Ranch BLT Pasta Salad

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!

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword BLT Pasta Salad, Ranch BLT Pasta Salad

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Chill Time: 1

Total Time 1 30

Servings

Calories 471kcal

Author Dana at ThisSillyGirlsKitchen.com

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.

Nutrition