BLT Chicken Pasta Salad
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If you’re anything like me, every summer seems to come with at least one request to bring a pasta salad. Most BLT pasta salads are mostly pasta. I wanted one that was loaded with chicken instead.
This BLT Chicken Pasta Salad is packed with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, fresh tomatoes, and crunchy vegetables, making it hearty enough to serve as lunch or a light dinner while still fitting right in at every BBQ, potluck, and family gathering.
The creamy homemade dressing brings everything together with just the right balance of savory, tangy, and a touch of sweetness. It’s easy to make ahead, travels well, and it’s the kind of recipe people will ask you to bring again next time.
I tested several versions of this BLT Chicken Pasta Salad to get the balance just right. I wanted it to be loaded with chicken without losing everything people love about a great pasta salad. After a few rounds of testing and plenty of feedback from my taste testers, this version was the clear favorite. It’s creamy, hearty, and just as perfect for meal prep as it is for your next cookout.
Need another easy summer pasta salad? My Caesar Pasta Salad is another family favorite that’s perfect for backyard dinners and warm-weather gatherings.
Why You’ll Love This BLT Chicken Pasta Salad
- Loaded with Chicken: Most BLT pasta salads are heavy on the noodles. This one is packed with juicy chicken, making it hearty enough to enjoy as lunch, a light dinner, or your favorite cookout side.
- Perfect for Summer Gatherings: Whether you’re headed to a BBQ, picnic, potluck, or family reunion, this salad always fits the menu.
- Creamy Homemade Dressing: Ranch seasoning, Dijon mustard, and a touch of sweetness give every bite plenty of flavor.
- Easy to Make Ahead: It tastes even better after a few hours in the refrigerator.
- Colorful and Crunchy: Crispy bacon, tomatoes, celery, bell pepper, and green onions add fresh flavor and texture.
Jill’s Top Tips
- Cook the pasta just past al dente since it firms up as it chills.
- Pat the tomatoes dry if they’re especially juicy.
- Freshly shred the cheddar cheese for the creamiest texture.
- Save a little bacon, cheese, tomatoes, and green onions for garnish.
- Chill for at least one hour before serving so the flavors have time to blend.
- This recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, but it’s just as easy to cut in half if you’re making lunches for the week or cooking for a smaller household.
Free 3 Ways To Cook Chicken PDF
Ingredients
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Recipe Notes
- Chicken – Cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken both work well. Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut when you’re short on time.
- Elbow Macaroni – Classic elbow macaroni holds the creamy dressing beautifully while letting the chicken remain the star.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Freshly shredded cheddar melts into the dressing much better than pre-shredded cheese.
- Ranch Seasoning – A little ranch seasoning adds extra flavor without overpowering the bacon and chicken.
- Red Bell Pepper – Adds sweetness, crunch, and beautiful color.
- Green Onions or Chives – I used chives because my garden was full when I first created the recipe, but I use green onions the rest of the year.
- Fresh Basil – Sprinkle fresh basil over the finished salad just before serving for a burst of fresh summer flavor.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make BLT Pasta Salad
Step 1: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, celery seed, and black pepper until smooth.
Step 2: Cook and cool the elbow macaroni. Add it to a large bowl with the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, celery, red bell pepper, and green onions.
Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish with extra bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, green onions or chives, and fresh basil, if desired.
Round out your summer meal with my Honey Lime Berry Fruit Salad. It’s fresh, colorful, and one of my favorite recipes to serve alongside grilled foods.
Variations
- Use rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut.
- Swap the cheddar for Pepper Jack cheese for a little heat.
- Substitute fresh chives for the green onions.
- Add diced avocado just before serving.
- Stir in chopped romaine right before serving if you plan to eat the salad immediately.
What to Serve with BLT Chicken Pasta Salad
This hearty pasta salad pairs perfectly with grilled burgers, BBQ chicken, baby back ribs, hot dogs, baked beans, fresh fruit, or watermelon. It’s also satisfying enough to enjoy on its own for lunch or an easy summer dinner.
Looking for more recipes to bring to your next gathering? Browse my collection of Summer Salad Recipes for more easy dishes perfect for cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners.
Did you make the recipe? Let us know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook! Thanks so much!
BLT Chicken Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 ounces elbow macaroni
- 8 slices bacon cooked crisp and chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 3 cups cooked chicken diced (about 3 medium chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- Fresh basil ribbons for garnish (optional)
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon celery seed
Instructions
- Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package directions until just past al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.6 ounces elbow macaroni
- While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and chop into bite-sized pieces.8 slices bacon
- Slice the grape tomatoes in half. If desired, lightly salt the tomatoes and let them rest for 10 minutes before patting dry. This helps keep excess moisture out of the salad.1 cup grape tomatoes
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled macaroni, chicken, bacon, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, celery, red bell pepper, and green onions.3 cups cooked chicken, 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup diced celery, ½ cup diced red bell pepper, ¼ cup sliced green onions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, and celery seed until smooth.1 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon celery seed
- Pour the dressing over the salad and gently fold until everything is evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Garnish with extra bacon, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, green onions (or fresh chives), and fresh basil just before serving, if desired.Fresh basil ribbons
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds delicious!! Definitely trying!