A creamy, crunchy, and tasty fun spring and summer dish this Ranch BLT Pasta Salad takes flavors from your favorite sandwich and turns it into a delicious salad!
I love a good BLT sandwich, but I also love a good pasta salad. So obviously I had to mix the two together and add my favorite dressing and turn it into this Ranch BLT Pasta Salad!
Add it to your salad recipes box. This stuff is to die for. It has so much flavor from all the ingredients that this is the one pasta dish that you are going to want to bring to all your potlucks and gatherings.
We make this a lot during the spring and summer months, but I also love this all year round so it graces our table frequently during the fall and winter as well.
I love the crunch that the fresh lettuce and onion give this dish. Not to mention the pop of the juicy tomatoes! It really is like a classic blt sandwich in salad form.
This has the perfect combination of flavors, the ranch really puts it over the top in flavor, especially if you are a ranch lover like me, you just cannot get enough!
It uses fresh ingredients and crispy bacon, cannot forget that bacon. Bacon makes everything better in my opinion and it really gives it the crunch and flavor that it deserves.
Let’s get more into why this ranch blt pasta salad is such a great side dish. Next time you’re looking for creamy pasta salad, this one will be high on your list!
Some of my other salads that we have on our site include: Broccoli Pasta Salad, Corn and Tomato Salad and Orzo Pasta Salad.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Minimal ingredients are needed in this great recipe, so it’s a good recipe to throw together super fast.
- You can use any of your favorite smaller pasta for this. The short pasta shape is best for salads.
- This already makes a lot but you can double this for a large crowd. Heck, you could have it as a main dish!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Cavatappi pasta
- Bacon
- Colby Jack cheese
- Grape tomatoes
- Scallions
- Red onion
- Ranch dressing
- Lettuce
HOW TO MAKE THIS RANCH BLT PASTA SALAD RECIPE:
- Cook the pasta to al dente per the directions on the back of the box. Drain and rinse with cold water, allow to drip dry as best you can. We need the pasta to be as dry as possible. Set aside.
- Cook the bacon until crispy and drain excess fat. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease, set aside.
- Place the cooked pasta, Colby jack cheese, tomatoes, scallions, red onion, and ranch into a very large bowl.
- Toss to combine. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Once you are ready to serve, add the cooked bacon and lettuce. Toss to combine, serve immediately.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF LETTUCE SHOULD I USE?
You can use any kind of lettuce that you like but we suggest that you use heartier lettuce such as romaine, iceberg, or green leaf.
CAN I USE ANOTHER TYPE OF CHEESE?
Of course! You can use any of your favorite cheeses in this delicious pasta salad. Just make sure you use a block. We dice these into smaller squares for this recipe.
Some other cheeses that you can use include Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, and Mozzarella.
DO I HAVE TO USE CAVATAPPI?
No, you can use any smaller pasta that you like for this blt salad. We like cavatappi because it really soaks up the dressing nicely. But this is just our personal preference.
Some others that you can use include penne, rotini, farfalle, etc. Use what you have on hand and what you think would pair nicely with this recipe.
CAN I MAKE MY OWN HOMEMADE RANCH DRESSING?
Absolutely! We do this sometimes, especially if we do not have enough ranch around for this recipe. If you have a favorite ranch dressing recipe that you like to use, by all means, use it!
ANY ADDITIONS?
No need to keep to the original recipe. The best pasta salad is one you can improvise on! By the way, this stuff is even better then next day.
- Addition of fresh avocados: Slice and add to the salad for a creamy texture.
- Parmesan cheese: Sprinkle on top for a sharp, cheesy flavor boost.
- Garden tomatoes: Swap out grape tomatoes for freshly chopped garden tomatoes for a burst of summer freshness.
- Greek yogurt: Mix with ranch dressing for a lighter, tangier flavor.
- Fresh veggies: Add diced cucumbers or bell peppers for extra crunch.
- Black olives: Include for a Mediterranean twist.
- Croutons: Toss in for additional crunch and flavor.
- Sliced hard-boiled eggs: A great addition for extra protein.
- Sunflower seeds: Sprinkle on top for a nutty flavor and extra texture.
- Apple cider vinegar: A splash can brighten up the flavors with a bit of acidity.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
I’m thinking other types of tender pasta. Maybe some cheddar cheese! This easy blt pasta salad recipe can stand some swaps.
- Greek yogurt for ranch dressing: Use as a healthier dressing base mixed with herbs for a creamy texture.
- Turkey bacon instead of regular bacon: A lighter alternative that still offers a smoky flavor.
- Romaine lettuce instead of iceberg: For a crunchier and slightly sweeter taste.
- Whole wheat pasta instead of cavatappi: A healthier, fiber-rich option.
- Cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes: Sweeter and juicier, adding a different dimension of flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese instead of Colby Jack: For a milder cheese flavor that complements other ingredients.
HOW TO STORE:
This can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 5 days.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Add your bacon and lettuce at the end before serving, this keeps the lettuce from wilting and the bacon from getting soggy.
- You can use bacon bits, but use only real bacon bits and in a pinch. Real bacon is always better.
- You can use a variety of lettuces, see my tips above.
- Use your favorite smaller pasta for this, we prefer cavatappi.
- Switch up your cheese for different flavors.
- You can easily double this recipe for a large crowd.
- You can add any of your other favorite vegetables to this salad.
- If stored overnight the pasta may soak up the dressing, just add a little more dressing to get it more creamy.
Can’t wait for those summer cookouts, or potlucks, or are just craving a good salad? You need to make this delicious Ranch BLT Pasta Salad. It’s a real crowd pleaser!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this RANCH BLT PASTA SALAD let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Ranch BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cavatappi pasta
- 1 pound bacon small diced
- 8 ounces Colby Jack cheese block small diced
- 1- pint grape tomatoes cut in half lengthwise
- 4 scallions thinly sliced
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 2 ½ cups ranch dressing
- 4 cups small diced lettuce
Instructions
- ook the pasta to al dente per the directions on the back of the box. Drain and rinse with cold water, allow to drip dry as best you can. We need the pasta to be as dry as possible. Set aside.
- Cook the bacon until crispy and drain excess fat. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up any excess grease, set aside.
- Place the cooked pasta, Colby jack cheese, tomatoes, scallions, red onion, and ranch into a very large bowl.
- Toss to combine. Cover and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until ready to serve.
- Once you are ready to serve, add the cooked bacon and lettuce. Toss to combine, serve immediately.
Notes
- Add your bacon and lettuce at the end before serving, this keeps the lettuce from wilting and the bacon getting soggy.
- You can use bacon bits, but use only real bacon bits and in a pinch. Real bacon is always better.
- You can use a variety of lettuces, see my tips above.
- Use your favorite smaller pasta for this, we prefer cavatappi.
- Switch up your cheese for different flavors.
- You can easily double this recipe for a large crowd.
- You can add any of your other favorite vegetables to this salad.
- If stored overnight thie pasta may soak up the dressing, just add a little more dressing to get it more creamy.
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