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BLT Pasta Salad

August 10, 2023 by Gina +

Bacon, lettuce, and tomato in a pasta salad with a creamy dressing? Sign me up. This combination of ingredients is so delicious and with the added chicken, it makes a great meal.

Jump to Recipe

A good BLT is a classic everyone loves. So why not add it to a pasta salad and bulk it up with some chopped chicken? So much flavor. It’s healthy while still being hearty and satisfying. I also add red onion, green onion, and some shredded cheese. Yum! It comes all together will a creamy ranch sauce. Even my kids love this, though they do pick around the lettuce.

Ingredients needed for the Pasta Salad

  • Cooked pasta – 10oz
  • 8 pieces cooked bacon
  • 3 cups finely chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
  • 2 diced green onions
  • chopped or shredded chicken
  • FOR THE DRESSING
  • sound cream
  • Mayonnaise
  • Ranch seasoning
  • lemon

How to make the BLT Pasta Salad

  • Preheat the oven to 400. Cook the bacon for 12 ish minutes, until crispy. Remove and pat dry.
  • Cook pasta according to directions. Drain.
  • While pasta and bacon are cooking, mix the sauce. Chop the veggies too.
  • To a large bowl, add the lettuce, cooked pasta, onions, tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and top with bacon. Before serving dressing the sauce and toss well.
  • If you plan for leftovers, don’t add sauce. It will store for a day without dressing.

Why we love this recipe…

  • A BLT but in pasta form.
  • Healthy and has lots of protein but is hearty and satisfying.
  • Easy and quick to prepare.

More recipes you will like…

  • Corn Fritters
  • Red Lentil Fritters
  • Southwest Veggie Fritters

Tips & FAQ for the Zucchini Fritters

Serve hot or cold?

Both ways are great.

Do I have to add chicken?

I love adding chicken for more protein and heartiness but you can easily leave it out.

How to store leftovers?

Best not to dress any part that will be leftovers. Store in the fridge for a day or two before lettuce wilts.


BLT Pasta Salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Servings: 0 4-6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
  • 8 slices bacon
  • 2 cups chicken breast, diced or shredded
  • 10 oz pasta something like penne or rigatoni
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese
  • 1/4 cup diced red onion
For the dressing
  • 1 packet ranch dressing (2 tbsp mix)
  • 1/3 cup mayo
  • 1/3 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 lemon
  • salt & pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400. Cook the bacon for 12 ish minutes, until crispy. Remove and pat dry.
  2. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain.
  3. While pasta and bacon are cooking, mix the dressing. Chop the veggies too.
    For the dressing, stir sour cream, mayo, ranch mix, juice from 1/2 lemon, and adjust taste with a litlte salt and pepper.
  4. To a large bowl, add the lettuce, cooked pasta, onions, tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and top with bacon. Before serving add dressing and toss well. If you plan for leftovers, don't add dressing. It will store for a day without dressing.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You might also like:

Default ThumbnailMaple Roasted Salmon Toast Roundup Corn Fritters White Fish and Potato Croquettes

Filed Under: Dinners, Recipes

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No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
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Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
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I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS ๐ŸคŽ๐Ÿฆ

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeรฑo, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeรฑo if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
ยฝ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeรฑo, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
ยฝ tsp kosher salt
ยผ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5โ€“7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165ยฐF. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggiesโ€”and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! ๐ŸŒฟ
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joeโ€™s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommรฉ gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joeโ€™s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ยฝ cup consommรฉ)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
ยพ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
ยผ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ยฝ cup birria consommรฉ, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommรฉ if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommรฉ if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes ๐Ÿ™ƒ
Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesnโ€™t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
โ…“ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if youโ€™d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!

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