BLT Caesar Pasta Salad. – Half Baked Harvest

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:

Caprese Caesar Pasta Salad

Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad

Pesto Chicken Caesar Salad with Tomatoes and Burrata

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad

Melon Basil Burrata 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!