There’s something downright satisfying about sinking your fork into a bowl of fresh pasta salad loaded with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and the bright pop of tomatoes. This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe takes all those classic flavors you love from a BLT sandwich and transforms them into a chilled, crowd-pleasing pasta salad perfect for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.

A white bowl filled with a colorful pasta salad sits on a white marbled surface. The salad has three main layers: a base of creamy spiral pasta in light beige, topped with bright red halved cherry tomatoes scattered evenly, and mixed green leafy lettuce pieces adding texture. Small orange cubes of cheddar cheese and light green avocado chunks are mixed throughout. Crispy brown bacon bits sprinkle the salad, along with finely chopped herbs adding green flecks. A wooden spoon is placed inside the bowl with its handle pointing upward, ready to serve. In the background, blurred fresh green herbs and a small white bowl with cherry tomatoes can be seen. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I honestly get so excited every time I make this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe—it’s the perfect mix of crunchy, creamy, and fresh. It’s one of those dishes that feels special yet is so effortless to whip up, making it a favorite in my kitchen and at gatherings.

Classic flavors reinvented: It captures the best parts of a BLT sandwich in a delightful pasta salad form.
Perfect for any occasion: Whether it’s a picnic, potluck, or a simple lunch, this salad always impresses.
Easy to customize: Swap in your favorite add-ins or tweak the dressing to suit your taste.
Make-ahead friendly dressing: Letting the dressing chill for a while really boosts the flavor.

A close-up view of a white bowl filled with a pasta salad. The salad has three main layers: a base layer of off-white spiral pasta, scattered throughout with small chunks of orange cheese, green lettuce leaves, and bits of crispy brown bacon. On top, there are halved bright red cherry tomatoes and small pieces of purple onion mixed in. The salad is lightly dressed, giving a shiny, slightly creamy look to the pasta. The background shows a white marbled surface and blurred green herbs. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe balances each other beautifully—from the salty crunch of bacon to the creamy richness of avocado, and the fresh crispness of romaine lettuce. Choosing good quality ingredients will really make this salad shine.

Flat lay of cooked rotini pasta, crispy chopped bacon, finely diced red onion, cheddar cheese cubes, ripe avocado pieces, halved cherry tomatoes, torn romaine lettuce leaves, and freshly chopped parsley arranged beautifully on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Rotini pasta: Its spiral shape holds onto the creamy dressing perfectly, so every bite is flavorful.
Bacon: Crisp it up well for that satisfying texture contrast and smoky depth.
Red onion: Adds a slight bite and sweetness; finely dicing helps distribute its flavor evenly.
Cheddar cheese: Cubed cheddar provides a sharp creaminess that pairs beautifully with the bacon.
Romaine lettuce: Offers a fresh, crisp bite—best added just before serving to keep it crunchy.
Avocado: Adds creamy richness, which complements the tangy dressing wonderfully.
Cherry tomatoes: Burst of sweetness and juiciness that brightens the salad.
Parsley: Fresh herb lift that rounds out the flavors with a subtle earthiness.
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix: The classic seasoning mix brings that familiar zesty ranch flavor you expect in a BLT salad.
Mayonnaise and sour cream: These create the creamy base for the dressing, balancing tanginess with smoothness.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about the BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it to your personal taste or what you have on hand. I often play around with the mix-ins and even the dressing to keep it exciting and fresh.

Variation: Sometimes I swap mayonnaise for Greek yogurt in the dressing for a tangier, lighter twist that still feels indulgent.
Keep it vegetarian: Skip the bacon and add smoked paprika or crispy tempeh for that smoky bite.
Seasonal spins: In summer, I toss in fresh corn kernels or roasted peppers for extra color and sweetness.
Cheese swap: Try feta instead of cheddar for a briny, creamy contrast.

Step-by-Step: How I Make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Step 1: Whisk up the creamy dressing

I start by combining the dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix with mayo and sour cream in a medium bowl. Whisk it together until it’s smooth and well blended—this is the magic that ties the whole salad together. Then, I cover it and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes; this resting time really helps deepen the flavors.

Step 2: Cook and cool the pasta

Follow the package directions to cook your rotini until perfectly al dente—not mushy! Drain it and rinse well under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Draining it properly is key here; too much moisture will water down the salad.

Step 3: Prep your fresh ingredients

While the pasta cooks or chills, I usually chop my bacon into bite-sized pieces once it’s nice and crispy, finely dice the red onion, cube the cheddar, halve the cherry tomatoes, chop the parsley, tear the romaine, and cut the avocado into small chunks. Having all these prepped ahead keeps things moving fast.

Step 4: Toss everything gently

In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, bacon, onion, cheese, avocado, tomatoes, parsley, and romaine lettuce. Pour the chilled dressing over the top and gently toss everything together with tongs. The key here is being gentle—especially after adding avocado and lettuce—to keep the salad looking fresh and not mushy.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy immediately

This salad is best served right away to enjoy the crispness of the lettuce and the freshness of every ingredient. If you have to wait, I suggest holding off on adding the lettuce and dressing until serving time.

Top Tip

From my experience making this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe several times, a few little tricks have made a big difference in flavor and texture. These tips have saved me from soggy salads and bland bites!

Chill the dressing: Allow the mayo, sour cream, and dry mix to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before adding to the salad to boost flavor infusion.
Rinse the pasta well: Rinsing the cooked pasta under cold water prevents it from overcooking and stops it from sticking together.
Cut lettuce last: Add the romaine just before serving to keep it crisp and avoid wilting in the salad.
Gentle toss: Use tongs and toss lightly once the salad is combined to prevent avocado from mashing and lettuce from bruising.

How to Serve BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Garnishes

I love throwing on some extra crisp bacon bits and a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley right before serving—it adds that fresh, herby burst and a bit of irresistible crunch.

Side Dishes

This salad pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken breasts or a simple garlic bread for a light yet satisfying meal. On warmer days, it’s perfect on its own or alongside barbecue ribs.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this pasta salad layered in a clear trifle bowl to showcase its colorful ingredients, which always gets compliments. Individual mason jar servings also make for cute, portable options at picnics or parties.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers (though it’s hard to have any!), I store them in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 24 hours. Beyond that, the lettuce tends to wilt and the avocado browns, so it’s best to enjoy fresh.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe because the creamy dressing, fresh veggies, and avocado don’t thaw well and often become watery or mushy.

Reheating

This pasta salad is best enjoyed cold or at room temperature, so I usually don’t reheat leftovers. If you want it less chilled, just let it sit out for 15–20 minutes before serving again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of pasta for this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe?

Absolutely! Rotini is great because it holds the dressing well, but penne, bow-tie, or even elbow macaroni work just fine. Just make sure to cook and rinse the pasta to cool it down before mixing in the salad.

How do I keep the lettuce from getting soggy?

The key is to add the romaine lettuce at the very end, right before serving. If you’re prepping in advance, keep the lettuce separate and toss it with the salad just before you eat.

Can I make the dressing from scratch without the Hidden Valley Dressing Mix?

Yes! You can create a ranch-style dressing using mayo, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt, and pepper to mimic the flavor. However, the packet does give that signature taste that really elevates this pasta salad.

Is it okay to prepare this salad a day ahead of time?

You can prepare most of it a day ahead, but hold off on adding the lettuce and dressing. Keep them refrigerated separately and combine just before serving to maintain freshness and texture.

Final Thoughts

This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is truly one of those dishes that never fails to please. It’s comforting, fresh, and delicious without a lot of fuss. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do—and that it becomes a new favorite in your rotation, ready to bring smiles to family and friends with every forkful.