The classic BLT sandwich combo becomes a delicious pasta salad with this easy BLT Pasta Salad recipe. This flavorful pasta salad is made with bacon, arugula, red onion, and grape tomatoes in a bright and creamy mayonnaise-based dressing.
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Salad season is back! And not just your loaded greens and veggie type salads. It's pasta salad season again, too! Even though we have a few family favorites when it comes to pasta salad, I love experimenting with different flavors and ingredients. Since we always have bacon in the freezer (it's one of our freezer staples) I recently decided to use some in a BLT style pasta salad.
I mean, is there really anything more to say about everyone's favorite breakfast meat? Combined with juicy tomatoes, peppery arugula, onion, and a simple, creamy dressing, this pasta salad is perfect for summer lunches, barbecues, or picnics. The combination of fresh veggies and salty bacon definitely makes my taste buds happy!
I chose to make this pasta salad with rotini pasta. It's best to use a pasta shape - like rotini, bow tie, or penne - that'll really grip and hold onto all of those delicious pasta salad flavors. Plus, you'll want a pasta shape that's easy to grab along with other ingredients in every forkful. Especially in a bacon-loaded pasta salad such as this BLT style salad!
BLT Pasta Salad
This pasta salad gets better as it sits and soaks up all of the flavors. You could make it ahead of time. But I would suggest leaving the bacon and arugula out until you're ready to serve it. This way, they won't get soggy and the bacon will still have a bit of crispiness to it when it's time to serve.
The first thing we need to do is get our pasta ready. Boil some salted water and pop the pasta in. Cook it for about 10 minutes, or until al dente. Then, drain it and set it aside to cool.
Now, we're going to make the dressing. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise (I use olive oil based mayo), lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and salt and pepper together.
Add the cooked pasta, bacon, grape tomatoes, arugula, and red onion to a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine.
Then, pour the dressing over the pasta salad and mix. Let the salad refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to let the flavors come together.
Then, serve with extra arugula and bacon on top, if desired.
BLT Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 medium pot
- 1 small mixing bowl
- 1 large mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
- 12 ounces pasta such as rotini, bow tie, or penne
- 6-8 slices cooked bacon crumbled
- 2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 2 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup red onion chopped
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. lemon zest
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes, or as instructed on package. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and salt and pepper together.
- Add the cooked pasta, bacon, grape tomatoes, arugula, and red onion to a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and mix. Chill in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together. Then, serve with extra arugula and crumbled bacon on top, if desired.
This pasta salad is so good and so easy to make! It will last about 3-4 days in the fridge. As I mentioned above, keep in mind that the arugula and bacon might lose some some of its crispiness over time. Enjoy this salad as is, or you could even add some grilled chicken to it for extra protein and a heartier salad.
Did you make this BLT Pasta Salad recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
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