5 from 3 votes
20 Pasta Salad Recipes to Make All Summer Long | BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
Easy classic pasta salads are the trademark of summer BBQs, picnics, pool parties, and potlucks. This list of 20 pasta salads will keep your picnic table full all summer long. In this easy, creamy BLT pasta salad, healthy tomatoes, arugula, and avocado mingle with crispy bacon that's all topped with a super simple-to-make Ranch-style dressing made with mayo and Greek yogurt.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
12
Calories:
404 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Pasta Salad:
- 1 pound short pasta such as shells, farfalle, cavatappi, noodles
- 1 pound Bacon
- 1 pint cherry tomato sliced in half
- 2 cups arugula leaves
- 1 avocado , chopped
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
Dressing:
- ½ cup yogurt low-fat or full-fat, plain, Greek
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chives fresh, minced
- 1 tablespoon parsley flat leaf, fresh, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions just until al denté and still a bit firm. Rinse under cool water and drain well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the bacon into ½" pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until desired crispness. Transfer the cooked bacon to a plate topped with a paper towel to drain well.
- Add the bacon, tomato, arugula, avocado and red onion to the pasta.
- In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, vinegar, chives, garlic powder, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Thin with milk, water or buttermilk if desired.
- Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and gently toss. Taste for seasoning. Serve chilled.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Note: If you're out of ingredients or out of time to make the easy homemade dressing, feel free to use a quality bottled Ranch dressing instead.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
404kcal
(20%)
Carbohydrates
33g
(11%)
Protein
12g
(24%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Cholesterol
29mg
(10%)
Sodium
515mg
(21%)
Potassium
358mg
(8%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
316IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
11mg
(12%)
Calcium
31mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 404
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 404kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 33g | 11% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Cholesterol | 29mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 515mg | 21% |
| Potassium | 358mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 316IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 11mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 31mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.