By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 17, 2025
If you enjoy a good BLT as much as I do, this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe has your name on it. Loaded with juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and tiny toasted croutons tossed in a flavored mayonnaise dressing, it is the ultimate easy pasta salad recipe! BBQs, parties, and holiday celebrations need this amazing side dish.
Pin this recipe for later!
Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
This BLT Pasta Salad Recipe has me so dang excited for summer! Bring on all the BBQs, tailgates, holiday parties, and most importantly, warm weather. I’m so over cold and chilly St. Louis, and this pasta salad is helping me look forward to sunnier days. Loaded with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes just like your favorite BLT sandwich —it even has toasted bread bites and is tossed in a mayo vinaigrette. I am completely obsessed!
I’ve made several BLT Recipes in the past, but this BLT pasta salad recipe has my heart. It just tastes like summer in a bowl. I’m always on the hunt for pasta salad recipes, and this is my favorite.
Tips for Beginners
- Use a pasta with some nooks and crannies: I used a medium flared elbow macaroni, but farfalle and rotini also work well.
- Serve in a chilled bowl: Pasta salad is great on a hot day, but hot pasta salad is gross. Serving in a chilled bowl helps keep your party contribution fresh longer, even on a balmy summer day.
- Always use fresh ingredients: I’m all for recipe hacks, but I better not catch you using anything but freshly crumbled bacon in this recipe.
- Use real mayonnaise: This recipe isn’t the same with an ingredient like Miracle Whip.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 lb. medium-size pasta uncooked
- ▢ ½ loaf rustic bread to make 1 cup toasted bread crumbs
- ▢ 2 tbsp butter unsalted or salted; melted
- ▢ 12 slices bacon cut crosswise into ¼” slices & cooked crisp, divided
- ▢ 2½ cups iceberg lettuce washed & chopped
- ▢ 2½ cups green leaf lettuce leaves washed & chopped
- ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes washed & halved
For the Flavored Mayonnaise:
- ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ▢ ¼ tsp chili powder
- ▢ ¼ tsp sweet paprika
- ▢ 2 tsp granulated sugar
- ▢ ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Chop the lettuce and cut the tomatoes. 2½ cups iceberg lettuce, 2½ cups green leaf lettuce leaves, 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- Slice an 8-inch chunk of rustic bread (preferably day-old bread) off a whole loaf. Tear the bread apart into smaller chunks and place in a food processor. Process the bread until it is in small-medium sized crumbs. Place the breadcrumbs into a medium bowl and add the melted butter. Mix together until the butter is well incorporated. ½ loaf rustic bread to make 1 cup toasted bread crumbs, 2 tbsp butter
- Toast breadcrumbs in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or to your liking.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1-cup pasta water and drain the pasta. 1 lb. medium-size pasta
- Slice and cook the bacon. 12 slices bacon
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, chili powder, paprika, sugar and black pepper; set aside. ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp sweet paprika, 2 tsp granulated sugar, ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, ½ cup breadcrumbs (reserve ½ cup for serving), half of the crisped bacon (reserve the other half for serving), lettuce, tomatoes and flavored mayonnaise. Toss to mix and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Toss the salad lightly to freshen. If needed, add the reserved pasta water (1-tbsp-at-a-time) until you get the desired consistency.
- Sprinkle with reserved breadcrumbs and bacon, and season with salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad Step by Step
Prep the veggies: Chop 2 ½ cups lettuce, and halve 1 cup tomatoes.
Make the breadcrumbs: Slice an 8-inch chunk of rustic bread (preferably day-old bread) off a whole loaf. Tear the bread apart into smaller chunks and place in a food processor. Process the bread into small to medium-sized crumbs. Place the breadcrumbs into a medium bowl and add the melted butter. Mix until the butter is well incorporated.
Toast the breadcrumbs: Transfer the crumbs to a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until toasted to your liking.
Cook the bacon: Chop 12 slices of bacon and cook.
Cook pasta : Cook 1lb pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
Make the mayonnaise: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp sweet paprika, 2 tsp granulated sugar, and ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper and set aside.
Garnish and serve : Sprinkle with reserved breadcrumbs and bacon, and season with salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!
How to Store
This is a recipe that you can make ahead, but not far in advance because you don’t want everything to get soggy. If making ahead, toss in the lettuce and tomatoes right before serving. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Serving Suggestions
Ah, summer BBQs and the options are endless! I love firing up the grill and pairing this pasta salad with juicy feta and sundried tomato chicken burgers , this cheese stuffed grilled caprese stuffed chicken , or this copycat Applebee’s grilled tequila lime chicken ! It’s also the perfect side to a grilled hot dog!
more pasta salads
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
Green Goddess Pasta Salad Recipe
Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad Recipe
Pesto Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. medium-size pasta uncooked
- ½ loaf rustic bread to make 1 cup toasted bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp butter unsalted or salted; melted
- 12 slices bacon cut crosswise into ¼” slices & cooked crisp, divided
- 2½ cups iceberg lettuce washed & chopped
- 2½ cups green leaf lettuce leaves washed & chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes washed & halved
For the Flavored Mayonnaise:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tsp granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Chop the lettuce and cut the tomatoes. 2½ cups iceberg lettuce, 2½ cups green leaf lettuce leaves, 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- Slice an 8-inch chunk of rustic bread (preferably day-old bread) off a whole loaf. Tear the bread apart into smaller chunks and place in a food processor. Process the bread until it is in small-medium sized crumbs. Place the breadcrumbs into a medium bowl and add the melted butter. Mix together until the butter is well incorporated. ½ loaf rustic bread to make 1 cup toasted bread crumbs, 2 tbsp butter
- Toast breadcrumbs in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or to your liking.
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1-cup pasta water and drain the pasta. 1 lb. medium-size pasta
- Slice and cook the bacon. 12 slices bacon
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, chili powder, paprika, sugar and black pepper; set aside. ¼ cup mayonnaise, ¼ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp sweet paprika, 2 tsp granulated sugar, ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, ½ cup breadcrumbs (reserve ½ cup for serving), half of the crisped bacon (reserve the other half for serving), lettuce, tomatoes and flavored mayonnaise. Toss to mix and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to serve.
- Toss the salad lightly to freshen. If needed, add the reserved pasta water (1-tbsp-at-a-time) until you get the desired consistency.
- Sprinkle with reserved breadcrumbs and bacon, and season with salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
