This post is sponsored by Hidden Valley® Simply Ranch. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dinner at the Zoo possible.
This BLT pasta salad recipe is full of veggies, pasta and crispy bacon, all tossed in a cool and creamy dressing. The perfect easy meal or side dish!
Sometimes I am in dire need of a quick and easy dinner with minimal fuss. This BLT pasta salad is the perfect example, it’s made with just 5 ingredients and is ready in 20 minutes. It’s the perfect main course or side dish, and is always the first thing to go at a potluck! The salad is full of pasta, cherry tomatoes, shredded romaine lettuce, bacon and the new Hidden Valley® Simply Ranch Dressing.
My kids love anything that involves ranch dressing, and when you combine the flavors of ranch with the classic BLT ingredients (bacon, lettuce and tomato) and pasta, you’ve got a big winner! I chop my veggies and cook my bacon while the pasta is boiling; then it’s simply combine the ingredients, toss with dressing and serve! You can use pre-cooked bacon and pre-shredded lettuce if you’re looking to save even more time. Simply Ranch comes in three flavor varieties: Classic Ranch, Cucumber Basil and Chili Lime. You can find these products in the dressing aisle at your local Walmart, as well as the rest of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe. I just love that these products are made with no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Simply Ranch is made with real ingredients like buttermilk, garlic and herbs and spices for that classic Hidden Valley taste. I’ve made this salad with both the Classic Ranch and Cucumber Basil flavors, and they’re both fabulous, so take your pick!
I typically use rotini for this recipe, but any short variety of pasta will work – penne or farfalle are two great options. If you don’t have romaine lettuce on hand, iceberg or even baby spinach would be great substitutes. No cherry tomatoes? Substitute seeded and chopped regular sized tomatoes instead. The beauty of this dish is that the ingredients all go together so well that you can’t go wrong, even with a few substitutes.
This BLT pasta salad can be made a few hours in advance. I typically combine the cooked pasta and tomatoes with the dressing, then cover and chill. Right before serving I add my bacon and lettuce so that they stay crisp.
This BLT pasta salad is especially delicious in the summer when tomatoes are ripe and in season. However, I’ve been known to serve it year round, because it’s a classic flavor combination that can’t be beat! Whenever I’m at Walmart stocking up on dinner time essentials, I always grab a bottle of Simply Ranch. We use our Simply Ranch as a dressing, a spread and even as a dip! My kids can’t get enough of it.
Ready to make an easy dinner that’s sure to be a hit with the family? Head on over to Walmart and get a bottle of the new Hidden Valley Simply Ranch today. You can even grab a coupon for 75 cents off a bottle!
BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT pasta salad recipe is full of veggies, pasta and crispy bacon, all tossed in a cool and creamy dressing. The perfect easy meal or side dish!
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini or other short pasta
- 1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 3 cups shredded romaine letuce
- 1 cup Hidden Valley® Simply Ranch Dressing Classic Ranch Flavor
Instructions
Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.
Drain the pasta and run cold water over the pasta until cool.
Place the pasta in a bowl and toss with dressing. Add the bacon, cherry tomatoes and lettuce and stir gently to coat. Serve immediately.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Hidden Valley® Ranch. The opinions and text are all mine.
