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Crispy BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Ranch Dressing

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A flavorful and crunchy pasta salad combining crispy bacon, fresh veggies, and a homemade creamy ranch dressing, perfect for summer gatherings and quick meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • For the creamy ranch dressing:
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh dill, minced (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh chives, chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini or bowtie pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 8 slices thick-cut bacon and cook until crispy and browned, about 6-8 minutes, flipping occasionally. Transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Once cool, chop into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Rinse and halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes. Chop 2 cups romaine lettuce and thinly slice 3 green onions. Set aside.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt), and ½ cup buttermilk until smooth. Add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon fresh dill, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon chopped chives (optional), and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and green onions. Pour creamy ranch dressing over salad and toss gently to coat evenly without mashing tomatoes or wilting lettuce.
  6. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Before serving, gently toss and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

For extra crunch, reserve some chopped bacon to sprinkle on top before serving. Avoid overdressing the salad to keep veggies crisp. Use gluten-free pasta and check bacon and mayo labels for gluten-free compliance. For dairy-free, substitute mayo and sour cream with avocado-based or vegan alternatives and use almond or oat milk instead of buttermilk.

Nutrition

Keywords: BLT pasta salad, creamy ranch dressing, bacon pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, picnic salad, quick dinner

Find it online: https://blingbite.com/crispy-blt-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-homemade-creamy-ranch-dressing/