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BLT Caesar Pasta Salad combines our yummiest, well-dressed Caesar salad with the summertime favorite, BLT. Then add some bow-tie pasta, homemade croutons, spicy cheddar cheese, and handfuls of garden basil for a most delicious salad that comes together quickly and with little effort. Enjoy it for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch. Or serve it up at your next summer party—it’s always delicious.
I’m having a major moment with salads right now. All I seem to want to make are big salads with homemade croutons. The homemade croutons are key; I’m obsessed with them and can’t stop making them.
Since sharing my house lemon parmesan salad last week, I’ve been craving nothing but salads topped with crunchy ciabatta croutons. They’re so good.
To be upfront, I’ve definitely made a Caesar pasta salad before. It’s a delicious recipe, and one that so many of you already love, but this one is different. The main difference is the croutons and the addition of bacon (making this a BLT salad, YUMMM).
And in my book, you can never have too many pasta salad recipes, so I’m pretty excited to share this. I love a pasta salad in the summertime. There really isn’t a better dish to make on hot nights when you want something a little more filling than just a salad. Which with my family is all nights.
In fact, I sent a salad up to my parent’s house for them to enjoy for dinner on Monday. My mom asked that I also send a box of pasta. She simply said, “I want to add pasta to the salad”. I didn’t question her, she knew what she was doing.
And then the following day, I made this. It’s nothing crazy out of the ordinary, but you know what? It’s really good and really easy.
So let’s make it!
These are the Details
Step 1: make the croutons
I like to start with the croutons. I’ve decided every salad is made better with crunchy croutons, even a pasta salad. You really need that crunch, CRUNCH!
I love making mine with torn ciabatta, garlic, and flaky sea salt. These croutons are so easy to make. Simply toss and crisp in the oven. Homemade vs store-bought croutons are definitely worth a little extra effort.
And here’s a tip for you! If you cook your bacon on the stovetop, you can use a little bacon fat to make the croutons even more delicious.
Step 2: make the dressing
The Caesar dressing is easy: Mix mayonnaise with olive oil, lemon juice, champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, parmesan, salt, and pepper. For some spice, I like to add a few chili flakes or a jalapeño.
If you don’t love mayo, I make this dressing with Greek yogurt too. It’s a little more ranch-like with the yogurt, but still yummy!
Step 3: the pasta
I almost never use bow ties, but I think they’re best here. They just feel perfect for a pasta salad. The shape is great for getting onto a fork along with those yummy croutons. Delish!
You can, of course, use whatever shortcut pasta you have. They will all work!
Step 4: toss, toss, toss
Toss the hot pasta immediately with the dressing and cubes of sharp, spicy cheddar cheese. The heat from the pasta will melt those cubes of cheese.
Now add the basil, it’s going to smell wonderful, and taste even more DELICIOUS.
Step 5: add in everything else
Once the pasta is tossed with the dressing, mix in the cherry tomatoes, lettuce, and then, of course, lots and lots of crispy bacon, plus homemade croutons. YUM!
You can eat this warm or at room temperature. I love hot food, so I like this best while it’s still a little warm. That said, you can chill the whole salad and bring it to your next BBQ too! Great for both occasions!
Looking for other summer salad recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata
Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad
Lastly, if you make this BLT Caesar Pasta Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
BLT Caesar Pasta Salad
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 562 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Caesar Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 cloves garlic grated
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and black pepper
Pasta Salad
- 2 cups torn ciabatta
- 1 clove garlic, sliced or grated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup cubed spicy cheddar cheese
- 8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves torn
Instructions
- 1. To make the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Toss together the ciabatta, garlic, and a pinch of salt with the olive oil. Bake for 10-12 minutes until toasted.3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain.4. In a large bowl, toss the hot pasta with the dressing and cheese cubes. Mix in the lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and croutons, tossing to combine.
Outstanding recipe! The caesar dressing was delicious and I couldn’t keep my husband away from the sheet pan of croutons not to mention how yummy it was once I pulled it all together – delicious recipe. Thank you – can’t wait to make again.
Hey Col,
Happy Friday! Thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for your comment and making it! Xx
Tastes great. Easy to make and usually have all ingredients on hand. Sharp cheddar works as sub.
Hey Noelle,
Awesome! Thanks so much for trying this salad and your comment! Love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xT
I made this pasta salad at the lake and everyone loved it! It is a keeper.
Hey Lisa,
Happy Sunday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xx
We have had this several times in the last few weeks-it is a new favorite. We have been using frozen tortellini for the pasta to make it a more robust dinner. We have also just used the dressing on salads-it’s a great dressing!
Hey Naomi,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this recipe so often and your comment! Love to hear it is enjoyed! Xx
I just made this last night and it was phenomenal! So tasty and fresh -my whole family enjoyed it-I will definitely make it again -so much flavor
Hey Diana,
Fantastic! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, glad to hear it was enjoyed! x
So delicious! Will definitely make this again!
Hey Kimberly,
Happy Monday!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a bunch for making it! xT
Hi Teighan,
BLTs are a favourite here at our summer cottage so when I saw this recipe I was excited. Going to make it tonight. I had a problem sourcing spicy cheddar. I have both spicy havarti and aged Balderson cheddar. Which would you suggest? Or perhaps a mix?
Many Thanks,
Mike
Hey Mike,
I think a mix of both would be fantastic! I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out! xT
Hi Teighan,
I am planning to make this for a family picnic this weekend. Assume it’s ok to mix everything EXCEPT the lettuce the night before and just add that right before it’s served?
Many thanks,
Laurette
Hi Laurette,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! I hope you love this recipe! Happy 4th! xx
We made this tonight, and it’s so fresh and delicious!!! Can’t wait for the leftovers for lunch tomorrow 🤤
Hey Sam,
Wonderful!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it! Xx
This salad rocked! Warmth, salty, sweet, crunch, filling…thank you!
Made this last night and we really enjoyed it! Since it’s just the two of us, I only added the croutons to our servings and will add them again tonight. Don’t want them to get soggy as they were delicious! I cooked the bacon in the oven and used the grease, as you suggested, to the bread before toasting. Thank you for a wonderful summer salad!
Hey Phyllis,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing what worked well for you, love to hear that it was enjoyed! xT
Made this salad for lunch – it was awesome! Just the right amount of dressing. I’m glad someone asked about the garlic for the dressing/croutons – I was wondering that myself.
One note though, I did 10 minutes at 425 for the croutons, and many came out burnt. Don’t know if my pieces were too small?? When I make this again, I will lower the time and the temp a couple clicks.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Hey Karen,
Thanks so much for trying this pasta salad and sharing your feedback! Sorry to hear about the croutons, I would just keep an eye on them next time! xx
Best salad I’ve ever made
Hi Louise,
Fantastic!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you giving it a try and your comment! x
How much garlic for the croutons? I see the amount for the dressing but there is not a separate amount listed for the croutons.
Hey Amy,
It’s 1 glove of garlic for the croutons:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
How long is the dressing good for in the refrigerator? I would like to make a double batch of dressing to use again during the week.
Hey Ann,
The dressing is good for 2 weeks in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT