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Home » Type » Salads » Pasta Salads » Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe For Any Potluck

Easy BLT Pasta Salad Recipe For Any Potluck

May 28, 2021 by Faith 11 Comments

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This easy to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe has a couple healthy twists and is packed with flavor! It’s the perfect side dish for any summer BBQ, potluck, or picnic.

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe in White Serving Bowl

Out of all my childhood memories, I remember summer vacation most vividly. Those memories seem to be brighter, louder, and definitely more full of delicious smells and tastes.

We basically lived off what we cooked on the grill during summer months. No matter what grilled meat or veggies we made, my mom always paired them with more fresh produce.

We enjoyed things like fresh-sliced tomatoes with my mom’s signature sweet creamy sauce. Steamed green beans seasoned with butter and salt. Zucchini sautéed in olive oil with garlic sprinkled with fresh basil.

And if we were going to a party, mom would always make her two signature side dishes: baked beans and taco salad, which were always the hit of the party. Sometimes her two side dishes eclipsed the main dish! On the rare occasion that we went to a party and she didn’t have both those sides, oh boy did she hear about it.

BLT Pasta Salad on Wooden Table

I don’t have a signature summer dish; I think I enjoy switching things up too much. Now that I think about it, I need to ask mom for her signature dishes and share them.

Just in time for Memorial Day, I came up with a healthier twist on BLT Pasta Salad! This recipe uses less pasta and adds white beans. Instead of a heavy mayo-based dressing, I whipped up an easy, flavorful vinaigrette.

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe with Description

In This Article

  • BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Tips for Making BLT Pasta Salad
  • More Pasta Salad Inspiration
  • BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

This dish has everything that a lovely BLT sandwich has to offer, with a few extras as well.

Flavorful baby spinach leaves take the place of lettuce. Not only are they full of nutrition, but there’s no need chopping required!

In this salad, half of the pasta has been replaced with white beans, which makes it a sturdier side, and of course also adds nutrition in the form of protein and fiber.

To keep this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe on the healthier side, bacon is more of an accent flavor or seasoning than a main component. Feel free to double the amount of bacon if you want.

Since this is summer picnic/BBQ/potluck food, instead of using a creamy mayo-based dressing I opted for a lighter, but still super flavorful vinaigrette.

Cherry Tomatoes

BLT Pasta Salad Ingredients

With minimal ingredients, you might have almost everything you need to make this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe on hand.

Salad:

  • Canned no-salt-added white beans, such as Navy beans or Cannellini beans
  • Bowtie pasta
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • White onion
  • Beef bacon
  • Baby spinach leaves

Dressing:

  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Honey
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Garlic
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

How to Store BLT Pasta Salad

Once you mix together the salad components (except for the bacon and spinach), you can refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Right before serving, toss in the bacon and spinach.

Healthy BLT Pasta Salad

Variations on This Recipe

  • Cubes of cheddar or Monterey jack, little mozzarella balls, or even crumbled feta or blue cheese would be delicious in this salad.
  • Use any type of lettuce you instead of baby spinach leaves. Chopped kale would also be delicious!
  • Instead of whipping up a vinaigrette dressing, this BLT Pasta Salad Recipe is also delicious with a creamy dressing. I like to mix 1/3 cup mayo and 1/3 cup ranch and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Tips for Making BLT Pasta Salad

  • Rinse the pasta under cool running water after you cook it to al dente. This helps stop the cooking process, and also rinses off excess starch to prevent the pasta from becoming gummy.
  • Don’t add the bacon and spinach until right before serving. This will help minimize the spinach wilting and keep the bacon as crispy as possible.

More Pasta Salad Inspiration

  • Creamy Pasta Salad with Bacon, Peas, and Bell Peppers
  • Couscous Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, Mint, and Goat Cheese
  • Farmers Market Pasta Salad
  • Orzo, Grape, and Feta Pasta Salad
  • Pasta Salad with Tuna
  • Healthy Pasta Salad with Artichokes
  • Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  • Mediterranean Pasta Salad
  • Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad
  • Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Warm Pasta Salad with Caramelized Leek, Bacon, and Goat Cheese
Close Up Top View of Easy BLT Pasta Salad

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Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
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xoxo, Faith

BLT Pasta Salad Featured Image

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

By: Faith Gorsky
This easy to make BLT Pasta Salad Recipe has a couple healthy twists and is packed with flavor! It’s the perfect side dish for any summer BBQ, potluck, or picnic.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Pasta, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 422 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Salad:

  • 32 ounces canned no-salt-added white beans such as Navy beans or Cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
  • 8 ounces bowtie pasta or any small pasta shape you like
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes rinsed (leave them whole or cut them in half)
  • 1 small white onion quartered and thinly sliced
  • 4 ounces beef bacon cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 8 ounces baby spinach leaves

Dressing:

  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 large clove garlic crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions. Rinse, drain, and let it cool to room temperature.
  • Whisk together all ingredients for the dressing in a large bowl.
  • Toss the beans, pasta, tomatoes, and onion in the dressing. Serve or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  • Right before serving, toss in the bacon and spinach; serve cold.

Faith’s Tips

  • To Use Dried Beans Instead of Canned Beans: Instead of using canned white beans, you can use 8 ounces (230g) dried white beans (such as Navy beans). To cook them, add the beans to a large bowl and fill the bowl about 3/4 full of cold water. Soak the beans overnight and then drain. Add the beans to a medium-large pot and fill the pot 2/3 full of water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down slightly, cover the pot, and simmer until the beans are cooked through (taste a few to make sure they’re soft). Stir them occasionally and be sure to add more water if needed (the beans should always be covered by a few inches of water). Once they’re cooked, drain and cool the beans.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 422 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 14mg5%
Sodium 430mg19%
Potassium 903mg26%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 2803IU56%
Vitamin C 16mg19%
Calcium 127mg13%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword BLT Pasta Salad, BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
BLT Pasta Salad Recipe Pin

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on May 22, 2014. I updated it with more information on May 28, 2021.

Filed Under: Pasta Salads, Side Dishes Tagged: BLT Pasta Salad, BLT Pasta Salad Recipe

Comments

  1. Janet Collins says

    July 1, 2015 at 2:16 am

    Great recipes. Love the variety of recipes!

    Reply
  2. Betsy says

    June 2, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    A pasta salad that’s both healthy and yummy! Thanks for a great picnic recipe!

    Reply
  3. Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says

    May 27, 2014 at 7:53 am

    Pasta salads are so perfect for summer entertaining. Love all your ideas! We just had a big gathering this past weekend and I made a last minute pasta salad to fill out the table for all the big appetites.

    Reply
  4. Allison @ Clean Wellness says

    May 25, 2014 at 6:51 am

    I love pasta salad! Great recipe idea. The beans are a fantastic addition to make it more of a meal. Also, I’m new to your blog and just love it! :)

    Reply
  5. Angie (@angiesrecipess) says

    May 24, 2014 at 10:38 am

    My favourite weekend meal! Love the flavours!

    Reply
  6. Rosa says

    May 23, 2014 at 3:11 am

    Scrumptious! Lovely colours and combination.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
  7. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says

    May 22, 2014 at 2:48 pm

    So many great salad ideas! Thank you so much for sharing my Artichoke Pasta Salad!

    Reply
  8. [email protected] Tastes Good says

    May 22, 2014 at 9:08 am

    I love that you used a vinaigrette in this – it sounds super delish! and, hey, thanks for including one of my salads in this collection! Pinning!

    Reply
  9. Erica says

    May 22, 2014 at 8:04 am

    TOTALLY bookmarking this page. I love making new kinds of salad (pasta or otherwise). And sides are always > main in my opinion ;)

    Reply

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  1. Fourth of July Recipes - Red, White and Blue Foods says:
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    […] BLT Pasta Salad with White Beans…so easy and perfect for a summer party, picnic, or potluck! | An Edible Mosaic […]

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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