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BLT Pasta Salad

BLT PASTA SALAD

Everything you love about a BLT tossed in this easy and delicious BLT Pasta Salad! If you like BLT’s, you’re going to love this!

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 pound bacon (cooked and crumbled)
  • 1 pound penne pasta or similar (cooked, drained and cooled)
  • 23 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
  • 12 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups croutons (optional)

Dressing

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional but gives it a hint of smoky flavor)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl toss together bacon, pasta, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. 
  2. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Dressing

  1. In a small bowl or mason jar mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, sugar, Parmesan cheese, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, liquid smoke, salt and pepper until combined.
  2. Toss about 1/2 cup of the dressing with salad then chill salad.
  3. Before serving toss with remaining dressing, top with croutons and season with additional salt and pepper.

Notes

Salad is best day 1 or 2. If making ahead of time only add a little bit of the dressing. Reserve the remaining dressing to toss right before serving. 

Cooking bacon – I love to bake bacon. It’s super easy and little clean up and you get the best crispy bacon. Just preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with foil. Add strips of bacon and bake for 20-23 minutes until nice and crispy. Transfer bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel to cool. Once cooled, crumble bacon.