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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Ranch BLT Pasta Salad

    June 1, 2022 by LaKita 20 Comments

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    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    bowl of ranch blt pasta salad

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

    If you're craving even more ranch flavor, then be sure to try making a batch of Chicken Ranch Wraps or making your own homemade Ranch Dressing recipe.

    pasta salad in white bowl beside a fork on marble surface

    This pasta salad combines everything that I love about a good BLT...salty bacon, crispy lettuce, and tangy tomato. Add to that combination some cooked pasta, Swiss cheese, and ranch dressing and you have yourself a delicious savory bite.

    Remember that even though I have given you measurements for the ingredients, you may add as much or as little of the ingredients you would like. There really are no rules when it comes to making this pasta. If you want more bacon than lettuce, then you can go ahead and add more of it. It is your kitchen and this is definitely a no judgement zone.

    This pasta also refrigerates very well and tastes even better a day or two after it's made. This recipe is so simple to make and will make a great addition to any meal or could even be the meal itself.

    Jump to:
    • This Pasta Salad Recipe Is...
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Instructions
    • Make-Ahead Salad
    • Recipe Tips
    • Storage
    • Recipe
    • MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    This Pasta Salad Recipe Is...

    • Quick and Easy!
    • Great lunch or dinner idea.
    • Family Friendly
    • Versatile in Ingredients Uses
    • Light

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients needed to make ranch blt pasta salad in separate bowls on marble surface
    1. Pasta - I used rotini pasta for this pasta dinner. But you can use any medium-sized pasta like shells, bowties, etc.
    2. Ranch Salad Dressing - You can add more ranch dressing to flavor to your preference if you would like. Or if you want less, then go ahead and do ½ cup to ¾ cup instead of a full cup. May also use low fat or any other versions.
    3. Diced Tomatoes - Cherry or grape tomatoes work great for this recipe. You can use regular tomatoes that you 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 dice it up into small pieces so that it is easy to spread evenly all over the salad.
    7. Lettuce - Iceberg or Romaine are both great lettuces to use for this recipe.
    8. Salt and Pepper - Coarse salt and black pepper are used to flavor to taste.

    Instructions

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

    overhead view of pasta tossed in dressing in glass bowl

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

    ingredients to make pasta salad combined in glass bowl

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

    pasta salad in large glass bowl

    Make-Ahead Salad

    This ranch pasta salad is great to be made in advance. You can make it 1 day in advance. I just recommend keeping the lettuce out until you are close to serving it up. The lettuce will 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.

    Recipe 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 that you make it, as the lettuce will wilt pretty fast. Or keep lettuce separate and add it in 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, cheddar, etc. Get creative or use your favorite cheese combination. 

    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. 

    This pasta salad can not be frozen. This is a dish you will 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. 

    Recipe

    finished ranch blt pasta salad in white bowl

    Ranch BLT Pasta Salad

    LaKita Anderson
    This Ranch BLT Pasta Salad is a light and simple recipe that is loaded with so many delicious flavors, including creamy ranch dressing, and chopped bacon.
    5 from 12 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 543 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 ounces rotini pasta
    • 1 cup ranch dressing, divided
    • 1 cup diced tomatoes
    • ¾ cup Swiss cheese, finely grated
    • ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
    • 1 cup bacon, cooked and chopped
    • 1 cup Romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
    • salt & ground black pepper to preference

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the 8 ounces of rotini pasta according to package instructions; al dente and in plenty of salted water.
    • Drain the pasta from the water and then gently toss with ½ cup Ranch dressing to lightly coat and prevent the pasta from sticking together. Refrigerate until cold.
    • In a large bowl, toss to combine the cold prepared pasta with 1 cup tomatoes, ¾ cup Swiss cheese, ½ cup red onion, 1 cup bacon and 1 cup lettuce.
    • Lastly, add in the other ½ cup Ranch dressing and gently stir to generously coat everything. Season to your preference with salt and ground black pepper.

    Notes

    • 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 that you make it, as the lettuce will wilt pretty fast. Or keep lettuce separate and add it in 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, cheddar, etc. Get creative or use your favorite cheese combination. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 543kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 15gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 654mgPotassium: 312mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 871IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 1mg

    *All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

    Keyword blt pasta salad
    Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita

    Original post date 11/22/2013. Updated 10/02/2018 and 06/01/2022.

    close up side view pasta salad in white bowl

    MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:

    • Chicken Ranch Wraps
    • Lemon Pasta Salad
    • Warm Macaroni Salad
    • Keto Ranch Dressing

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


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Patricia @ Grab a Plate

      June 01, 2022 at 10:59 pm

      5 stars
      When you need something for an outdoor meal, make this your go-to! Everyone loves the flavor combo! I could eat this often!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 02, 2022 at 1:27 pm

        Thank you Patricia, it's so perfect for outdoor meal this season 🙂

        Reply
    2. Jenny

      June 02, 2022 at 5:08 am

      5 stars
      Beautiful ranch bacon (BLT) pasta recipe! You had me at bacon.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 02, 2022 at 1:27 pm

        Thank you Jenny, bacon makes everything better!

        Reply
    3. Megan

      June 03, 2022 at 3:05 am

      5 stars
      This is such a great recipe to toss together and everyone always loves it. Thanks so much for yet another family friend dish my family loves.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:23 pm

        Thank you so much Megan! So happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the recipe.

        Reply
    4. Amy Liu Dong

      June 04, 2022 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      This pasta recipe is so easy and looks so delicious.
      I am so excited to make this for my family, and I am sure they will love it!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:23 pm

        Thank you Amy, it is so easy to make!

        Reply
    5. Kim

      June 04, 2022 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! Super versatile and was a huge hit at our BBQ. I used Monterey Jack instead of Swiss for personal preference. So yummy!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:24 pm

        Thank you Kim, Monterey Jack sounds perfect as well!

        Reply
    6. Jamie

      June 04, 2022 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      I made this pasta salad for a potluck and it was a huge hit! I added the dressing and tossed it right before serving and it was so delicious. Definitely making it again!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:24 pm

        Thank you Jamie! It is so perfect to share at potlucks this season.

        Reply
    7. Enri Lemoine

      June 05, 2022 at 6:35 am

      5 stars
      My favorite sandwich as a pasta bowl? This is genius, Lakita. Thank you for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:25 pm

        Exactly!! Thank you so much Enri!

        Reply
    8. Mikayla

      June 05, 2022 at 5:40 pm

      5 stars
      I had a lunch potluck I needed a new dish that would be different than anyone else's.
      This salad quickly was a favorite and many people commented on how great is was.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 05, 2022 at 10:27 pm

        So happy to hear it went well at your potluck, thank you Mikayla!

        Reply
    9. Chenée

      June 06, 2022 at 1:47 am

      5 stars
      I made this to go with dinner tonight and everyone loved it! What a great idea for a side dish!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 06, 2022 at 9:48 am

        Thank you so much, so happy to hear Chenée!

        Reply
    10. Moop Brown

      June 06, 2022 at 2:17 am

      BLTs are one of my favorite sandwiches and I like that in this recipe I can try it in a unique pasta salad form.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        June 06, 2022 at 9:48 am

        Thank you Moop, same here!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm LaKita, a food blogger living in Northwest/Panhandle Florida. I love creating and sharing recipes that are simple to make and comforting to eat. Follow me for more delicious recipes.

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