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Creamy BLT Pasta Salad with Crispy Bacon

A close-up of creamy BLT pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and bacon crumbles.

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Make this easy BLT pasta salad featuring crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce tossed in a creamy dressing. It is a perfect side dish for summer gatherings and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion (optional)
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon until crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels and crumble it.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, white vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. This is your creamy dressing.
  4. Add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, and optional cheese and red onion to the bowl with the dressing.
  5. Gently fold all ingredients together until the pasta and vegetables are evenly coated with the dressing.
  6. Cover the bowl and chill the BLT pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. This allows the flavors to combine.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or pepper if needed, just before serving.

Notes

  • For a make-ahead option, prepare the dressing and cook the bacon up to one day in advance. Do not add the lettuce until just before serving to keep it crisp.
  • If you prefer a tangier dressing, substitute half of the mayonnaise with ranch dressing.
  • If you want to skip the dairy in the dressing, use an equal amount of your favorite vegan mayonnaise.

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