This yummy, rich, creamy, crunchy BLT Pasta Salad recipe is the ultimate summer comfort food that combines two faves!
Crave comfort food all year long? We love a good food mashup here at Urban Bliss Life. From savory dishes like Taco Pasta to sweet baked goods like Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookies, mashup recipes are yummy ways to enjoy two food faves in one!
This BLT Pasta Salad is one of our longtime FAVE recipe mashups. It combines the savory crunchy bites of BLT sandwiches with the creaminess of a summertime pasta salad.
Friends, this is truly the ultimate summertime comfort food. This creamy BLT pasta salad is perfect for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, and any al fresco dining experience!
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❤️ Why you'll love this BLT pasta salad
There are so many reasons to love this pasta salad recipe!
- You can make this from start to finish in under 30 minutes.
- It's a great make-ahead dish (see FAQ section below for storage and serving ideas)
- It's a simple recipe that involves just a little cooking. It's mostly tossing the ingredients together.
- This easy summer side dish is rich and creamy, with crunchy bits of bacon and bright fresh summer tomatoes and spinach.
🥓 Ingredient notes
Pasta - I normally use regular pasta shells when making this pasta salad. But you can use farfalle (bow tie) pasta, elbow macaroni, ziti, or rigatoni. The pasta I buy comes in 12-ounce packages. If yours comes in a 16-ounce package, be sure to use a kitchen scale to weigh out 12 ounces of pasta. Or, just eyeball it! It's a very forgiving recipe.
Dijon mustard - I love adding this to give the dressing a little bit of tang.
Bacon - thick center-cut bacon is great for this pasta salad. But you can easily leave bacon out to make it a vegetarian pasta salad.
Dairy free options- It's easy to make this a dairy-free BLT pasta salad: simply substitute a vegan mayo and vegan sour cream.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat. Once the bacon starts to get to your desired level of crispness, add the garlic and sauté together for 1-2 minutes. Strain out the grease (save for cooking use later) and transfer bacon and garlic to a bowl or plate to let cool slightly.
4. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and rinse for 1 minute under cool water to cool the pasta.
5. Add the cooked and cooled down pasta to a large bowl, along with the tomatoes, spinach, half of the cooked bacon & garlic.
6. Add the sauce to the bowl of ingredients. Toss together to coat the pasta.
Serve immediately and top each serving with remaining crispy bacon
Recipe FAQs & tips
Yes! I use a vegan, dairy-free mayonnaise and non-dairy sour cream to make the sauce you see here.
Yes! In fact, I love it even better after it's had at least a couple of hours in the refrigerator. You can make this up to two days in advance. Just before serving, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and drizzle a little olive oil. Then toss the ingredients together to redistribute the sauce. You can even reheat leftovers in the microwave for 30 seconds to re-liquify the sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days. Drizzle some olive oil over the top then toss together to redistribute and "wake up" the sauce just before serving. You can even reheat leftovers in the microwave for 30 seconds to re-liquify the sauce.
This salad is best eaten either fresh or refrigerated; I do not recommend freezing this salad. In general, pastas with this kind of sauce do not freeze well, and do not retain their texture or flavors after thawing.
🍽 Serving ideas
This BLT Pasta Salad is made for BBQs, picnics, and all outdoor al fresco dining experiences!
Serve it alongside barbecue classics like our Asian Beef Burgers, Filipino Pork BBQ Skewers, Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers, or Grilled Salmon with Lemon and Herbs.
More pasta salad recipes
Looking for more pasta salad recipes? Try one of these three, or this delicious chicken salad!
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta shells
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 slices bacon, sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2½ to 3 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 2 cups spinach, stems trimmed and roughly chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
Make the Sauce
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
Cook the bacon and garlic
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high heat. Once the bacon starts to get to your desired level of crispness, add the garlic and sauté together for 1-2 minutes. Strain out the grease (save for cooking use later) and transfer bacon and garlic to a bowl or plate to let cool slightly.
Assemble the pasta salad
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain and rinse for 1 minute under cool water to cool the pasta. Add pasta to a large bowl.
- To the bowl of pasta, add the tomatoes, spinach, half of the cooked bacon & garlic, and sauce. Toss together to coat the pasta.
- Serve immediately and top each serving with remaining crispy bacon.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
This recipe was originally published on September 8, 2017. It was updated with all new photos, new step-by-step instructions, more helpful cooking info, and updated recipe card on July 13, 2022.
Ashley - Forking Up says
Pasta salad just screams summer to me. I'm sad summer is almost over, but this is a great recipe to end it on!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I agree! I love making it for BBQs. Thanks, Ashley!
Christine - Jar Of Lemons says
This looks SO good! So perfect for lunch! :)
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
I love making it for lunch. It's so quick and easy! Thank you, Christine!
Noel says
I love garden fresh tomatoes and keep picking them up every time I'm at the market. This recipe will help me use them up!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
That's great to hear! Thanks, Noel!
Dene' Alexander says
This looks so good. Perfect for a party, weeknight or any time really!! Who knew a salad could replace a real BLT!!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Glad you liked the post! Thanks!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Good Heavens!! It looks so good. Pasta, bacon, spinach, and a good dressing is pure comfort food. I don't think that salad would last very long in our household. This is a great recipe to have on hand. I'm pinning.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
What a nice comment! Thank you, Marisa :)
Veena Azmanov says
This salad sounds heaven. I love salad BLT is perfect for this season. We really have some delicious cherry tomatoes in season now. I use them almost everyday. I can't wait to thy this version.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yummy! Let me know if you like it! :)
Nadja | Nashi Food says
This BLT Pasta Salad looks so creamy in the photo! I bet it tastes so good. I love how easy it is to make. Thanks for sharing your recipe! 😊
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
We busy moms need these quick and easy meals ;) Thanks so much, Nadja!
Sudarshan Kar says
YUMMY! reading this blog made me so hungry, and to think I just got eating lunch now lol. Thanks for the great recipe; it doesn't seem too complex for a cooking newbie like me to try :D
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It really is super quick and easy! Thank you! :)
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
OMG this sounds DELICIOUS!! Hands down spinach is so much better than lettuce. In fact unless I am making Caesar Salad...I never have lettuce in the house. I will have kale, spinach, arugula, watercress and mache....along with pea shoots and sunflower sprouts. This salad sounds perfect....and would make a meal all on its own.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Gloria! I love using substitutes for lettuce as well. I love the flavor of spinach and kale :)
Jodi @ Create Kids Club says
This does look like the perfect fall food. I am going to put it on my menu soon!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you, Jodi! Let me know how you like it! :)
Joanna @ Everyday Made Fresh says
I love a good pasta salad, and this has all the tasty bits in it! I would actually throw in grilled diced chicken and make it a complete meal. That sounds so good!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Yum! Chicken would taste great in it! Thank you, Joanna! :)
shobee says
This looks perfect for weeknight dinner. Love it.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Gotta love quick and easy meals :) Thanks!
Catherine @ Ten Thousand Hour Mama says
So many people go crazy for bacon, so I bet this would be a real crowd-pleaser!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Can't go wrong with bacon ;)
Darlynne says
What a rustic dish! Love all the flavours.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Thank you! Let me know how it turns out! :)
Megan Joy says
This sounds delicious. I didn't realize making a homemade ranch dressing was that simple. Looks like the perfect way to spice up a pasta salad! Yum!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
It really is that easy and fast to make and I love it! Thanks, Megan!
Create/Enjoy says
I love using tomatoes when they're in season! And a BLT is a great flavor combo!!
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says
Glad you like this flavor combo! I do too! Thanks :)