Description
A refreshing and hearty BLT Pasta Salad combining crispy bacon, creamy avocado, fresh romaine, cheddar cheese, and cherry tomatoes tossed in a flavorful Hidden Valley Ranch dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnic, or a light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce box Rotini Pasta cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water
- 13 slices bacon cooked and chopped
- ½ large red onion finely diced
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese cut into cubes
- 2 cups romaine lettuce cut or torn into bite size pieces
- 1 avocado cut into small pieces
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 1-ounce packet Hidden Valley Dressing Mix dry
- 1½ cups mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Use a whisk to mix together thoroughly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water to cool and stop cooking, and drain again thoroughly. Transfer the pasta into a large mixing bowl.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the cooked and chopped bacon, finely diced red onion, cubed cheddar cheese, cut avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and romaine lettuce to the bowl with pasta.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the chilled dressing over the pasta salad ingredients. Use tongs to gently toss everything together until well coated, being careful not to mash the avocado or lettuce.
- Serve: Serve the BLT pasta salad immediately for best freshness and texture.
Notes
- Romaine lettuce does not hold well; serve immediately or add lettuce and dressing just before serving.
- Leftovers can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- This recipe yields a large mixing bowl full; reduce quantities by half for smaller gatherings.
- You can shred the cheddar cheese instead of cubing if preferred.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
