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BLT Pasta Salad it the perfect summer side dish for your next BBQ. Â It combines the flavors of a favorite sandwich in salad form.
I am so ready for summer! The garden is planted and the flowers are blooming and I’m ready for cookouts and BBQ’s! Whenever we are invited to a summer time potluck cookout I always opt to take a side dish rather than a dessert. There always seems to be plenty of desserts and the side dishes can be hit or miss and often not enough of them. This BLT Pasta Salad will be my new go to salad for summer parties this year.
We usually have a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes so I’m always looking for new recipes to use them in and this BLT Pasta Salad is the perfect solution. Of course if you don’t have cherry tomatoes you could dice up a regular tomato too.
This BLT Pasta Salad takes one of our favorite summer time sandwiches, the BLT, and puts all the flavors into a salad. Who can pass up a BLT sandwich with a fresh from the garden, still warm from the sun, tomato on it? I think this pasta dish is a fun way to enjoy those traditional flavors and feed a crowd at the same time.
This year I am excited to partner with Albertsons and Safeway to bring you some delicious recipes. Today’s recipe uses their Signature family of brands. For this recipe I used their Signature® Farms Thick Cut Hickory Smoked Sliced Bacon, Signature Kitchens® or bowtie pasta, Signature Kitchens Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce and the Signature Kitchens Light Mayonnaise.
Summer Pasta Salad
I think the crucial ingredient to a BLT sandwich or a BLT pasta salad is the bacon. You need good bacon. We prefer a thick cut bacon and the Signature Farms Thick Cut Hickory Smoked Bacon was perfect. It cooked up beautifully and was not too thin and not too thick!
So technically I guess this is only a BT Salad because I didn’t include the lettuce but I added in some green onions for some green. The pasta takes the place of the sandwich bread and I topped it with a dressing made with the mayo, BBQ sauce and some garlic powder. I added in some Monterey Jack cheese for good measure because everything is better with cheese, right!?
I like to chill the salad before serving it but it’s not required. If the salad “dries” out a bit when refrigerated just sprinkle with a little water and stir the water in. You can also reserve a little of the dressing to add in right before serving. I prefer my pasta cooked al dente so that it holds up better.
What’s your go to summer potluck dish? Â Do you usually take a salad or a dessert?
Some of my other favorite summer potluck dishes:
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz box Signature Kitchen Farfalle
- 1/2 lb. Signature Farms Thick Cut Hickory Smoked Sliced Bacon, cooked crisped and diced
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 3 green onions diced
- 1 1/2 cups Monterey Jack cheese grated
- 1 cup Signature Kitchen mayonaise
- 4 Tbsp Signature Kitchen BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder.
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to directions in boiling water until cooked al dente. Drain and rinse.
- In a bowl, combined pasta, tomatoes, green onion, cheese and bacon.
- Mix together mayo, BBQ sauce and garlic powder.
- Add dressing to pasta bowl and stir to combine. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Facts:
Brittany says
I came across this a few years ago and it’s been a staple for the summer months ever since! I usually use bacon bits because I hate cooking bacon, but it’s still super yummy! I’ve also been known to add chicken which is a great addition! I made a huge batch this year for my daughter’s 1st birthday and it was a hit! Everyone asked for the recipe! Thanks for this!!
ann crockett says
Love that you let me print recipe! Thanks so much – very helpful for planning, shopping and cooking. .
Ann Crockett
Andrea says
How long will this last in the refrigerator?
Leigh Anne says
Two to three days, you may need to add a little water or more dressing to it to “rehydrate” it a bit after a few days.
Nancy McPhee says
I just went out to the kitchen and made it,…Wanted to let it set until tomorrow, but we all had to try it. Guess I will have to make another one tomorrow. Everyone loved it!
Leigh Anne says
Nancy, I love it! I am so glad you all enjoyed the salad!!