BLT Pasta Salad Avocado (Print Version)

Fresh pasta salad with crisp bacon, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, and tangy dressing for a wholesome dish.

# What You’ll 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 1/2 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 Garnish

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives

# How-To:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely. 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 to prevent browning.
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.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort food but feels light enough to eat on a warm day without that heavy, stuffed feeling.
  • Bacon and avocado together are basically a flavor hack that makes everything taste intentional and restaurant-quality.
  • You can throw it together in under 40 minutes, which means it's perfect for unexpected dinner guests or meal prep that doesn't feel like a chore.
02 -
  • Add the avocado at the absolute last second, or it will brown and turn into something that looks sad and tastes like an afterthought.
  • Chill your pasta after cooking it, because warm pasta makes the dressing separate and the whole thing feels mushy instead of crisp and intentional.
03 -
  • Make the dressing earlier in the day so the flavors have time to get to know each other, but don't add it to the pasta until right before serving or you'll end up with a soggy, broken-down mess.
  • Buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it if you want to turn this into something heartier without doing much extra work—that's the kind of hack that feels smart at the time and tastes even better on the plate.
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