With all the flavors of a BLT but with a healthier spin, this BLT pasta salad is bright, satisfying, flavorful, and mayo-free (and you won’t miss it!).
The Best BLT Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is bursting with flavor. It can be served as both a side dish or a light main course, making it perfect for picnics, BBQs, or even as a refreshing lunch option. The best part? It’s easy to make with simple ingredients and prep, allowing you to whip it up in no time. Plus, it’s customizable, so you can add your own twist by incorporating additional ingredients like avocado, Juicy Baked Chicken, Crispy Roasted Chickpeas, or crumbled feta cheese.
Ingredients
- Pasta – Whole Wheat pasta is the base of the salad and holds everything together. I love whole wheat pasta, but feel free to use any short pasta of choice.
- Turkey – Roasted deli or carved turkey, thinly sliced or shredded, adds a savory and protein-rich element to the salad.
- Turkey Bacon – Crispy and flavorful turkey bacon adds smokiness and is healthier than traditional bacon.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Small and sweet tomatoes that provide a burst of freshness, adding vibrant color and a juicy bite to the salad.
- Parmesan – Cheese please! A handful of parmesan adds a nutty, saltiness.
- Romaine – Romaine lettuce adds a satisfying crunch!
- Lemon – Lemon adds brightness to the pasta salad and is a healthier option than traditional mayo.
- Basil (optional) – I love basil for a pop of aromatic freshness!
- Anchovy paste (optional) – The anchovies add a salty and briny element to the pasta salad that your tastebuds will love!
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
Full instructions in the recipe card; this is just an outline!
- Cook.
Boil your pasta to al dente and cook your turkey bacon.
- Rinse.
Drain and rinse cooked pasta in a strainer under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Combine.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, crumbled turkey bacon, sliced turkey, cherry tomatoes, and shredded lettuce.
- Add.
Squeeze the juice of a whole lemon, anchovy paste (optional), and olive oil to the bowl.
- Toss.
Toss it all together and add more olive oil if dry.
- Serve.
Serve room temp or slightly chilled. Garnish with basil.
Variations & Additions for BLT Pasta Salad
- Grilled Corn: Adding Grilled Corn screams summer and adds a natural sweetness with a smoky undertone to the pasta salad.
- Oven Roasted Tomatoes: If you’d like to substitute your tomatoes for Oven Roasted Tomatoes, it will add another level of depth and intensified sweetness to the pasta salad.
- Ranch Dressing: Instead of lemon juice, substitute ranch dressing to complement the flavors turkey bacon and romaine.
- Protein: For a heartier version, add seafood like Poached Salmon, shrimp, or sliced avocado to make it a whole meal.
- Mayo: Instead of olive oil
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Prepare the salad as instructed and store for up to three days. Just before serving, refresh the pasta salad with an extra squeeze of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil if needed.
Yes, feel free to use your favorite pasta shape or what you have on hand. Short pasta shapes work best in this recipe as they capture the dressing and ingredients perfectly.
Yes, this is highly recommended. Cold water stops the pasta from cooking, creates a pasta salad and not a hot pasta dish, and removes extra starch from the pasta to keep the noodles from sticking together.
This pasta salad lasts about three days, covered in the refrigerator. Please note that the lettuce will start to wilt as time passes.
Certainly! Simply omit the turkey bacon and carved turkey or substitute with a meat alternative. Avocado is also a great option to add.
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Ingredients
- ½ pound pasta of choice I like whole wheat penne
- ½ pound thick sliced carved turkey cut into strips (or sub turkey chunks)
- ½ pound turkey bacon diced*
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or sub regular parmesan
- 5 ounces romaine lettuce chopped into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large lemon
- black pepper
- fresh basil to garnish (optional)
- ½ tbsp anchovy paste (optional)
Instructions
- For turkey bacon: dice bacon into small bits. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a nonstick pan and sauté bacon over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes until bacon is extra crispy. Add more olive oil if bacon starts to stick to bottom of pan. Remove bacon from pan and set aside.
- Cook pasta to al dente. Drain and rinse pasta in colander under cool water to stop cooking process and remove excess starch.
- To assemble: Add rinsed pasta to a big salad bowl. Add in crispy turkey bacon, turkey strips, tomatoes, romaine, juice of a large lemon, ¼ cup olive oil, anchovy paste, parmigiano, and black pepper.
- Toss. Add more olive oil if dry.
- Serve room temperature or slightly chilled. Garnish with basil.
- To store: Saves well in the fridge for 3 days, however romaine will wilt! I recommend leaving out romaine if you plan to save in the fridge for later! Remove from fridge 30 minutes before serving, adding in fresh romaine and olive oil.
Absolutely delicious! Such a great idea to make a BLT in pasta salad form. Thank you!
Author
Hi Johnny,
Awesome news. Thanks for letting me know!
Grace