Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad

You know the weather is warming up when pasta salads start making an appearance and this Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad should be the star of the show!

The BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) is commonly known as a classic sandwich.

However, this blt pasta salad recipe gives that concept a fresh, delicious spin and it’s nothing short of amazing.

Give it a try and find out why this dish is adored by its many fans. 

This is also a pasta salad that stretches. One recipe can feed a lot of people.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I love Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad?

• This pasta salad takes the wonderful flavors of bacon, lettuce, and tomato and gives back a delectable dish with an outstanding taste.
• Pasta salads are the perfect meal to eat on a warm day. It’s filling and refreshing.

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad?

• Salt the water before you boil the pasta.
• Properly cook the pasta. Undercooked pasta will be too hard and overcooked pasta will be too mushy.
• Use the right types of pasta. For a cold pasta salad, you want to use pasta that can “hug” the mayo dressing. Elbow macaroni and corkscrew pasta are great for this purpose.
• Make the pasta right before you make the salad. If it sits around too long, it can get soggy.
• After you put the mayo dressing together, be sure to taste it before adding it to the pasta. If you need more of something, add it. A bland dressing will make a bland pasta salad, too.

Do you rinse pasta for cold pasta salad?

You want to rinse the pasta for cold pasta salad. However, you need to rinse the pasta in cold water to stop the cooking process. Make sure to drain it well before bringing the rest of the ingredients together. 

How to serve Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad?

You’ll want to gobble up every piece of elbow macaroni. So, try serving this pasta salad in bowls to allow ultimate scooping.

Cooking Tips:

• You can serve this immediately or let it sit in the fridge for a bit and let the flavors meld a little more.
• Dice your tomatoes into equal portions for even distribution.
• You can use a food grater or food processor to quickly shred the lettuce.

Ingredients:

• Cooked macaroni noodles
• Tomato
• Bacon cooked and crumbled
• Shredded lettuce
• Fat-free mayo
• Dijon mustard
• Sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste

How do you make BLT Pasta Salad:

Step 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the macaroni, lettuce, tomato, and bacon, and stir to combine well.

Adding the tomato.

Adding the lettuce.

Adding the bacon.

Step 2. Mix together the mayo, mustard, sour cream, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.

Adding the mayo.

Adding the sour cream.

Adding the mustard.

Adding the salt and pepper.

Mix everything together.

Step 3. Pour the sauce mixture over the noodle mixture in the large bowl

Toss to combine well.

Step 4. Serve immediately or chill before serving if preferred.

Last step: don’t forget to repin this easy Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad to your board(s) on Pinterest! Everyone will love it!

How to store Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad?

This pasta salad has a mayonnaise-based dressing, so you will want to quickly refrigerate portions that aren’t eaten. Using an airtight container is an efficient way to store leftover blt pasta salad.

How to reheat Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad?

This is a cold pasta salad. So, there’s no need to reheat it. Simply pull it out of the fridge and serve it up.

How much does Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad last on the fridge?

This pasta salad will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 days. While some pasta salads can keep for up to 5 days, remember that this one has mayo and, therefore, has a shorter fridge shelf life.

Can I make ahead Tried and True BLT Pasta Salad?

You can make this pasta salad the day before you plan to serve it. However, making it the same day may be ideal because it could get soggy if it sits in the fridge for too long.

Related Recipes you Might Enjoy:

The Best Macaroni Salad Recipe – Here’s another pasta salad recipe that will knock your socks off and satisfy your taste buds!

BLT Pasta Salad – Another variation of BLT pasta salad that you can try and compare to this one. Don’t worry. This one is delicious, too!