This could possibly be the BEST pasta salad I’ve ever made. It’s simply so excellent and I can’t cease serious about how dreamy it’s.
This BLT pasta salad was an concept that got here to me after Tony and I began making superb BLT sandwiches with avocado for our lunches (we had been on an actual bacon kick for just a few weeks!). There’s something so comforting and scrumptious a couple of basic BLT sandwich that I began serious about how good it is likely to be deconstructed right into a pasta salad. A couple of nights later, I developed this recipe and fell head over heels in love. Belief me after I inform you, you want to make it.
Earlier than you get began, I do need to point out that the jalapeño cashew dressing actually helps tie all of it collectively. That’s proper, as an alternative of ranch or a dressing made with bitter cream or mayonnaise, we’re tossing all the pieces along with a creamy, dairy free dressing that has a touch of warmth and coats each nook and cranny of the pasta. Don’t be afraid to strive one thing new and completely different than what you’re used to! It’s DAMN GOOD.
Take pleasure in this unbelievable pasta salad as a dinner, lunch and even aspect dish at your subsequent BBQ!
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BLT pasta salad components
This simple BLT pasta salad is mainly simply made up of your fav pasta, some recent summer season veggies, and a easy cashew sauce you’ll completely fall in love with. Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Jalapeño cashew dressing: we’re utilizing this recipe for the dressing. IT IS AMAZING, filled with taste, and dairy free! See ya later, ranch dressing combine.
- Bacon: the B within the BLT, child! The bacon provides salty, crispy bites to the pasta salad. Be happy to make use of turkey bacon for those who’d like.
- Pasta: I recommend utilizing bowties (AKA farfalle) or giant shells in order that the dressing will get in all of these nooks and crannies, however be at liberty to make use of any pasta you’d like (even gluten free pasta). Elbow macaroni or rotini pasta would even be nice!
- Corn: for a recent, summer season twist and slight sweetness. You need to use grilled, uncooked or sautéd corn!
- Cherry or grape tomatoes: tomatoes add juicy bursts in each chunk. I really like utilizing heirloom cherry tomatoes for shade selection.
- Purple onion: for somewhat further zip.
- Romaine lettuce: the L in BLT! Romaine holds up rather well on this BLT pasta salad and provides a beautiful crunchiness.
- Avocado: can’t neglect about creamy avocado. Nothing higher! I like to choose a simply barely ripe avocado so it stays agency within the pasta salad.
Find out how to cook dinner the perfect bacon
You may completely cook dinner your bacon on the stovetop, but when your burners are full (and to keep away from some mess) learn to cook dinner bacon within the oven here! Will probably be completely crunchy and scrumptious for this BLT pasta salad.
Customise your wholesome BLT pasta salad
The most effective elements about this simple, dairy free BLT pasta salad? It’s nice for customizing to suit the wants of company or dissipate what you have got available. Right here’s what I can recommend:
- Decide your bacon: be at liberty to swap the common bacon for turkey bacon and even omit to make this salad vegan & vegetarian.
- Add protein: some grilled chicken or chickpeas could be excellent for an additional enhance of protein.
- Cheese it up: add a sprinkle of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, parmesan or feta for somewhat extra savory indulgence.
- Lacking the bread? Attempt some enjoyable croutons for those who’re lacking the toasty bread of your favourite BLT sandwich!
Let’s chat dressing
We’re lightening up this BLT pasta salad with a dairy free jalapeño cashew dressing that you just’ll fall in love with. It’s simpler to make than you suppose, however for those who’d prefer to go nut free you’ll be able to at all times use this homemade ranch dressing as an alternative. Be happy so as to add jalapeño to the dressing, or toss thinly sliced jalapeños within the pasta salad itself.
Ideas for making excellent BLT pasta salad each time
With just a few ideas and methods, I assure you’ll fall in LOVE with this scrumptious pasta salad recipe.
- Don’t overcook your pasta. You’ll need to ensure you cook dinner your pasta till simply al dente in order that it doesn’t find yourself mushy within the salad. Be happy to run the pasta underneath chilly water after you drain it to assist cease the cooking and funky it off earlier than including the remainder of the components.
- Use the best avocado. Select a ripe, however nonetheless agency, avocado in order that the cubes don’t disintegrate within the salad.
- Grill your corn. Sure, you’ll be able to simply use uncooked, canned, and even thawed frozen corn on this recipe, however I’m obsessive about the flavour that grilled corn provides. Learn to grill corn here!
Find out how to retailer BLT pasta salad
This BLT pasta salad will keep recent coated within the fridge for about 3-4 days. It’s scrumptious made forward of time, too, so be at liberty to prep it the evening earlier than a picnic or bbq, or prep it in your weekday lunches. I might suggest including the avocado on whenever you’re able to serve in order that it stays recent.
Make it forward of time
You may simply make this pasta salad a few days forward of time and retailer it within the fridge! I’d suggest leaving the avocado and romaine off of the salad till you’re able to serve it as they’ll lose their freshness the quickest.
You may additionally chop up all your veggies, cook dinner your pasta & bacon, make the dressing, and retailer all of it within the fridge till you’re able to assemble all the pieces!
Extra pasta salad recipes to strive
Get all of my salad recipes here!
I hope you like this rattling good BLT pasta salad recipe! When you make it you’ll want to go away a remark so I understand how you appreciated it. You may also share a photograph on Instagram and tag #ambitiouskitchen. Take pleasure in, xo!
Rattling Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing
Whole Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Rattling good BLT pasta salad made with recent corn, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, creamy avocado and crispy bacon. This simple, wholesome BLT pasta salad recipe is tossed in an unbelievable, creamy jalapeño cashew dressing for an unbelievably scrumptious twist in your favourite sandwich. Excellent for potlucks, BBQ’s or having fun with for a wholesome lunch or dinner!
-
1
batch of jalapeno cashew cream dressing - For the pasta salad:
-
12
ounces
bacon -
10
ounces
pasta of alternative (I recommend bowties or giant shells, gluten free if desired) -
1 ½
cups
corn, grilled, uncooked or sauteed -
1
pint
cherry tomatoes, halved (I really like utilizing heirloom cherry tomatoes for shade selection) -
½
medium crimson onion, thinly sliced -
2-4
cups
chopped romaine lettuce -
1
barely ripe however nonetheless agency avocado, diced
-
Whereas the cashews are soaking in your dressing, I recommend chopping all of your veggies and having them able to go. You may also cook dinner your bacon: add bacon to a big skillet or pan and place over medium warmth, cook dinner bacon on either side till crispy and golden brown. If the pan begins to smoke at any level, merely decrease the warmth. I at all times cook dinner my bacon on medium low warmth. As soon as bacon is completed, blot with a paper towel to soak up extra grease, then chop into chunk sized items and put aside.
-
Subsequent cook dinner your pasta till al dente, drain after which place in a big bowl. Add all the jalapeno cashew dressing, then stir collectively to mix. Subsequent add the chopped bacon, corn (I favor grilled or sauteed), halved cherry tomatoes, sliced crimson onion, romaine lettuce and avocado. Gently toss once more, then style and alter seasonings as vital, including extra salt and pepper for those who’d like. Serves 6, or 4 as a bigger meal. Garnish with further corn, tomatoes, crimson onion, avocado and bacon.
This BLT pasta salad will keep recent coated within the fridge for about 3-4 days. It’s scrumptious made forward of time, too, so be at liberty to prep it the evening earlier than a picnic or bbq, or prep it in your weekday lunches. I might suggest including the avocado and romaine on whenever you’re able to serve in order that they keep recent.
See the complete put up for scrumptious, simple methods to customise!
Diet
Servings: 6 servings
Serving measurement: 1 serving (primarily based on 6)
Energy: 451kcal
Fats: 19.5g
Saturated fats: 3.9g
Carbohydrates: 54.2g
Fiber: 7.4g
Sugar: 7.3g
Protein: 18.6g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Bold Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
This put up was initially revealed on July thirtieth, 2020, and republished on June twenty fourth, 2022.
