Description
Minute BLT Pasta Salad is a quick and creamy twist on the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. Tender rotini or bow-tie pasta is tossed with crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy romaine or iceberg lettuce, red and green onions, and a creamy ranch-style dressing. This salad makes an easy, flavorful side dish or a light lunch, perfect for warm days or quick meals.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini or bow-tie pasta
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Dressing Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsp buttermilk
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ranch seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rotini or bow-tie pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water until completely cooled to stop cooking and prevent sticking.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to taste until smooth and creamy.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, crumbled bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped lettuce, finely diced red onion, sliced green onions, and shredded cheddar cheese if using.
- Add Dressing: Pour the prepared ranch-style dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl.
- Toss the Salad: Gently toss everything together until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for best texture, or cover and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. If preparing ahead, keep lettuce separate until ready to serve to maintain crispness.
Notes
- For the best texture and crunch, add the lettuce shortly before serving rather than mixing it in too early.
- Turkey bacon can be substituted for regular bacon for a lighter version.
- Adding diced avocado provides a creamy variation and extra richness.
- If making the salad in advance, keep the dressing and lettuce separate until just before serving to avoid sogginess.
- Leftovers are best consumed within 1 day as the lettuce tends to soften over time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Pasta Salad, Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
