pasta and a delicious creamy dressing for a tantalizing BLT pasta salad! 

This simple recipe is a crowd-pleaser and makes a great side dish or dinner during the summer months, especially at potlucks and pool parties.

And the best part about this BLT pasta salad recipe is that it’s ready in under 30 minutes. You can even prep it ahead of time!!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Pasta – Choose any variety that holds up well in a pasta salad. Rotini is a classic choice — those spirals grab lots of dressing! 
  
  Fusilli, cavatappi, and even bowtie are good alternatives. However, avoid macaroni as it will get lost among the larger ingredients.
  
• Bacon – Have this cooked, cooled, and crumbled before tossing pasta BLT salad with lettuce.
  
  I like to cook bacon in the oven or air fryer! It comes out perfectly crispy and keeps the kitchen clean of all those splatters.
  
• Veggies – Chopped Romaine lettuce and halved cherry tomatoes add crispy freshness to this BLT salad with pasta.
  
  Because the tips of the lettuce leaves are sometimes flimsy, use the lighter green section closest to the bottom stem for maximum crunch. Or, swap Romaine with iceberg lettuce.
  
• Dressing – A creamy blend of mayonnaise and sour cream, plus apple cider vinegar for extra tang. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  
  Plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute for the sour cream, and you can try red wine vinegar for a slightly different flavor!

Tips and Tricks to Make the Best BLT Salad with Pasta

• Salt the water before adding the pasta.

Trust me, it makes a huge difference in flavor! Wait until the water is at a rolling boil before adding enough salt to make it “taste like the ocean” — about 1 tablespoon per 4 quarts of water when cooking 1 pound of pasta.

Don’t forget to add salt and pepper to the dressing as well. They provide balance and help enhance the other flavors.

• Keep excess moisture to a minimum.

After rinsing and chopping your lettuce, run it through a salad spinner to dry it. Don’t have one? Simply pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.

You’ll also want to drain the pasta really well. I like to drizzle mine with a little olive oil to keep it from sticking together, but it also prevents it from absorbing too much of the dressing!

• Nothing should be hot when mixing things together.

Make the bacon first so it has time to cool, and rinse the pasta with cold water so the noodles aren’t hot when combined with the creamy dressing. 

I’ll usually prep the veggies and dressing ahead of time too, then store them in the fridge so everything is nice and chilled.

Prep Ahead

• Cook and crumble bacon
• Slice tomatoes
• Chop lettuce and chives
• Make the dressing

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Quality Knives and a big solid Cutting Board make prepping a breeze and are well worth the investment.
• Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all! Use a smaller one to mix the dressing and the largest for tossing the salad.
• Salad Tongs – These bamboo hands help to combine everything gently and are attractive enough for serving as well.

Pasta BLT Salad Variations

Mix and match different ingredients to make this dish your own! The only requirement to keep it a true BLT pasta salad is bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.

• Add extra veggies like red onion, cucumber, bell pepper, or avocado.
  
• Mix in cheese for more savory flavor! Cubed or shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby would be yummy.
  
• Bulk it up by adding chicken or beans, which also increases the amount of protein.
  
• Try a different dressing. I love the creaminess of BLT pasta salad with mayo, but a lighter vinaigrette would work too.

Make Ahead and Storing Leftovers

Pasta BLT salad is great for party or dinner prep. Just toss everything together except for the lettuce, bacon, and about ⅓ of the dressing.

Add those just before serving so the lettuce and bacon stay crisp. The pasta will absorb the dressing at it sits, so that little extra helps to freshen it up!

Unfortunately, that means that leftovers are only good for a day or two at most. Transfer BLT salad with pasta to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Originally published June 2018, updated and republished July 2025

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