Description
A delicious and creamy BLT Pasta Salad combining crispy bacon, fresh vegetables, and a tangy Hidden Valley Ranch dressing tossed with rotini pasta, perfect for a refreshing side or 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 Dressing: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Use a whisk to blend the mixture until smooth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water to cool it down, and drain again. Transfer the pasta into a large mixing bowl.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the cooked and chopped bacon, finely diced red onion, cubed cheddar cheese, diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped parsley, and torn romaine lettuce to the bowl with the pasta.
- Toss Salad: Pour the chilled dressing over the combined ingredients. Using tongs, gently toss the salad until everything is well coated with the dressing evenly distributed.
- Serve: Serve the BLT pasta salad immediately for the best texture, especially to enjoy the crispness of the romaine lettuce.
Notes
- The romaine lettuce does not hold up well if left in the salad for long; for best results, add it right before serving along with the dressing.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 24 hours but are best eaten the same day to preserve freshness.
- This recipe yields a large salad; halve the ingredients if serving fewer people.
- You can shred the cheddar cheese instead of cubing it 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: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
