Description
This BLT Pasta Salad is a delightful twist on the classic BLT sandwich, combining crispy bacon, fresh Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and fusilli pasta tossed in a creamy, tangy Ranch dressing blend. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or light main course, this salad is easy to prepare and ideal for picnics, potlucks, or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz. fusilli pasta (gluten-free, cooked according to package)
Bacon
- 10 oz. bacon (cut into bite-sized pieces)
Vegetables
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
- 3 cups Romaine lettuce (coarsely chopped)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
Dressing
- ¾ cup Ranch dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the fusilli pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and let it cool to room temperature before proceeding.
- Cook Bacon: Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. In a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon for 7-8 minutes or until fully cooked and crispy. Drain the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess grease. Alternatively, bacon can be cooked in the oven and crumbled afterwards.
- Prepare Dressing: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the Ranch dressing, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix well to create a creamy dressing blend.
- Toss Pasta with Dressing: Pour three-quarters of the dressing over the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Toss thoroughly to evenly coat the pasta. Reserve the remaining quarter of the dressing for later use.
- Add Bacon and Vegetables: Add the cooked bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion to the pasta. Toss all ingredients together to combine well.
- Chill Pasta Salad: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, or for best results, up to overnight. This allows the flavors to meld.
- Add Lettuce and Final Dressing: Just before serving, add the coarsely chopped Romaine lettuce and the reserved dressing to the chilled pasta salad. Toss gently to combine everything evenly.
- Serve: Serve the BLT pasta salad cold and enjoy this flavorful, refreshing dish.
Notes
- Cooking bacon in the oven is a less hands-on method and can help achieve evenly crispy bacon; cook at 400°F for 15-20 minutes on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Make sure pasta is completely cooled before mixing with dressing to prevent wilting the lettuce later.
- This salad keeps well in the refrigerator for up to two days; add lettuce fresh before serving to maintain crunchiness.
- You can substitute Romaine lettuce with other crisp greens like iceberg or butter lettuce for a different texture.
- Use gluten-free pasta to keep the recipe gluten-free as specified.
