BLT Pasta Salad with Ranch

4.65 from 14 votes

BLT Pasta Salad with mayo and ranch seasonings (dressing), fresh tomatoes, crunchy bacon, and homemade flavor, the only question you will have is why didn't I make more Ranch BLT Pasta Salad! A tried and true recipe, this pasta salad will remind you of a classic homemade BLT Sandwich in salad form. Easily add extras like avocado, turkey bacon or mix up the dressing for a no ranch option as well. This salad goes perfect as a super simple salad for cookouts, potlucks and get togethers. And if you want to skip the mayo, totally easy. Combine pasta, bacon, lettuce, tomato and creamy delicious ranch dressing in a hearty and make ahead recipe that is America's favorite salad.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

chill4

Total Time4 25

Course: Pasta Recipes, Salad Recipes

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 541kcal

Author: Trisha Haas - Salty Side Dish

Ingredients

8 ounces small shells pasta, uncooked
2 cups chopped fresh spinach & arugula
1 to mato chopped (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup diced red onion
4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled, plus 1 slice for topping
1 cup real mayonnaise
1 tablespoon ranch seasoning dry powder
salt and pepper

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Let cool completely.
Add spinach, tomato, onion and bacon to a mixing bowl and mix well. Add mayonnaise and ranch dressing.
Season with salt and pepper.
Mix well to evenly coat and combine. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight so flavors can really mix.
Stir well before serving topped with remaining crumbled bacon.

Video

Notes

Can pasta noodles be made in advance?

Yes, pasta shells can be made in advance. Just rinse with cold water prior to finishing out the salad so it’s not sticky and then move onto the rest of the recipe.

What kind of substitutions go well in BLT salad?

As with most salads, they are fairly easy to change up with other fresh ingredients. Try removing bacon for turkey bacon, adding pieces of cut ripe avocado, boiled eggs, red onions, peas, or chunks of cheese.

Can I add chicken to this recipe?

I am a big fan of adding proteins to recipes to make them dinner salads. This salad would be fine with cooked shrimp, freshly baked or grilled chicken breast or even pieces of steak.

How long does this pasta salad last in the fridge?

Anytime you add dressing to a salad, it has a super limited time in the fridge. As with most salads that contain lettuce, the lettuce will wilt quite quickly. If you keep the pasta portion and lettuce portion separate and only combine when ready to serve, the pasta will keep for up to 3 days. Combined lettuce and pasta will be soggy and therefore not as tasty, but should keep for at least a day. Any additives, like avocado or chicken, can change the shelf life as well.

Is there a substitute for mayonnaise?

The dried Ranch seasoning and mayo create a really great Ranch dressing that smothers the salad, but you can also use sour cream or unflavored Greek yogurt in place of mayo if needed. Additionally, it’s fine to skip the ranch seasoning + mayo in place of bottled Ranch dressing. Just drizzle a bit at a time till happy with the amount. I will always say there is nothing better than homemade ranch dressing but in a pinch, there are alternatives.

My pasta is dry, how do I rehydrate?

Anytime pasta is put in the fridge it dries out just a bit. Add a bit more dressing or mayo to the batch and stir and that should breathe some new life.

Can I make BLT pasta salad with no ranch?

I get it – some people do not love ranch. You can change up the dressing to Zesty Italian Dressing if you find that ranch isn’t your thing. It’s not the same exact salad, but better have flavors you love and Italian dressing goes just fine with the pasta and vegetable flavors.

Nutrition