Description
This creamy and flavorful BLT pasta salad brings together all the best parts of a BLT sandwich in one dish—crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and a creamy dressing, all tossed with tender pasta. Perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or a quick family meal!
Ingredients
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For the Dressing:
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1 cup milk (any kind)
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1 cup sour cream
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3 tablespoons Ranch seasoning mix
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For the Salad:
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12 strips thick-cut bacon (high quality)
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1 lb. Farfalle pasta
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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4 cups romaine lettuce (washed, chopped, and dried)
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1 pint cherry tomatoes (quartered)
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⅓ cup red onions (finely diced)
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1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
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Instructions
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Cook the Pasta:
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Cook the Farfalle pasta according to the package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water to cool, and set aside.
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Cook the Bacon:
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In a large skillet, cook the bacon strips over medium heat until crispy. Once cooked, remove the bacon and drain it on paper towels. Once cooled, chop the bacon into small pieces.
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Make the Dressing:
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, sour cream, and Ranch seasoning mix until smooth and well combined.
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Assemble the Salad:
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, chopped bacon, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and red onions.
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Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything together to coat.
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Finish the Salad:
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Drizzle the BBQ sauce over the top of the salad and give it a final toss. If desired, garnish with extra bacon or fresh herbs for added flavor.
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Serve:
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Serve immediately, or refrigerate for an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
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Notes
This salad can be made ahead of time, but it’s best to add the lettuce and BBQ sauce right before serving to keep the salad fresh and crisp.
If you prefer, you can swap out the Farfalle pasta for any other pasta shape, like penne or rotini.
You can add other ingredients like avocado or cucumber for extra freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Salad
- Method: Stovetop, No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: BLT pasta salad, bacon pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, BBQ pasta salad, cold pasta salad