BLT Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
BLT Pasta Salad
Description
This salad starts with cooking bowtie pasta until tender, then rinsing it to cool. The fresh ingredients include cherry or grape tomatoes, cubed cheddar, roughly chopped romaine, diced red onion, and crumbled crispy bacon. The dressing is made by blending mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder, dried parsley, chives, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to a smooth consistency, bringing savory and herb notes to the dish.
After mixing the dressing with the pasta, the fresh ingredients are folded in gently, ensuring even coating without breaking up the components. The salad can be served right away or covered and refrigerated to meld flavors further. The inclusion of crisp bacon and lettuce provides textural contrast to the tender pasta and creamy dressing.
The notes advise that the pasta will absorb much of the dressing over time, so it is best served relatively fresh or with additional dressing on hand for reheating or leftovers.
Ingredients
For the pasta:
- 1 pound bowtie pasta
- 8 ounces tomatoes halved, cherry or grape
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese cubed
- 2 cups romaine lettuce roughly chopped
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 pound Bacon cooked and crumbled
For the ranch dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup milk use 1/2 cup for a thicker consistency
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon parsley dried
- 1 tablespoon chives dried
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crispy. Drain off grease and crumble.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water until pasta is cooled.
- While the pasta is cooking, halve the tomatoes, cube the cheese, chop the lettuce, and dice the onion.
- In a blender, prepare the dressing by combining the mayonnaise, milk, garlic powder, parsley, chives, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta and dressing together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce. Add the tomatoes, cheese cubes, lettuce, red onion, and crumbled bacon. Stir gently to combine.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- The pasta absorbs dressing over time; consider adding more dressing when serving leftovers.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 524 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 524kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 32g | 11% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 37g | 57% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11g | 65% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 54mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 894mg | 37% |
| Potassium | 287mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 1063IU | 21% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 179mg | 18% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
