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Creamy BLT Pasta Salad with Tangy Ranch Dressing

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A creamy and tangy BLT pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, crispy bacon, fresh Romaine lettuce, and a homemade ranch dressing that perfectly balances smoky, crunchy, and creamy textures.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces rotini pasta (or penne/shells)
  • 1 cup cooked bacon, chopped into bite-sized crunchy pieces (thick-cut works best)
  • 2 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (full fat recommended)
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • ⅓ cup buttermilk (or milk with 1 tsp lemon juice as substitute)
  • 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh, finely chopped)
  • ½ tsp dried dill weed
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 8-10 minutes, until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain in a colander and rinse briefly with cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange bacon slices in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes until crisp but not burnt. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess fat, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Alternatively, cook bacon on stovetop over medium heat until crisp, then drain.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk. Whisk in dried parsley, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and apple cider vinegar. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Roughly chop Romaine lettuce and halve cherry tomatoes. Pat lettuce dry if wet to keep the salad crisp.
  5. In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, bacon pieces, chopped lettuce, and tomatoes. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Before serving, toss again to redistribute dressing.

Notes

For best texture, cook bacon in the oven on a foil-lined baking sheet for even crisping and less mess. Rinse pasta with cold water after cooking to stop cooking and cool it. Let the ranch dressing sit for 10 minutes before mixing with salad to allow flavors to bloom. Toss lettuce in just before serving if storing leftovers to keep it crisp. Add a tablespoon of buttermilk or ranch dressing if salad feels dry after chilling.

Nutrition

Keywords: BLT pasta salad, creamy pasta salad, ranch dressing, bacon pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://rowanrecipes.com/creamy-blt-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-tangy-ranch-dressing-guide/