A Tasty Summer Salad

Step up your summer salad game, my BLT Pasta Salad has you covered. Crispy bacon, chopped lettuce, fresh tomato, pasta, come together in a make-ahead salad that everyone will love. #pastasalad #summersalad #bltpastasalad #bltsalad #summersaladrecipe If you love my Club Sandwich Salad you have to try this one.

My Secret Ingredient in BLT Pasta Salad

My BLT Pasta Salad has a secret ingredient and it takes the flavor right over the top! I toast up some Panko and sprinkle it right on the salad, it makes it taste just like a true BLT, no kidding. Instead of panko you could just up some toasted white bread but I loved the Panko so much more than toast.

What to Serve with this Salad?

Any grilled or summer barbecue foods would be perfect with this salad. Try it with ribs, burgers, hot dogs, or even grilled chicken. Some people think because it has bacon in it, that serving it with meat would be too much. It is not too much, the bacon is there for a little crunch and flavor. An accent.

What Kind of Bacon do You Use?

Personally, for salads, I prefer thin cut bacon. And here’s why: it goes much further. Thick cut bacon is great for most things but in a salad, I prefer a thin cut strip. Of course, you can absolutely use whatever bacon you have on hand. And as always, if you have real bacon bits and you want to use them go for it!

Pasta for BLT Pasta Salad

I used rigatoni in my salad. As always use what you have on hand. OR use what you or your family prefer. Personally, I like tube pasta for pasta salad because the tube holds the dressing better. But I think bow-tie or spirals are just fine too.

Yield: 8 servings

BLT Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes

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Ingredients

BLT Pasta Salad

• 1 pound pasta
• 4 ounces bacon, crispy cooked and chopped
• 3 medium size tomatoes, chopped
• 3 cups chopped lettuce
• 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs

Salad Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise 
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package direction
while the pasta is cooking
1) make the dressing, whisk the mayonnaise and vinegar together, then whisk in the milk
add the salt and pepper and whisk again, set aside and refrigerate until the pasta is done
2) toast the Panko until it browns up a bit, set to the side
when the pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse it in cold water until it is cool, let drain completely to dry off a little
put the pasta in the bottom of a salad bowl add bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and half the dressing, toss lightly
add the rest of dressing and toss again
add the bread crumbs and serve immediately
if not serving immediately save the bread crumbs and toss with the salad 10 minutes or so before serving

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 cup
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 306 Total Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 4g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 12g Cholesterol: 20mg Sodium: 541mg Carbohydrates: 28g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Protein: 11g