Creamy Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad takes everything you love about a classic BLT Sandwich, and turns it into an easy, side dish. You get the crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce, all tossed with pasta and a creamy dressing that ties it all together!
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 361kcal
Ingredients
- 12 oz Medium Pasta Noodles (I used Cavatappi)
- 8 oz Bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes (Cut in halves)
- 1/4 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 4 cups Romaine Lettuce (chopped)
For the Creamy Dressing:
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 3 TBS Olive Oil
- 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1.5 tsp Granulated Sugar (to taste)
- 1.5 tsp Salt (to taste)
- 3/4 tsp Garlic Powder (to taste)
- 3/4 tsp Onion Powder (to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta noodles in a large pot of water according to their package directions, until cooked al dente. Drain the water out, and rinse the noodles in cold water. 12 oz Medium Pasta Noodles
- While the pasta is cooking, make sure the bacon is cooked and crumbled, tomatoes are sliced, and parmesan is grated. Chop the lettuce. Set everything aside. 8 oz Bacon, 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, 1/4 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese, 4 cups Romaine Lettuce
For the Creamy Dressing:
- In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk them together till combined. 1 cup Mayonnaise, 3 TBS Olive Oil, 2 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar, 1.5 tsp Granulated Sugar, 1.5 tsp Salt, 3/4 tsp Garlic Powder, 3/4 tsp Onion Powder, 1/2 tsp Black Pepper,
- Add the pasta, bacon, tomatoes, and parmesan to a bowl and toss it together. Pour 3/4 of the dressing on top and toss it all together to coat everything with the dressing. Add more dressing if desired, taste it and add more seasonings as desired too.
- When you're ready to serve, toss in the chopped lettuce. If not serving immediately, cover the pasta and place it in the fridge to chill for 1 to 2 hours to let the flavors meddle, then add the lettuce and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Dressing: I use a very similar dressing in my Creamy Pasta Salad, everyone there recommend making extra dressing, so I made this a bigger batch. If you're serving immediately you may not need all the dressing, so start with less and add more as you go depending on your personal preferences.
- Add Lettuce Last: We want the lettuce staying crispy and fresh, add the lettuce just before serving. Mix everything else, and chill it if desired, then toss in the lettuce when you're ready to serve it.
- Customize It: Add extra mix ins for more flavor, I love diced red onion, avocado, cheddar cheese, or even grilled chicken if you want it to be more filling.
Nutrition
Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 577mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1524IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg