Description
Refreshingly delicious, this BLT Pasta Salad features crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and a creamy dressing, making it perfect for picnics and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
8 oz. bacon
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ranch dressing
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
12 oz. bowtie pasta
1 pint grape tomatoes
1/4 red onion
2 cups fresh spinach (packed)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until brown and crispy. Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool. Once cooled, chop or crumble the bacon into smaller pieces.
- While the bacon is cooking, prepare the dressing. Stir together the mayonnaise, ranch dressing, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set the dressing aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook until tender (7-8 minutes). Drain the pasta in a colander, rinse it briefly with cool water to cool it down, then let it drain very well.
- While the pasta is cooking and draining, prepare the vegetables. Slice the grape tomatoes in half, finely dice the red onion, and roughly chop the spinach.
- Once the pasta is cooled and drained, add it to a large bowl along with the spinach, tomatoes, onions, and dressing. Stir everything together until evenly combined and coated in dressing. Let the pasta sit for 10-15 minutes for the flavors to blend, then stir once more and serve.
Notes
This pasta salad is best served chilled and can be made a day ahead. Feel free to customize the vegetables according to your preference.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Salad
- Method: no-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: BLT pasta salad recipe, pasta salad, bacon, grape tomatoes, ranch dressing