This tasty BLT pasta salad has a little bit of everything. Fresh vegetables, crispy bacon and perfectly cooked pasta all coated in a homemade, creamy mustard dressing. Perfect for a BBQ, picnic or get together with friends and family.
One of my favourite sandwiches is a BLT. As I was eating one recently, I asked myself if I could create a tasty BLT Pasta Salad. Spoiler alert - the answer is yes! While it may feel a little unusual adding chopped fresh lettuce to a pasta salad, trust me - it works! As the pasta is left to cool before combining the ingredients, there's no chance of the lettuce wilting. In fact it offers a lovely crunchy texture to the salad.
If you are more of a traditionalist, be sure to check out my ever-popular Best Ever Pasta Salad on the website. Or for our younger friends, my Kids' Pasta Salad is super simple and tasty.
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Ingredient notes:
- Pasta: I love the look of spiral pasta in this salad. But any short cut pasta including penne, orzo or bow ties would work in this recipe.
- Bacon: I recommend using streaky bacon for this recipe. The secret to crispy bacon is to cook it low and slow to render all the fat out.
- Capsicum: I love the colour and additional nutrients provided by the capsicum. But feel free to leave it out if you don't have one to hand.
Note: Scroll to the recipe card for the ingredients, quantities and the full method.
Step by step instructions:
Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain in a sieve and set aside to cool. In a large frying pan, fry the bacon pieces until crispy. Set a tablespoon aside to garnish.
To a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, bacon pieces, lettuce, tomatoes and capsicum. In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients. Pour over the pasta and mix everything together until well coated.
Transfer to a serving dish then top with the extra bacon pieces and chopped parsley.
Recipe FAQs:
No it doesn't, because the pasta cools before it get added to the salad. If you added hot pasta to the salad it would have a different reaction!
Of course. Simply swap the regular pasta for your favourite gluten free short cut pasta. As always, check the labels on any processed food to ensure it meets your dietary requirements.
Storage:
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Top tips:
If you wanted to make this recipe in advance, I would recommend cooking the pasta and bacon and making the sauce earlier on in the day. Then add the copped fresh vegetables just before serving.
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BLT Pasta Salad
A tasty pasta salad made from bacon, lettuce, tomato and capsicum with a homemade creamy mustard dressing.
Ingredients
- 500g spiral pasta
- 250g streaky bacon, chopped
- ½ an iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 200g cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 yellow capsicum, diced
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise (110g)
- 125g sour cream
- 1 Tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain in a sieve and set aside to cool.
- In a large frying pan, fry the bacon pieces until crispy. Set a tablespoon aside to garnish.
- To a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, bacon pieces, lettuce, tomatoes and capsicum.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients. Pour over the pasta and mix everything together until well coated.
- Transfer to a serving dish then top with the extra bacon pieces and chopped parsley.
Notes
- Any type of short cut pasta can be used in this recipe.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 759Total Fat: 50gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 33gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 1576mgCarbohydrates: 46gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 30g
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet.
Thank you for checking out this recipe. I hope you enjoy making and eating it! If you have any questions, queries or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Vanya
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