BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing is a BLT pasta salad recipe featuring 30-minute prep, creamy homemade dressing, and crowd-friendly servings for everything from family dinners to summer cookouts. Crispy bacon, pasta, romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cheddar cheese are tossed in a smooth avocado ranch dressing that comes together quickly in a blender.
If you're planning a pasta salad spread, our Zesty Italian Pasta Salad and Cold Spaghetti Salad are two more recipes we love serving.
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe at a Glance 🔎
- 🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 10 minutes
- 🧊 Optional Chill: Up to 30 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 6 to 8
- 🔥 Cook Method: Boiling and Mixing
- 🍽️ Cuisine (or General Category): American Pasta Salad
- 👩🍳 Pair With: Grilled Chicken, Cheeseburgers, Barbecue Ribs
- ⭐ Difficulty Level: Easy
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We've tested this BLT pasta salad with everything from bottled ranch to homemade versions, and the avocado ranch dressing was our favorite. ~Jami
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Why We Love This Recipe
- Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing: Blending fresh avocado with milk, sour cream, and ranch seasoning creates a dressing that's smooth, rich, and way more interesting than anything from a bottle.
- Ready in 30 Minutes: You can cook the pasta, blend the dressing, and have everything assembled in about half an hour with no complicated steps.
- Crowd-Friendly Portions: This recipe makes six to eight generous servings, which makes it one of our go-to dishes for cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners. You may also love our Cold BLT Dip with Cream Cheese.
- Easy to Customize: Add chicken to make it a main dish, throw in extra vegetables, or dial up the heat with jalapeños. The base recipe is forgiving and flexible.
Key Ingredients
This BLT pasta salad recipe uses simple ingredients that come together to create a creamy, crunchy, and satisfying side dish.
- Radiatori Pasta: The shape holds onto the creamy dressing really well. We like radiatori here, but penne, rotini, or bowties work too.
- Bacon: Cook it until it's fully crispy so it holds its texture after tossing. We let it cool slightly before chopping for cleaner pieces.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes hold up better than diced roma tomatoes, which can get watery in the dressing.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Shredded sharp cheddar adds a salty, tangy bite that plays well against the creamy dressing. Pre-shredded works fine here.
- Romaine Lettuce: Adds the fresh crunch that makes a BLT a BLT. Folding it in at the end keeps it crisp.
- Red Onion: A small amount adds bite and balances the richness of the bacon and dressing.
- Ripe Avocado: This is the key to a smooth dressing. If your avocado isn't fully ripe, the dressing won't blend as smoothly and the flavor won't be as rich.
- Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning Mix: We tested this with homemade seasoning and bottled dressing, but the seasoning packet gives the most consistent flavor and blends easily into the avocado base.
- Whole Milk: Helps thin the dressing to a pourable consistency without losing the creamy texture.
- Sour Cream: Adds richness and a slight tang that balances the avocado.
- Fresh Lemon Juice: Brightens the dressing and helps maintain the avocado's fresh color.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Radiatori Pasta: Swap in penne, rotini, bowtie pasta, or elbow macaroni if that's what you have on hand.
- Sour Cream: Greek yogurt works as a 1:1 swap and gives the dressing a slightly tangier flavor.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Pepper jack adds a little heat.
- Diet: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta.
- Chicken BLT Pasta Salad: Fold in shredded rotisserie chicken or sliced grilled chicken breast to turn this into a creamy chicken pasta salad that works as a full meal.
How To Make BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing
STEP ONE: Prepare the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the pasta cool completely before assembling the salad.
STEP TWO: Prepare the Avocado Ranch Dressing
Add the ripe avocado, whole milk, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and lemon juice to a blender or food processor.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. If it looks too thick to pour easily, add a small splash of milk and blend again.
Taste before serving and adjust seasoning if desired.
STEP THREE: Prepare the Salad Base
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped bacon, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced red onion.
Pour one cup of the avocado ranch dressing over the top and toss until everything is evenly coated.
STEP FOUR: Prepare for Serving
Right before serving, fold in the chopped romaine lettuce and gently toss one final time.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes before serving.
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Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Cook the pasta just until al dente. Overcooked pasta can become mushy after sitting in the dressing.
✔️DO Use a fully ripe avocado. An underripe avocado won't blend smoothly.
✔️DO Cool the pasta completely before mixing to prevent the dressing from thinning out.
✔️DO Fold in the romaine lettuce right before serving.
❌DO NOT Overdress the salad at first. Add dressing gradually.
Storage
Store leftover BLT pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Because the dressing contains fresh avocado, this salad is best enjoyed the day it is made. If preparing ahead, store the dressing separately and toss everything together just before serving.
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe FAQs
Yes, but with one adjustment. Make the dressing right before you're preparing to serve. Cook and cool the pasta, prep the bacon and vegetables, and refrigerate everything separately. This keeps the lettuce crisp and the dressing bright green.
Radiatori is our first choice because the shape holds onto the creamy dressing. Short pastas with texture work best here. Penne, bowtie pasta, rotini, or elbow macaroni are all solid options.
Absolutely. Shredded rotisserie chicken or sliced grilled chicken breast both work well. Adding chicken turns this side dish into a creamy chicken pasta salad that's filling enough for a complete meal. Just fold it in during the assembly step with the other ingredients.
Reserve a small amount of dressing on the side and add it right before serving. Pasta naturally absorbs dressing as it sits in the refrigerator. A quick stir and a splash of extra dressing help restore the creamy texture.
Yes. Greek yogurt is a 1:1 substitute for the sour cream in this recipe. It gives the dressing a slightly tangier flavor and adds extra protein. Use plain full-fat Greek yogurt for the closest texture.
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📖 Recipe
BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Blender or food processor
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
BLT Pasta Salad
- 12 ounces radiatori pasta or pasta of choice (rotini, bowtie, etc)
- 10 slices bacon cooked until crisp and chopped
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Avocado Ranch Dressing (Yields about 2 cups)
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix such as Hidden Valley
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the radiatori according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
- Add the avocado, milk, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and lemon juice to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. If the dressing seems too thick, add a splash of milk until it reaches a pourable consistency.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and red onion. Pour 1 cup of the avocado ranch dressing over the pasta salad and toss until evenly coated. Add additional dressing as desired. Reserve the remaining dressing for serving or to refresh leftovers after chilling.
- Just before serving, fold in the chopped romaine lettuce and gently toss to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 30 minutes before serving.
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Notes
- Cook the pasta just until al dente so it holds its shape after mixing.
- Use a fully ripe avocado for the smoothest, creamiest dressing.
- Fold in the romaine lettuce right before serving so it stays crisp and fresh.
- Reserve some of the dressing and stir it in before serving if the pasta salad has been chilled.
Jami Powell says
Creamy, delicious, and super filling!