Next Post
30 Minute Korean Beef and Avocado Rice Rolls.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
With double the bacon, this BLT Pasta Salad with Jalapeño Basil Ranch is the perfect summer salad. It’s almost no-cook and comes together in minutes. It has extra crispy bacon, romaine lettuce, and cherry tomatoes all tossed together with my creamy, spicy jalapeño basil ranch dressing. Toss in some cubes of cheddar cheese, grilled corn, and chunks of avocado and you’ll be good to go. This pasta salad is simple to toss together, super flavorful, and one of those recipes that everyone LOVES. Perfect for serving at your next backyard dinner. Enjoy this for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch!
I’m on a pasta salad kick this spring/summer. Well, pasta salads and ice cream, I’ve been making both on repeat. Usually, I’d have issue with all of this repetitiveness, but I’ve loved all of the recipes I’ve been sharing. each one even more than the last.
If it’s a good recipe, it needs to be shared. And you all, this pasta salad is a really GOOD recipe.
I’m not sure exactly what inspired me to mix this up. But a week or so ago I just felt like making a really yummy, simple BLT pasta. First, I wanted to make sure I hadn’t created anything like this BLT recipe I was dreaming of. So I searched BLT on the HBH site. I was surprised to see the scant number of “BLT” dishes that came up.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve created only a handful of BLT dishes, and never a pasta salad. That was all I needed to make up my mind to move forward with this pasta.
Ingredients
- Plain greek yogurt
- Mayo
- Buttermilk
- Fresh basil
- Fresh cilantro
- Fresh chopped chives
- jalapeño
- Worcestershire
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper
Salad
- Short cut pasta
- Cubed spicy cheddar cheese
- Romaine lettuce
- Cherry tomatoes
- Grilled corn
- Cooked bacon
- Avocado
Now the details
One of the biggest reasons I’m loving pasta salads so much is the simple fact that they’re usually easy to make. And that is just the case with this BLT pasta salad.
Simply mix the dressing, boil your favorite cut of short-cut pasta, then toss everything together.
Step 1: make the ranch dressing
This is one of my favorite dressings, especially for summer. It’s very creamy and easy to make with fresh basil, cilantro, and then the usual ranch ingredients. Mayo, buttermilk, chives, Worcestershire, garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Personally, I love to toss in a jalapeño too.
Blend everything up in a blender or food processor until creamy – super easy to do. This really adds all the flavor!
Step 2: cook the pasta
I recommend using a shortcut pasta with ridges, but whatever your favorite pasta cut is will work just fine.
Step 3: toss the salad
Toss the hot pasta immediately with the dressing and cubes of sharp, spicy cheddar cheese. The heat from the pasta will intensify the flavors of the herbs and melt those cubes of cheese.
It’s going to smell wonderful, but taste even more DELICIOUS. This is a small little secret my dad taught me for making the best pasta salad.
Step 4: add everything else
Once the pasta is tossed with the dressing, mix in the cherry tomatoes, lettuce, grilled or roasted corn, and then of course, lots and lots of crispy bacon. YUM!
You can eat this warm or at room temperature. I love hot food, so I like this best while it’s still a little warm.
What I will say is that the longer the pasta sits, the more flavor it develops, so this is also perfect for making ahead. Just be sure to add the bacon and avocado right before serving to ensure the bacon is crispy and the avocado is the perfect shade of green.
Looking for other summer salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad
Lastly, if you make this BLT Pasta Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
BLT Pasta Salad
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 462 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
Jalapeño Ranch Dressing
- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1/3 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 cup fresh basil
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped chives
- 1 jalapeño, seeded, if desired
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- kosher salt and black pepper
Salad
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1 cup cubed spicy cheddar cheese
- 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups grilled corn (about 3 ears)
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 avocado, diced
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain.3. In a large bowl, toss together the hot pasta with dressing and cubes of cheese. Mix in the lettuce, tomatoes, corn, bacon, and avocado, gently tossing to combine. 4. Serve warm or cold. The salad will develop more flavor as it sits. If serving later, add the bacon and avocado just before serving.
This post was originally published on June 13, 2023
This looks wonderful. I can’t wait to try it!!! Any suggestions for substitutes on the grilled corn or is it okay to just use corn that isn’t grilled? Thanks so much for all of your hard work the awesome recipes!
Hey Susan,
Thanks so much!! It’s totally okay to use corn that isn’t grilled:) I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out! xx
This was delicious! Very easily to
Put together but a sophisticated flavor. Thank you!!
How much basil should I buy for one cup? .5 oz? Thanks so much!!
Hi Holly,
Sorry, I didn’t measure the basil by weight:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
Hi Christina,
Happy Friday!! I’m thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for making it and your comment!😎🍑 xx
Is your preference Greek yogurt or sour cream for the dressing?
Also, how do you cook your bacon?
Thank you!
Hi Kathy,
I like to use greek yogurt in the dressing and then I usually just do my bacon in a Staub skillet:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Thank you so much for your reply! Would you please link the Staub skillet you use for bacon when you have time? No hurry. You are such an inspiration. Many, many thanks again.
Here you go:
https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=862979290&pid=uid3696-43323264-41&aid=43342403&utm_content=productwidget%3A630404024feeea3cc138fbe4&utm_medium=referral
Hi Tieghan! I am planning to make this for my very special dad’s 95th bday party Sunday- I hope he’ll feel the love in every bite! Would it work to make this a day and a half ahead?
I just love all of your yummy recipes- so unique, delicious and fresh.
Hi Bev,
You bet, that would be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you have any other questions!! Happy Birthday to your dad! xT
Looks delicious! I’m going to try it this weekend. Cilantro and I are not friends, do you have any recommendations for a substitute? Or would the dressing be just a delicious without it? Thank you!
Hi Rochelle,
I would use parsley in place of the cilantro:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This looks delicious! I’m hoping to make it for a lake cabin getaway for my family with a very tiny kitchen and limited supplies. Do you think it would work to make the dressing a few days in advance so I could just bring it prepared with me?
Hi Danielle,
Totally, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
This looks divine. I think I am going to add some grilled boneless chicken thighs and use baby spinach instead of the lettuce, because trying to find good fresh lettuce right now seems to be next to impossible for some reason. Can’t wait to try this tonight. Really glad I found your website. BTW…we were just in Australia and New Zealand in Feb. and really had a great time.
Sounds great!! I hope you love this recipe Sheryl! Let me know how it turns out:) xx
It turned out great! I doubled the dressing and used half of it to marinate my chicken for a few hours. It was delicious and the spinach holds up really well, especially with leftovers. My husband said this is a keeper, and he is not a pasta salad kind of guy. Thanks for the inspiration.
So glad to hear this, thanks so much Sheryl!!
This recipe is perfection!
Hey Kelle,
Amazing!! Thank you so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
Kelle, it turned out great! I doubled the dressing and used half of it to marinate my chicken for a few hours. It was delicious and the spinach holds up really well, especially with leftovers. My husband said this is a keeper, and he is not a pasta salad kind of guy. Thanks for the inspiration.
If I am making ahead, wouldn’t I want to hold off adding the lettuce (along with the bacon and avocado as you suggest) and add it right before serving?
Hi Lynnea,
Yes, I think that would work best for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope this recipe turns out well for you! xT
Well there was way more time needed than the 20 minutes but so worth it! Left out the avacado cuz it wasn’t ripe but other than that, made it exactly as written. This is crazy good with just a bit of bite. Awesome recipe, thank you.
Hey Kim,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this pasta salad, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
Tieghan! This BLT salad knocked our socks off! Loved everything about it – and the dressing is out of this world! We have a son home from college and he said it was a 10 out of 10 and doesn’t want me to give any away (it makes a lot!) This will go in our regular rotation. I am so happy!!!
Lol thanks so much Carolynn!! So glad to hear that this recipe was a hit with your family! Thanks for making it! xT
What is a spicy cheddar cheese?
Hi Colbi,
You should be able to find some spicy cheddar cheese at your local grocery store, there’s lot of brands out there:) If not, you could use regular cheddar and pepper jack cheese. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Can anything else be used to sub Mayo and buttermilk?
Recommendations for spicy cheddar cheese . Can’t wait to make this !!
Hi Abbie,
Any brand from your local grocery store will work! You could even use some pepper jack and then mild cheddar cheese, that would be delicious! I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hey Kristyne,
Yes, trying using 1 avocado and water in place of the mayo and buttermilk:) I hope you love this pasta salad, let me know if you give it a try! xT
My family isn’t a fan of Mayo in general. If I can’t find a ripe acacado (always an issue where I live)…could I use more sour cream/adjust the measurements for sour cream and buttermilk and skip Mayo? Or would that mess it all up?
Thank you so much!!!
Hi Melissa,
Sure, I think that would be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Any other dressing choices that would work? Hubbie doesn’t like ranch dressing.
Hi Marilyn,
You could really use anything that you enjoy, a mayo/vinegar/herb dressing would be nice! Let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Omg my husband is going to love this 😍🤣
Lol thanks so much Olivia!! Let me know if you give this a try! xT