Description
A vibrant and refreshing BLT Pasta Salad featuring smoky turkey bacon, crisp fresh vegetables, and a zesty, creamy dressing. Perfect for summer meals, picnics, barbecues, and quick dinners, this easy-to-make salad combines colorful textures and balanced flavors for a satisfying dish everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta shells
- 6 slices smoked turkey bacon
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant-based mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 tsp mustard (natural)
- 1 tsp vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (natural)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by boiling a pot of salted water. Cook the pasta shells until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Turkey Bacon: While the pasta cooks, pan-fry the smoked turkey bacon until crispy. Once cooled, chop it into bite-sized pieces for easy mixing and perfect crunchy bites.
- Chop the Vegetables: Dice romaine lettuce into small chunks, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely slice the red onion. These fresh components provide a crisp contrast to the pasta and bacon.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together plant-based mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar (natural), mustard (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and pepper. This zesty dressing ties all the ingredients together beautifully.
- Combine and Toss: In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, chopped bacon, veggies, and fresh parsley. Pour the dressing over and toss gently until everything is evenly coated for a flavorful and colorful salad.
Notes
- Do not overcook pasta; keep it al dente to maintain texture after tossing with dressing.
- Chill the salad before serving to allow flavors to meld perfectly.
- Use fresh vegetables for the best flavor and crunch.
- Adjust the dressing seasoning by adding more vinegar or mustard for extra tanginess.
- Cook bacon until crispy for satisfying crunch without chewiness.
- Store leftovers covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Do not freeze the salad as fresh vegetables and dressing texture do not hold well after thawing.
- This dish is best served chilled or at room temperature; reheating is unnecessary.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-frying, Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: BLT Pasta Salad, turkey bacon salad, summer salad, pasta salad, smoky bacon pasta, picnic salad, quick dinner salad
