BLT pasta salad with avocado dressing

So. I feel like I've been on a bit of a bacon kick lately... because after not posting anything with bacon for like legit 2 years, this is the third recipe in like a two-week span that has it. It hasn't even been intentional! I shared these mind-blowing California Club Sandwiches {did I mention the croissant? the croissant factor will change your sandwich-loving life}, and then I posted this Shrimp Corn Chowder with bacon shortly after, and then here we are today. I made you a BLT in pasta salad form with avocado chunks and avocado dressing. Oh, yes. This will become your new summertime staple.

This pasta salad is seriously easy but packs so much flavor and so much texture! Love love love. We have chewy noodles {make sure you cook those suckers to al dente and not a second more or you'll ruin everything. jk. kinda.}, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado chunks, and crisp bites of lettuce. I can't believe I never thought about bulking pasta salad up with actual salad before because it's sheer genius! I had seen the idea on a few different recipes on ye olde Pinterest, and I couldn't get the idea out of my mind until I did it for myself. I give this concept an A+.

I have loved BLT sandwiches for what feels like forever, and once I discovered the addition of avocado, I was totally done for. And honestly, let's not even get started on BLT's with fried eggs on top. Swoon. At this point, my BLT's are really just glorified, trashed up avocado toasts, which if you follow me on Snapchat, you would know. I have a bit of an avocado toast addition... oooops. Sorry not sorry, ya know? This BLT pasta salad combines all the elements of the traditional sandwich, melded together with a creamy, dreamy, 30-second avocado dressing. Y'all, it's SO GOOD. Like, I can't even. I'm just gonna put the avocado dressing in all the things from now on.

Looking for more pasta? You can check out my Italian Bolognese Sauce, Creamy Tomato Sauce, Pasta and Meatballs, and my Avocado Pesto Pasta. Happy cooking! 🙂

BLT pasta salad with avocado dressing

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Author: Valentina | The Baking Fairy

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• *for the dressing*
• 1 avocado
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 garlic clove
• juice of ½ lemon {2-3 tbsp}
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• *for the salad*
• 1 box {1 lb} farfalle pasta
• 2 avocados, diced
• 4-5 small tomatoes, diced {about 2 cups}
• 2-3 cups chopped butter lettuce or romaine lettuce
• 1 lb sliced bacon, cut into small pieces

Instructions

1. First, make the dressing. Combine all the dressing ingredients in a food processor, and blend until smooth and creamy. You can add a little more milk to make it thinner if you wish.
2. Cook the pasta according to package directions, then drain well and pour into a large bowl. Toss with the dressing.
3. Cook the bacon to desired crispiness, drain on a paper towel, and add to the pasta. Mix in the lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Add more salt and pepper to taste if needed, and enjoy!
4. *NOTE* If making the pasta salad ahead of time or saving leftovers, mix in the lettuce right before serving or it will wilt and become soggy.

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