BLT Pasta Salad with Ranch

This BLT Pasta Salad with ranch is a light and simple recipe that is loaded with so many delicious flavors, including creamy ranch dressing, lettuce, pasta, and chopped bacon.

If you're craving even more ranch flavor, then be sure to try making your own homemade Ranch Dressing recipe. For more taste pasta salad options, try making Chicken Macaroni Salad and Lemon Pasta Salad.

This pasta salad combines everything that you love about a good BLT sandwich. Salty bacon, crispy lettuce, and tangy tomato. Plus add in some cooked pasta, Swiss cheese, and ranch dressing. You will have a delicious savory bite.

Even though I have provided ingredient measurements, you may add as much or as little of the ingredients as you would like. There are no rules when it comes to making this pasta. If you prefer more bacon than lettuce, then you can go ahead and add more of it. It's your kitchen and this is a no judgement zone.

This pasta salad also refrigerates very well and tastes even better the next day. This recipe is so simple to make and will make a great addition to any meal or could even be the meal itself.

Let's get started!

Why You'll Love This Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

• It's quick and easy to make!
• Perfect Meal Idea - Great option for lunch, dinner, or side dish, main dish.
• Family Friendly - Everyone in the family is sure to love this recipe, especially since there's crispy bacon in it.
• Versatile - The ingredients are easy to substitute for options that you prefer. Try using buttermilk ranch dressing or turkey bacon.
• Light - Made using fresh ingredients for a lighter fare.

Ranch Pasta Salad Ingredients

1. Pasta - I used rotini pasta for this pasta dinner. But you can use any short pasta like shells, bowties, elbow macaroni, penne, etc.
2. Ranch Salad Dressing - Feel free to add more ranch dressing to flavor it to your taste preference. Or if you want less, then go ahead and do ½ cup to ¾ cup instead of a full cup. You may also substitute with low-fat dressing or any other versions.
3. Diced Tomatoes - Cherry or grape tomatoes work great for this pasta salad recipe. You could also use regular tomatoes that you need to dice up yourself into small pieces. 
4. Red Onion - To help reduce the strong aroma, you may soak your sliced onions in ice water for 5-10 minutes if you find that the onions are too powerful alone. 
5. Swiss Cheese - Grab a block of Swiss and then use a grater to finely grate it. 
6. Bacon - Any brand of bacon works, just cook it until it is crisp, and then dice it up into smaller pieces so that it's easy to spread all over the salad.
7. Lettuce - Iceberg or Romaine are both great lettuce options to use for this recipe.
8. Salt and Pepper - Coarse salt and ground black pepper are used to add flavor and overall taste to the pasta salad.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How to Make This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Begin the salad recipe by cooking the pasta according to package directions; al dente and in plenty of salty water. Drain the pasta, then toss with the ranch dressing to lightly coat and prevent the pasta from sticking together. Refrigerate until cold.

In a large bowl, toss the cold pasta with the tomatoes, Swiss cheese, red onion, bacon, and lettuce.

Add more dressing, or at least enough to generously coat everything, and season to taste with salt and ground black pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations & Tips

Here are some tips for making the best ranch BLT pasta salad. These tips below will help set you up for success when it comes to making this pasta salad. 

• If you feel that your dressing is too thick, then you can add 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk. This will help thin it out, without altering the flavor. 
• Plan to eat this the day you make it, as the lettuce will wilt pretty fast. Or hold the lettuce separately and add it in just before serving.
• Any pasta that is small to medium in size does work for this recipe. You can even use gluten-free pasta, chickpea, or protein pasta. Just cook as directed on the back of the package.
• You could swap the lettuce with spinach leaves or even kale if you would prefer.
• If you don't want to use Swiss cheese, then you can easily swap it with Mozzarella, pepper jack, parmesan cheese, or cheddar cheese. Get creative or use your favorite cheese combination.
• Top the pasta salad with your favorite croutons before serving.

Storage Tips

Storage. You can store any leftovers of the salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Just make sure that you give a good mix before you go to serve it up. As the dressing can settle at the bottom of the bowl. 

Freezing. This pasta salad can not be frozen. This is a dish you want to make and eat the same day that you make it and just refrigerate leftovers. No freezing as it will not thaw properly, and the lettuce will be mushy. 

Make-Ahead Pasta Salad

This ranch pasta salad is great to be made in advance. You can make it up to 24 hours in advance. I recommend keeping the lettuce out until you are close to serving it up. The lettuce may wilt and break down once it pairs with the dressing. 

So right before serving add in the lettuce, stir, and serve. This is a delicious summer dinner, potluck dish, etc.

Want More Easy Recipes? Try These:

• Hibachi Ginger Dressing
• Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing
• Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad
• Easy Lasagna Recipe
• Warm Macaroni Salad
• Bacon Frittata
• Easy Bacon Mac and Cheese

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this delicious BLT Pasta Salad Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 11/22/2013. Updated 06/01/2022 and 08/28/2024.