
This pasta salad is full of the bacon, lettuce and tomato flavors that are part of that classic sandwich combination but it also has some extras to take it to the next level. Serve it at your next BBQ, potluck or picnic and enjoy the rave reviews!
Happy Sunday! As normal, we have been having a fun weekend full of running around outside and playing at the park.
I really should use the weekend cleaning up the house and getting things done, but there was a little guy who wanted to go visit the rolly slide, so we did that instead! With Father's Day coming up, I wanted to share something for my dad.
You would think that would be an easy theme to pick a recipe. Just imagine your dad's favorite recipe and make it.
The problem is my dad likes everything. He really isn't picky at all and seems to enjoy most anything you could put in front of him.

So I thought long and hard. I was tempted to do something orange creamsicle related, but I just did an orange and vanilla no-bake cheesecake not too long ago.
I thought about homemade chocolate covered cherries, but those usually take a couple of weeks and heavens knows I'm not that far ahead of the game right now! (Though I do have a chocolate covered cherry cookie recipe that is delicious!) I have been wanting to post more savory recipes, so I tried to get my wheels turning that direction.
My dad, like most I think, loves to grill and loves all of the sides you think of when you think of BBQs and picnics. In fact he loves pasta salad so much the requests it from my mom sometimes.
I dropped by to pick something up once and saw her making pasta salad... for one. She doesn't eat it and he wanted it so she made him a little bowl of pasta salad.
It was kind of funny to see it! Now, my husband has a summer tradition of BLTs. And since he is a dad too, I decided to combine the two to make the ultimate dad's recipe in honor of them both.

But here's the thing. I love a good BLT, don't get me wrong. But you know what I love even more?
A BLT with an egg and some avocado. YUM! So I took all of the delicious parts of my turned up BLT and stirred them in some pasta with a simple dressing that lets all of the flavor of the sandwich fillings shine.
Oh heavens! I actually used spinach here instead of lettuce, mostly because I had a bunch that needed picked from the garden. So maybe I should have called this BEAST mode pasta salad?
Bacon
Eggs
Avocado
Spinach
Tomato
Too much?
Probably. But whatever. I live dangerously ;-)

Silly names or not. Spinach or lettuce. No matter what, you owe it to yourself to give this a try. It would be perfect alongside burgers, brats, fried chicken and would travel nicely in your pick-i-nick basket as well.
So now I'm dying to know. What are some of your dad's favorite things to eat?
Yield: 12 servings

The Ultimate BLT Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is full of the bacon, lettuce and tomato flavors that are part of that classic sandwich combination but it also has some extras to take it to the next level. Serve it at your next BBQ, potluck or picnic and enjoy the rave reviews!
Prep time: 15 MCook time: Total time: 15 M
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces pasta, cooked, drained and cooled
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 9 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 pound spinach, roughly chopped (or your favorite lettuce)
- 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- 2 avocados, cubed
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic powder, salt, pepper and vinegar.
- Toss in pasta, baco, cherry tomatoes, spinach and hard boiled eggs. Stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Stir in avocados when ready to serve.The avocados actually hold up pretty well in the leftovers. So if you need to stir them in before you are ready to serve, they should be fine. I just like to wait until the last minute if I can and hold off the oxidation for as long as I can!
Calories
326.41
326.41
Fat (grams)
24.11
24.11
Sat. Fat (grams)
6.19
6.19
Carbs (grams)
15.97
15.97
Fiber (grams)
3.60
3.60
Net carbs
12.37
12.37
Sugar (grams)
1.79
1.79
Protein (grams)
12.22
12.22
Sodium (milligrams)
519.38
519.38
Cholesterol (grams)
93.21
93.21
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2020

It's a great idea: bacon, lettuce and tomato in a pasta salad. Looks delicious. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI adore BLT's so why not put them with another love - pasta salad. I just love everything about this!
ReplyDeleteThank you! The two are a match made in heaven!
DeleteWe eat a ton of BLTs in the summer---so now I'm going to add your BLT salad to the rotation! So yummy!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Aren't BLTs a perfect summer food?
DeleteI admit I'm not much of a pasta salad fan but I love the additions you've put in.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I actually was playing around with using a different starch, but pasta just seemed to be the way to go!
DeleteMy middle son begs for BLTs all the time - and we love them. This is a great idea for a twist on the traditional BLT!
ReplyDeleteAren't BLTs the best? We love them for quick and easy summer dinners and this pasta salad is a great way to get those flavors!
DeleteOh my gosh, I had a hard time picking too because my dad will eat anything and my mom made my dish for him too. How funny! Anyway, I adore pasta salad and blt's so this has to be heaven to me. And the fact that you are using avocados makes it all the more delicious. Can't wait to make this!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a lot easier to pick something with a picky dad, wouldn't it! But as it is my dad is a lot of fun to cook for because he'll try anything. He will tell me if it isn't his favorite, but he'll also eat it anyway!
DeleteI made something similar but yes to the spinach, I like it better anyway!! And I didn't even think to add the avocado! Smart lady you are!!!! I can see this being a side rotation all summer long!!
ReplyDeleteI prefer the spinach also! I love spinach in salads and it doesn't hurt that we have a spinach patch right outside the back door. I'll miss it as it is starting to bolt. We have been on an avocado kick. Jax loves them, so we always have them on hand now and I find myself putting them in everything!
DeleteBeast mode pasta salad...Too funny! This salad sounds amazing, especially with your addition of avocado and egg. I can hardly wait to try it. Maybe with your chocolate cherry cookie for dessert!
ReplyDeleteEverything is better with avocado and egg, or darn near everything anyway! Thank you!
DeletePasta salad is such a classic for summer! Yours looks tasty!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a summer staple. Thanks!
DeleteWish I had this growing up!
ReplyDeleteYou can still love it now, it's never to late! ;-)
DeleteYum! This salad sounds delicious! Like a pimped-out macaroni salad! I will be trying this one for sure!
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a great week Carlee! :-)
Thanks, Jessica! It has all of our favorite things in there, so it had to be good ;-)
DeleteMmmmm, this looks and sounds so good! I love pasta salad and I'll be trying this. Pinned!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think summer and pasta salad are perfect together!
DeletePasta salad is my go-to side dish for summer BBQ's. I am going to have to try this one!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it perfect for BBQs? I hoe you love it!
DeleteYUM! I so pinned this!! :)
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for Recipes and Crafts: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks!
DeleteHi Carlee, this pasta salad looks and sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this at Cooking and Crafting with J&J!
Enjoy the week.
Julie
Thanks, Julie!
DeleteWhat a perfect summer salad! I just learned we have a family reunion this summer, and this salad would be perfect!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! I haven't been to a family reunion in forever! This would be perfect, thanks!
DeleteThis is like the ultimate pasta salad for sure! I caught that pick-i-nick basket, lol!
ReplyDeleteMollie
It's hard to think about a picnic basket and not say it pick-i-nick! I just can't help it! Thanks, Mollie!
DeleteYour BLT Pasta Salad will be great for the weekend! Hope you have a very special Fathers Day Weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
ReplyDeleteCome Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you so much, Miz Helen!
DeleteHi Carlee, I was looking for inspiration as to what to serve later on as a salad, I know I don't have avo, but if I have everything else I'll be giving this a go. I am trying really hard to stick to my blogging schedule, but the list of recipes at the end of your post really isn't helping! There is some seriously tasty sounding food there!
ReplyDeletexx
I hope you love it! Maybe it will be just the fuel you need to fire off that next post!
DeleteI love a BLT, it's a staple here when the tomatoes come in fresh from the garden! YUM! But this sounds really interesting. I love all the ingredients, but have never had them all together! Winner, winner picnic dinner!
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to give it a try! I am sure there are some good gluten free pastas out there, right? There is nothing better than a BLT with a tomato still warm from just being picked!
DeleteI'm drooling.....
ReplyDeleteHa! Good thing it is easy to make!
DeleteYum, yum. Nothing says summer like a BLT, what a great twist!
ReplyDeleteThank you, it definitely made for a delicious pasta salad!
DeleteThis sounds delicious. I'll be pinning this for later! My family loves pasta salads in the summer and I bet I make one weekly. Stopping by from the Country Fair Blog Party.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val! I love pasta salads, but my husband doesn't so I am always looking forward to the next BBQ so I can make one!
DeleteCarlee - Your Ultimate BLT Pasta Salad got a Blue Ribbon for last month's Country Fair Blog Party! http://www.cornbeanspigskids.com/2016/08/country-fair-blog-party-august-2016.html
DeleteThanks for linking up and I can't wait to see what you add to this month's Blog Hop!
Thank you so much!
DeleteThis is one of my favorite recipes of yours and I make it on probably a monthly basis in the summer. A perfect addition to the #Celebrate365 Summer Dinner Ideas Blog Party!
DeleteThank you so much, Val!!
DeleteCongratulations on your virtual blue ribbon from the Country Fair Blog Party! That's a fun one.
ReplyDeleteYes it is, thanks!
DeleteYou do live dangerously, don't you!?! I love your BLT in salad form. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm always finding myself on the edge! ;-)
DeleteHi there, just wanted to say, I liked this article.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny. Keep on posting!
Thank you!
DeleteThis will be a perfect side for summer entertaining whether you're serving hot dogs and hamburgers or BBQ ribs and chicken!
ReplyDeleteIt really would be, thanks!
DeleteThis salad looks so good. I love pasta salad and the blt is just a plus!
ReplyDeleteThe two combined is great!
Delete