BLT Ranch Pasta Salad

Take everyone’s favourite sandwich (a BLT, of course!), mix it with a creamy ranch homemade sauce and make it into a crowd-pleasing pasta salad – the perfect side dish for potlucks, bbqs or parties!

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This BLT Ranch Pasta Salad is a perfect combination of some of my favorite flavors – bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwiches, creamy ranch dressing, and pasta.

I’m always looking for great side dishes in the summer, to go along with whatever we’re barbecuing, or to bring to a potluck or picnic.  I especially love different pasta salad recipes.  This pasta salad is awesome because you can make it ahead of time, it tastes great, and it’s simple.

Pasta is super cheap (I used rotini, but you could definitely use bowties, penne or another short pasta), bacon often goes on sale and I like to freeze half packages of it, and summer is prime time for cheap lettuce and cherry tomatoes.  The creamy sauce is made from pantry staples and dried herbs.  Easy peasy.

Related: How to Stock Up on Bacon | Save Money on Groceries

I love that you can also customize this pasta salad to suit what you have on hand or what you like/don’t like.  Have an extra avocado or some yummy cheese?  Throw it in!  Not a fan of onion?  Leave it out! 

You could also add diced bell peppers, celery, peas, or top a bigger serving with some grilled chicken to make it a main course.  YUM!

BLT Ranch Pasta Salad – Step-by-Step Instructions

Ingredients for BLT Ranch Pasta Salad

Start by cooking a pound of short pasta in a large pot of salted water, until it’s just past al dente (check the package for time suggestions).

Tip: Your pasta water should taste salty like the ocean.

While pasta is cooking, mix up your evaporated milk, mayo and dried herbs and spices to make the dressing.  Set aside to let the flavors meld.

When pasta is cooked, rinse it until it’s almost cold under cool water.

Tip:  I like to leave the pasta just a little warm because I find it absorbs the sauce better.

Put it in a big bowl and toss it with half the ranch dressing/sauce.  Refrigerate.

Prep your add-ins: mince half a red onion, wash and halve cherry tomatoes, cook and crumble bacon, and wash and dry romaine lettuce and chop it into bite-sized pieces.

Tip: Try cooking your bacon in the microwave for a hands-off and mess-free experience.  We use a dish similar to this one.

Tip: If you find the flavor of raw onion too strong, put your minced onion in a dish and cover it with cool water.  Let it soak for a few minutes, then drain it, dry it with paper towel and add it to your recipe – it will have much less bite!

Add the red onion, bacon and cherry tomatoes to your pasta with creamy ranch sauce and gently stir together. 

Add half the remaining dressing and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.  Refrigerate the leftover dressing separately (you might need it when mixing the salad before serving).

Reserve the lettuce until you’re ready to serve the salad.  Wrap slightly damp lettuce in paper towel and store it in a large zip top bag in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the salad.

When you’re ready to serve the salad, mix in the lettuce and check to see whether you need to moisten the salad more with the reserved sauce.  Add more if desired.

Enjoy! 🙂

Common Questions/Answers:

Should I rinse the pasta for my pasta salad after cooking?

Some people ALWAYS rinse their pasta (I absolutely do not, for hot pasta dishes).  Some people NEVER rinse their pasta. 

However, I think for pasta salad it is very helpful to rinse the cooked pasta in cool water to quickly cool it down, but to leave it just a tiny bit warm, drain it super well and then mix it with the pasta salad sauce right away.  I think it absorbs more of the sauce (and thus the flavor) when it’s still warm.

Can I use store-bought ranch dressing for this recipe?

Yes, technically you can, although it will change the flavor, of course.  If you use store bought ranch dressing, you might want to try Hidden Valley ranch.  I find it has a great flavor.

Can I use different shaped pasta for this recipe?

Yes, any short pasta should work well. 

I like rotini (or fusilli – or other corkscrew pastas) because they have a lot of crevices for the sauce to get into, which makes every mouthful taste great.  You could also try bowties, penne, or even macaroni.

Can I make this pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can do everything except add the lettuce ahead of time. 

You could even cook your pasta and mix it with the creamy sauce further ahead of time, add your add-ins closer to the time of eating and then add your lettuce at the last minute before serving.

Can I add different ingredients to this pasta salad?

Of course! 

I think crunchy bell peppers would be delicious in this salad and you could add a variety of colors to make it really festive looking.  Celery would add a nice crunch.  Shredded carrot or cheese would be great for color.  Avocado (at the last minute), peas, chicken, and I’m sure lots of other ingredients, would also be delicious.

Did you make this BLT Ranch Pasta Salad?  Leave us a star rating below!

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