Description
A flavorful BLT Pasta Salad combining rotini pasta, crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and a creamy ranch dressing, perfect for a crowd-pleasing side or light main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce box Rotini Pasta cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water
- 13 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- ½ large red onion finely diced
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese cut into cubes
- 2 cups romaine lettuce cut or torn into bite size pieces
- 1 avocado cut into small pieces
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 1-ounce packet Hidden Valley Dressing Mix dry
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a medium mixing bowl combine the dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Whisk together until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Cook the pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Drain again and place in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine salad ingredients: Add the cooked and chopped bacon, finely diced red onion, cubed cheddar cheese, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and romaine lettuce to the bowl with the cooled pasta.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta mixture. Using tongs, gently toss the salad until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
- Serve immediately: The salad is best served right away to keep the romaine lettuce crisp and fresh.
Notes
- Romaine lettuce does not save well in this salad; serve immediately or add lettuce and dressing just before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container for up to 24 hours and eaten the next day.
- Do not keep salad refrigerated for more than 24 hours to maintain freshness.
- This recipe yields a large bowl; halve the ingredients for smaller servings.
- Cheddar cheese can be shredded instead of cubed if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
