Name: Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad
Prep time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 1 lb box of Fusilli Pasta; 1 cup of cherry tomatoes sliced; 1 8 oz block of mild cheddar; 2 corn on the cobs or 1 cup of frozen corn; 1 head of romaine heart; 5 pieces of bacon cooked; ⅓ cup finely diced red onion; ⅔ cup mayo; ⅔ cup greek yogurt; 1 ½ tsp dried dill; ¾ tsp salt; ½ tsp dried parsley; ½ tsp garlic salt; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp onion powder; ¼ tsp pepper

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For me I am always the one at summer get-togethers that is over by the appetizer table when everyone is getting dessert. I know, call me crazy ( my family absolutely thinks I am crazy for this) but the thing is, I am so much more a savory person than sweet. So recipes like a delicious pasta salad is where you can find me this summer! Therefore, I don’t mess around when it comes to my savory dishes, especially pasta salads. They need to be perfect and something for everyone. So this recipe for the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad is no exception.

I have been known to sneak into the fridge and take a bite late at night just to make sure it still tastes good 🙂 It is so easy, packed with all the delicious ingredients including cubes of mild cheddar and a creamy ranch dressing sauce. I mean can you really go wrong with any of that? I think not! Let’s get to putting together the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad shall we?

What is the Inspiration for the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad?

When you say pasta salad, you most certainly think of Summer right? For this recipe I partnered with Midwest Dairy to bring you a key balanced summer appetizer to give us the energy we need, aiding our digestive health and supporting our immune system. We can all use a recipe that delivers that, now that we are out and about more this Summer than last. The protein in the sauce & cheddar cheese cubes keep us full longer and provides us with energy that is much needed in our day. The ranch dressing sauce has a mixture of mayo and yogurt, and yogurt is wonderful for your gut health. Fermented foods like yogurt are known to reduce inflammation and improve your overall digestive health and immune system.

Now as we enjoy this recipe for picnics, get-togethers, dinners or lunches, we need to think of those that made this healthy lunch possible for us. Farmers! Midwest Dairy represents approximately 5,800 dairy farm families to 39 million consumers across a 10-state region, including Missouri. Working together to create products we know we can trust and bring into our homes to give our family the best quality!

Since not all of us can see how a working dairy farm operates, Midwest Dairy and Grants Farm partnered this year to bring an incredible exhibit to Grant’s Farm to develop a better understanding as to where the milk in our food like this recipe comes from! Along with the exhibit Grant’s Farm and Midwest Dairy have put together fun & informative videos like this one. Click here to visit a real working dairy farm in Missouri!

A Must Visit Midwest Dairy Summer Exhibit at Grant’s Farm

We were lucky enough to visit this new exhibit at Grant’s farm. It was so neat for Ainsley to be able to talk to local farmers and see how committed they are to care for the cows & their sustainable practices. The exhibit has 12 dairy calves, learning stations and informational dairy videos that you can choose from! It is perfect for kids and adults alike this summer!

Testing out her dairy knowledge to win prizes!

What Other Delicious Ingredients are in the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 1lb box of Fusilli Pasta
1 cup of cherry tomatoes sliced
8oz block of mild cheddar
2 corn on the cobs or 1 cup of frozen corn
1 head of romaine heart
5 pieces of bacon cooked
⅓ cup finely diced red onion
⅔ cup mayo
⅔ cup greek yogurt
1 ½ tsp dried dill
¾ tsp salt
dried parsley 1/2 tsp
garlic salt ½ tsp
garlic powder ½ tsp
onion powder ½ tsp¼ tsp pepper

Directions:

Cook your box of pasta per box direction, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta is cooking, you can start prepping your other ingredients. Chop your mild cheddar into ¼ inch bite sized cubes, cook your 2 corn on the cobs & cut off the cob or use 1 cup of frozen corn, dice up your romaine heart lettuce, finely dice your red onion and crumble up your 5 pieces of cooked bacon. Place ingredients into a large mixing bowl. ( prep tip: if you are making this the night before DO NOT put the romaine heart lettuce in yet. Wait until the next morning to incorporate it so it does not get soggy. Romaine Heart Lettuce is the best for this recipe because it does not get soggy easily, but you still will want to wait till day of for optimal crunch)
In a medium mixing bowl add mayo, greek yogurt, dill, salt, parley, garlic salt, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Add your cooked pasta to the bowl with the other ingredients and give a toss for it to combine evenly. Then pour your ranch dressing sauce over it all and continue to toss until the sauce is evenly distributed over it all.
If you can give it at least an hour to marinade in the fridge, do it! If not, no worries. Add more salt and pepper to taste if you prefer and enjoy!

Watch the video below to see just how SIMPLE This BLT Pasta Salad is

What other Midwest Dairy Inspired Recipes Should I try?

GRILLED SALMON WITH GRUYERE CREAMED SPINACH

INSTANT POT SIMPLE CREAMY TOMATO HERB PASTA

CHEDDAR CARAMELIZED FLATBREADS

EASY CHEESY DIP

Questions When Making the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad

What if I have a pretty picky family, do I need the tomatoes or lettuce etc. in the recipe?

What I love about this recipe is that you can prepare the main BLT Pasta salad parts that you all agree on and then you can let your family add in the rest of the ingredients that they want or that you need to leave out for other people. I then recommend making a little bit more of the sauce, so when your guests are adding in the other ingredients they can give it all a good toss with the sauce again!

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! Pasta salads always taste even better the next day because it gives it time for the flavors to meld together. However, do not add the Romaine Heart Lettuce until the next day. That way you don’t run the risk of it getting soggy.

How long does the Simple and Delicious BLT Pasta Salad keep?

Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.

Can I use another cheese besides mild cheddar?

You can use whatever block of cheese you prefer! I like using mild cheddar because it cuts through the pasta, which sometimes if the cheese is too mild, it blends in with the pasta and you don’t get that full cheese taste that you will want in this recipe.

Would turkey bacon work in this recipe?

Yes! I actually made turkey bacon for my mom to add to this recipe. She does not eat regular bacon, so when we make this recipe I cook a few pieces for her to crumble on top.

Can I use fresh dill in this recipe instead of dried?

Yes! Yay for fresh herbs in the summer. Dried dill is stronger than fresh so add in the amount the recipe says and then alter to how much more you’d want to add in to taste.

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4.81 from 21 votes