BEST BLT Pasta Salad recipe for any picnic, lunch, dinner, made with favorite pasta, bacon, peas, dill, and tomatoes, and a creamy dressing!

a BLT pasta salad

Today we’re sharing a delicious BLT Pasta Salad Recipe. And do you love fresh English peas like we do? This recipe is perfect for spring or summer, any game day or family gathering.  And the best for Easter!

Bacon and tomato are just a few of the things inside this BLT Pasta Salad! It’s like the classic sandwich (without the lettuce) but with a few special changes. Add a delicious dressing that makes it all taste fresh and delicious! If you love a “good BLT,” you may also really enjoy this Cake Pan Layered Salad recipe – so good!

Best BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

This salad is made with fresh ingredients: Your favorite pasta (we love Orecchiette), bacon, peas, dill, and tomatoes, and a creamy dressing!

A pasta salad is always a hit at every party! I’m always asked to bring a salad to a barbecue or gathering, and this recipe is one of my go-to’s. The flavors are amazing!

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Oh, and give this Bowtie Italian Pasta Salad in Jars recipe a try if you love “farfalle” pasta, and enjoy a fun “salad board” to create for a party!

BLT Pasta Salad

Easy ingredients for BLT pasta salad

The secret is in the sauce (dressing), right? I love that this pasta recipe has fresh lemon juice.

Add in the freshest ingredients that mingle well with bacon. For me, it’s English peas and avocados and fresh dill.

  • Bacon
  • Orecchiette whole wheat pasta, or small shells or bow tie – we use DeLallo
  • Mayonnaise
  • Lemon
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • White pepper
  • Fresh dill
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Avocados
  • English peas – we buy at Trader Joe’s

Delicious BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

How to make pasta salad

Start off with your favorite pasta. I love to use Orecchiette, as I just love the way it looks and tastes in a salad, but you can also use bowtie pasta. We love whole wheat pasta (DeLallo brand) which has a nutty, amazing flavor.

Print the full recipe below!

  1. Cook the bacon until crisp; set aside on a paper towel.
  2. Crumble the bacon when cooled.
  3. Cook pasta according to package directions; strain and cool. TIP: Always use salt in the water (never oil).
  4. Make the yummy dressing–add the mayonnaise, lemon, salt, garlic powder, pepper and 1 tablespoon dill.
  5. Combine the cooled pasta, tomatoes, and peas.
  6. Add the dressing and mix.
  7. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  8. Add in avocados right before serving (to not get mushy).
  9. Garnish with remaining fresh dill, and serve!

a bowl of pasta salad with BLT ingredients

Celebrating life together

There’s nothing quite like eating and celebrating life together, in fact, you only need to think about these 3 things: The people, the food, and the way you want to serve the food.

We all need to eat, so food is a great reason why we come together.

Like a table covered in sumptuous, homemade food, I simply don’t know what to savor first. There are endless variations of flavor and texture. And like any real meal, it’s meant to be shared. It’s meant to give us reasons to come together and celebrate for years to come. –Roy Goble

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe Entertaining

A lovely reminder of a spring evening popped into my head this week. The guests arrived, everyone brought a dish, a bottle of wine, and within minutes we were mingling, catching up, introducing, sharing, and then sitting (for hours).

Oh, and don’t get caught in the weeds of hospitalty versus entertaining, just focus on the people and a style that works for you!

Both words have tremendous meaning.

BEST BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Happy hosting! (Come back and tell me who you made happy with this salad! :))

More pasta salads to try:

Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad Recipe

Summer Corn Salad

Strawberry Salad with Gorgonzola, Walnuts and Mint

Arugula Pasta Salad

Melon Bowtie Pasta Salad

Greek Pasta Salad

 

a BLT pasta salad
4.86 stars (7 reviews)
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BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

If you love a good BLT salad, this recipe is made with your favorite pasta, tomatoes, bacon, avocado and English peas, with a delightful dressing. (Best made with whole wheat pasta.)
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 8
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 10 slices bacon, cooked and chopped into one inch pieces
  • 16 oz. Orecchiette whole wheat pasta, or small shells or bow tie – I use DeLallo
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¾ teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill
  • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 2 avocados pitted, cut into chunks
  • 10 oz. fresh English peas, cooked and drained (I buy at Trader Joe's)

Instructions
 

  • Cook the bacon until crisp; set aside on a paper towel. Crumble when cooled.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions; strain and cool. Always use salt in the water (never oil).
  • In a small bowl, make the dressing--add the mayonnaise, lemon, salt, garlic powder, pepper and 1 tablespoon dill.
  • In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, tomatoes, and peas. Toss to combine.
  • Add the dressing to the mixture; toss gently and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Add in avocados right before serving (to not get mushy). Garnish with remaining fresh dill, and serve!

Notes

Reposted from April 2018
Cuisine: American
Course: Salad
Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

large bowl of BLT pasta salad