BLT Pasta Salad
Yep. We are officially drowning in cherry tomatoes over here.
I planted one cherry tomato plant, and it’s a jungle. One plant has produced what feels like one million tomatoes!
Thankfully, I have been sharing them with as many people as possible. I have also been finding as many ways as I can to use our abundant harvest in the kitchen. We have been making sauces, salads, pasta dishes, and plenty of other great meals. At this point, I am basically looking at every recipe and asking myself, “Can I put tomatoes in this?”
The answer is often yes.
This BLT pasta salad is a great way to use a big handful of those fresh cherry tomatoes. It combines everything you love about a classic BLT sandwich—crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce—with tender bowtie pasta and a creamy ranch dressing.
It’s a cool, creamy pasta salad that makes an excellent side dish for a summer barbecue, backyard gathering, potluck, or family dinner.
Even better, it’s simple to prepare. Cook the pasta, mix the dressing, chop the ingredients, stir everything together, and let it chill for 30 minutes.
Why You’ll Love This BLT Pasta Salad
If you love BLT sandwiches, this pasta salad is going to be right up your alley.
First, you get plenty of crispy bacon. Then, fresh cherry tomatoes bring juicy sweetness and bright summer flavor. Romaine lettuce adds a fresh crunch, while green onions add a mild onion flavor.
However, the creamy dressing might be my favorite part.
Instead of using plain mayonnaise alone, I mix mayonnaise with sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning. The result is a creamy ranch dressing that coats every piece of pasta and pulls all the ingredients together.
Because you chill the salad before serving, the flavors have time to blend. Plus, the cold pasta and crisp vegetables make this BLT pasta salad especially refreshing on a hot summer day.
Most importantly, this recipe gives you another delicious way to use those tomatoes that seem to multiply overnight.
One Cherry Tomato Plant = One Million Tomatoes
Okay, maybe I am exaggerating slightly.
But if you grow cherry tomatoes, you know exactly what I mean.
One day, you walk outside and see a few little green tomatoes. Then you check again a couple of days later, and suddenly there are tomatoes everywhere.
You pick a bowl.
Then another bowl.
Then another.
Before long, your kitchen counter looks like a tomato stand.
I absolutely love growing food in our garden, so I am not complaining. There is nothing better than walking outside and picking ingredients for dinner. However, an abundant harvest means I have to get creative.
That is where recipes like this BLT pasta salad come in.
Instead of letting those tomatoes sit on the counter while I wonder what to do with them, I can turn a pint into a delicious summer side dish.
And if you have more tomatoes than you know what to do with, this recipe is easy to double for a larger gathering.
Fresh Cherry Tomatoes Make This Pasta Salad Shine
Fresh cherry tomatoes work best in pasta salad because they are juicy, flavorful, and easy to prepare.
You do not need to peel them, seed them, or cook them.
Simply wash them and add them to the salad.
I usually cut larger cherry tomatoes in half so they distribute throughout the pasta salad. Smaller tomatoes can stay whole if you prefer, although cutting them helps release some of their juice into the salad.
Since this recipe uses fresh tomatoes, garden-grown cherry tomatoes are fantastic. However, grocery store or farmers market tomatoes work just as well.
If you have several varieties growing in your garden, you can even use a mixture. Red, orange, yellow, and other colorful cherry tomatoes can make the salad look especially pretty.
Ingredients for BLT Pasta Salad
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this easy pasta salad.
Bowtie Pasta
You will need 8 ounces of bowtie pasta, boiled until al dente.
Bowtie pasta, also called farfalle, is nice in this pasta salad because the creamy dressing clings to the folds and coats the pasta well.
Be careful not to overcook it. You want the pasta to have enough texture to hold up after chilling.
Bacon
Use 1/2 pound of cooked and chopped bacon.
Bacon gives this pasta salad its classic BLT flavor. Cook it until crisp, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.
I like plenty of bacon throughout the salad, so make sure you chop it small enough that you get bacon in nearly every bite.
Cherry Tomatoes
You need 1 pint of cherry tomatoes.
Fresh tomatoes bring sweetness, acidity, color, and plenty of summer flavor.
Romaine Lettuce
Use 1 head of chopped romaine lettuce.
Romaine adds the crisp lettuce element that makes this taste like a BLT rather than simply a bacon and tomato pasta salad.
Green Onions
Add 2 diced green onions.
Green onions bring a mild onion flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
Mayonnaise
You will need 1 1/2 cups of mayonnaise for the creamy dressing.
Mayonnaise gives the dressing its rich, creamy texture.
Sour Cream
Add 1/2 cup of sour cream.
Sour cream adds a little tanginess and helps balance the richness of the mayonnaise.
Milk
Use 1/4 cup of milk to thin the dressing.
The milk helps the dressing reach the perfect consistency for coating the pasta and vegetables.
Ranch Seasoning
Finally, add 1 tablespoon of ranch seasoning.
The ranch seasoning gives the dressing plenty of flavor without requiring a long list of individual herbs and spices.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
This recipeis fast, especially if you cook the bacon and pasta ahead of time.
Cook the Pasta
Start by boiling the bowtie pasta according to the package directions.
Cook it until al dente. In other words, the pasta should be tender but still have a little bite.
Once the pasta finishes cooking, drain it well and rinse with cold water.
Allow it to cool before combining it with the other ingredients. You do not want hot pasta warming the creamy dressing or wilting the lettuce.
Cook the Bacon
While the pasta cooks, prepare the bacon.
Cook 1/2 pound of bacon until crisp. Drain it well, then chop it into bite-sized pieces.
Crispy bacon works best because it provides a nice contrast to the creamy pasta and juicy tomatoes.
Make the Ranch Dressing
Grab a large mixing bowl.
Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, and ranch seasoning.
Whisk everything together until smooth and well combined.
The dressing should be creamy but loose enough to coat the pasta easily.
Add the Salad Ingredients
Next, add the cooked pasta, chopped bacon, cherry tomatoes, chopped romaine lettuce, and diced green onions to the bowl.
Stir everything together gently.
Make sure the dressing coats the pasta and ingredients evenly.
Chill Before Serving
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the BLT pasta salad for 30 minutes before serving.
That short chilling time gives the flavors a chance to come together. It also makes the salad cold and refreshing.
If the salad sits for a while before serving, give it a gentle stir before putting it on the table.
Plans for a Summer BBQ?
Picture this.
It is a warm Saturday afternoon, and you have friends and family coming over for a backyard barbecue. The grill is heating up, the kids are running around outside, and the table is filling up with summer food.
You have burgers and grilled chicken coming off the grill. Someone brought a bowl of fresh fruit. Another person brought chips and dip.
Then you bring out a big bowl of this BLT pasta salad.
The creamy ranch dressing, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, romaine, and pasta make it an easy side dish that fits right in with the rest of the meal.
Because you made it ahead of time, you are not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else enjoys the afternoon.
That is exactly what I like for a summer gathering.
Tips for the Best BLT Pasta Salad
A few simple tips will help you make this pasta salad even better.
Do Not Overcook the Pasta
Cook the bowtie pasta until al dente.
Overcooked pasta can become soft after it sits in the dressing. Therefore, keeping the pasta slightly firm helps it hold its texture during refrigeration.
Let the Pasta Cool
Do not add steaming-hot pasta directly to the creamy dressing.
Instead, allow the pasta to cool first. This helps keep the dressing creamy and prevents the lettuce from wilting too quickly.
Use Crisp Bacon
Crispy bacon gives this salad the best texture.
Soft or undercooked bacon can disappear into the creamy dressing, while crisp bacon provides little bites of salty, smoky flavor throughout the salad.
Cut the Ingredients Into Bite-Sized Pieces
Cut the bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and green onions into manageable pieces.
That way, you can get a little of everything on your fork.
Chill Before Serving
Do not skip the 30-minute refrigeration time.
The salad tastes better after chilling because the ranch dressing has time to coat the pasta and the flavors have time to develop.
Can I Make BLT Pasta Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time.
In fact, preparing it before your barbecue or party makes things much easier.
However, keep in mind that the romaine will gradually soften as it sits in the dressing. For the freshest texture, I recommend making the salad a few hours before serving rather than preparing it a full day ahead.
If you know you will have leftovers, the salad will still be delicious the next day. The lettuce simply will not have quite as much crunch.
What to Serve With BLT Pasta Salad
This pasta salad makes an excellent side dish for just about any summer barbecue.
Serve it alongside grilled burgers, grilled chicken, pulled pork, brats, grilled steak, or sandwiches.
For a backyard gathering, you could serve a big bowl of BLT pasta salad alongside corn on the cob, watermelon, grilled meat, and homemade lemonade.
Of course, you do not need a party as an excuse to make it.
A simple family dinner on the patio is more than enough reason.
Can I Use Different Tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes are best because they are juicy and easy to prepare. However, you can use grape tomatoes or chopped garden tomatoes if that is what you have available.
If you are using larger tomatoes, remove some of the excess seeds and watery center if necessary. Then chop the tomatoes into bite-sized pieces.
For me, though, cherry tomatoes are the obvious choice during garden season because we have so many of them!
Can I Add More Vegetables?
You certainly can add extra vegetables if you have them available.
However, I recommend keeping the classic BLT flavors at the center of the recipe.
The bacon, lettuce, tomato, green onion, pasta, and creamy ranch dressing already bring plenty of flavor and texture.
If you have an especially large tomato harvest, you can increase the amount of tomatoes rather than adding a bunch of other ingredients.
A Great Recipe for Tomato Season
Garden season is one of my favorite times of year, but anyone who grows tomatoes knows that an abundant harvest can become a little overwhelming.
That is why I love recipes that actually help me use what the garden gives me.
This BLT pasta salad uses an entire pint of cherry tomatoes, which may not sound like much until you start making it regularly.
One batch for dinner.
Another for the next barbecue.
Another to take to a friend’s house.
Before you know it, that giant bowl of tomatoes on your counter starts shrinking.
And that is exactly what I want!
I would much rather turn our garden harvest into delicious meals than watch perfectly good tomatoes go to waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does BLT pasta salad need to chill?
Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. You can chill it longer, although the romaine will become softer the longer it sits in the dressing. If you plan to chill longer, mix all the ingredients except for the lettuce, chill, and add the lettuce right before serving.
What type of pasta works best?
Bowtie pasta works especially well because the shape holds onto the creamy ranch dressing. However, other short pasta shapes can work if that is what you have in your pantry.
Is BLT pasta salad good for a barbecue?
Yes! This recipe makes an excellent BBQ side dish. It is creamy, cold, fresh, and loaded with classic BLT flavors. Plus, you can make it ahead of time.
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy BLT pasta salad is one more delicious way to use an abundant cherry tomato harvest. Fresh tomatoes, crispy bacon, crunchy romaine, green onions, bowtie pasta, and creamy ranch dressing come together for a side dish that is perfect for summer.
Whether you are hosting a backyard barbecue, heading to a potluck, or simply making dinner for your family, this recipe is a flavorful one.
And if you happen to have a garden overflowing with cherry tomatoes like I do, even better!
Share some tomatoes with your neighbors. Give some to friends. Make another batch of pasta salad. Eat them straight from the garden.
Just keep picking.
Because apparently, one cherry tomato plant really can produce one million tomatoes.
What Else Are You Doing with Your Cherry Tomatoes?
Tomato Basil Pasta
Drunken Tomatoes
Caprese Salad
Pickled Green Cherry Tomatoes
BLT Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
- 8 oz Bowtie pasta (boiled al dente)
- 1/2 pound Bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 1 Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 Green onions, diced
- 1½ cups Mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Sour cream
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1 tbsp Ranch seasoning
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, milk and ranch seasoning.
- Add the cooked pasta, chopped bacon, cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and green onions.
- Stir to coat the pasta salad with the dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
