BLT Pasta Salad
Corkscrew pasta with a creamy dressing and full of crunchy bacon, lettuce and tomato. The perfect BLT Pasta Salad recipe!
A SANDWICH INSPIRED PASTA SALAD
When I saw this recipe for BLT Macaroni Salad, I knew that I had to make it! This is such a fun take on pasta salad. It’s a pasta salad that combines the flavors of a classic BLT with creamy macaroni salad. It’s chock-full of crispy bacon, tomatoes, and crunchy green leaf lettuce, plus a tangy dressing. It’s a fusion macaroni salad that takes BLT’s to a whole new level.
The first time I brought it to a bbq everyone fell in love with it and now it’s demanded at every event!
– Tara
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
You can use any shaped pasta you enjoy: macaroni, cavatappi, radiatore, rotini, penne and more!
Don’t add the lettuce and bacon to the pasta salad until just before serving or you’ll lose the crunchiness.
Leftovers can be stored (covered) in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Keep in mind, the lettuce and bacon will turn soft.
This pasta cannot be frozen.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- cavatappi noodles– I shared other types of pasta that you can use in this recipe above in the FAQ section. You want a pasta with some grooves or twists to help hold some of the mayo based dressing.
- mayonnaise
- sour cream – don’t like sour cream? Try using plain Greek yogurt or just use all mayonnaise instead of adding the sour cream.
- sugar – this is optional. It doesn’t add sweetness, it just offsets the vinegar flavor a bit.
- apple cider vinegar – you can use regular vinegar, white wine or red wine vinegar.
- celery salt – I suppose you could use celery seed instead of celery salt, I just haven’t tried it. I’d probably start with less and add more to taste.
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika – regular paprika can be used instead of smoked if you don’t like that additional smoky taste.
- dried dill – you can use fresh dill.
- green onions
- Roma tomatoes– I like to use cherry or grape tomatoes for this recipe but feel free to chop up whatever type of tomato you enjoy or have on hand.
- Romaine lettuce – any kind of lettuce can be used. If all you have is iceberg, then use that.
- bacon – this recipe tastes best with fresh cooked bacon, not the microwave stuff.
HOW TO MAKE BLT PASTA SALAD:
Cook the elbow macaroni in salted water per the package instructions. Drain well. While pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, vinegar, celery salt, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dill and pepper, to taste.
Chop up the tomatoes, green onions, lettuce and bacon. Add the cooked and drained pasta to the bowl. Stir in green onions and tomatoes.
Mix until evenly distributed.
Cover with plastic wrap and pop it into the fridge to chill. Just before serving, add the lettuce and bacon. Mix well and serve.
Store chilled.
CRAVING MORE RECIPES?
Originally published: May 2016
Updated photos and republished: June 2025
BLT Pasta Salad (+Video)
Ingredients
- 16 ounce box elbow or Cavatappi pasta
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons celery salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 5 green onions, thinly sliced
- 4 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 2 cups diced Romaine lettuce, loosely packed
- ½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Cook 16 ounce box elbow or Cavatappi pasta in salted water per the package instructions. Drain well. While pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise, 3/4 cup sour cream, 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons celery salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/4 teaspoon dried dill and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the bowl.
- Stir in 5 green onions, thinly sliced and 4 Roma tomatoes, diced. Mix until evenly distributed.
- Cover with plastic wrap and put it into the fridge to chill.
- Just before serving, add 2 cups diced Romaine lettuce, loosely packed and 1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled. Mix well and serve.
- Store covered in the refrigerator.
Video
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Recipe Credit: Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen. The original post had a cookbook giveaway. That giveaway has now ended.
what entrée you recommend serving with the BLT Pasta Salad? it looks be,will be trying it out.
Honestly it’s good with just about anything! Grilled chicken, hamburgers, etc. 🙂
The first time I brought it to a bbq everyone fell in love with it and now it’s demanded at every event!
Love this salad, make it at least 3-4 times a month. The salad dressing is so easy to make with ingredients that I always have on hand and it is amazing!
Fantastic salad!!
Thanks so much Colleen!
So yummy. It’s addicting
Great Salad, couldn’t find smoked paprika used regular was still great. Wii have his more often
so delicious! I didn’t have celery salt ,but made it anyway still tastes so good
I love this salad! It’s a family favorite. I also add shredded cheddar cheese. just because we like cheese.????. I also sub gluten free pasta for the pasta. Thanks for sharing!!
I never say no to adding cheese – ha!
I like the New website. Except as a senior the light blue and light grey type is hard to read. Love the recipies.
Thank you for the feedback Linnie! I am going to work on that and see what I can do to make it easier 🙂
Love oven baked BBQ chicken! Or anything BBQ for that matter!
Fried Chicken!
So good – thank you for the recipe. We loved it at our ladies luncheon.
Fruit cobbler at this time of year!
Delicious thank you!
I think my favorite is a toss up between Mac & Cheese and Biscuits.
So, so good.
Thank you – great!
It's extremely hard to pick one but now this BLT salad is it. I read cookbooks like they were mystery stories. Your tips and recipes are A1. Thanx for doing this wonderful Blog for those of us that loves your stories and recipes.
Thank you for sharing the recipe. My daughters really loved it.
I love coconut shrimp but then again I love Mac & cheese with a bit of bacon in there is wonderful too.
Fresh vegetables inspire me and remind me of grandmas home cooked deliciousness, thanks
I love so many dishes it is hard to pick one. Macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, grits, fried okra, macaroni salad, fried green tomatoes . . . I could go on and on. The desserts are the best. Banana pudding was one of my first thoughts. I am excited to check out this cookbook to see if I can find another favorite dish to add to my list.
Love this twist on BLT’s – thank you. It was a hit.
I'm with Annette, chicken and dumplings is good. And I love a good biscuit!
The BLT Salad looks fabulous. Looks like a cookbook in which I would like to check out more recipes. Thanks for the chance.
One of my favorite southern dishes is Chicken and Dumplings.
I love fried chicken with waffles and wish my family was on the same page because I don't get to have it as often as I would like!
We made this and enjoyed it very much.
My favorite is Carolina BBQ or Fried Chicken.
Collard greens made with jalapeno and white beans.
Thank you for this recipe.
Asking for what my favorite country inspired recipe is impossible for me to choose only one; I love them al!
I ♡ any country food
Mac and cheese or fried chicken!
Shrimp and grits has to be my favorite.
Melissa knocked it out of the park on this one! Delicious!
She sure did!!
On my way to the grocery to pick up the ingredients for this gem. Cannot wait to try it for our Memorial Day cookout~~! Thanks so much and congratulations to Melissa on the new book!
I think this will be a new favorite for you!! 🙂
This is the perfect recipe! Don’t change a thing!
I love this recipe! So flavorful!!!
I feel the same way! Great job my friend!