BLT Pasta Salad Bacon Avocado (Print)

A fresh pasta salad with crispy bacon, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz short pasta such as fusilli, rotini, or penne
02 - 1 teaspoon salt for boiling water

→ Bacon

03 - 6 slices bacon

→ Vegetables

04 - 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 large ripe avocado, diced
06 - 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

08 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
09 - 2 tablespoons sour cream
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Additions

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, place the bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until crisp, turning occasionally, about 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Once cool, chop into bite-sized pieces.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, green onions, and most of the bacon, reserving a little for garnish. Add the dressing and toss gently to coat.
05 - Just before serving, gently fold in the diced avocado.
06 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with the remaining bacon and optional herbs. Serve immediately, or chill for up to 2 hours for a colder salad.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It tastes like a BLT sandwich but feels fancy enough to bring somewhere without apologies.
  • The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, so it fits into actual life.
  • Avocado makes it creamy without needing heavy cream, which feels like a small victory.
02 -
  • Do not add the avocado until the very last moment, otherwise it'll turn brown and mealy and nobody wants that.
  • The pasta has to be completely cold when you add the dressing, or the heat will make everything limp and sad.
03 -
  • Chill all your ingredients before assembling if you're making this ahead and want it to taste fresh and crisp when you serve it.
  • If you're bringing this somewhere, pack the avocado separately and fold it in right before you eat so it doesn't brown or get bruised in transit.
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