Chicken BLT Pasta Salad

Ingredient Photo

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Chicken: I use thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they cook super fast. But feel free to use pre-cooked chicken or grab a store-bought rotisserie chicken to make this even easier (I’m all for that shortcut!).
• Pasta: Any short-cut pasta works great. I used penne this time, but usually just go with whatever I have on hand—no need to overthink it.
• Bacon: To keep things simple, I use pre-cooked bacon and crisp it up in a skillet. Leftover bacon or even the chopped, cooked bacon on the salad dressing aisle will do just fine. No judgment here!
• Lettuce: Romaine is my go-to for the perfect crunch, but iceberg works too if that’s what you’ve got. I use the bag that's washed, chopped and ready. 
• Tomatoes: We love halved grape or cherry tomatoes, but any kind of tomato will work. If using larger ones, you might want to scoop out the watery seed part to keep the salad from getting soggy.
• Dressing: I use my favorite store-bought ranch dressing, but honestly, any kind will work. You can even switch up the flavor—Caesar, honey mustard, or whatever you’re into. No hard and fast rules here!
• Milk: A splash of milk thins out the dressing so you don’t have to use the whole bottle to coat the salad. Don’t worry—it’s still just as tasty!
• Seasonings: I keep it simple with salt and black pepper for the chicken since the ranch brings so much flavor. Want to kick it up? Add a sprinkle of garlic powder or onion powder and go for it.

Optional Add-Ins

• Chopped onion makes a great addition, or you can garnish with green onions for a little extra flavor.
• Grated or chunked cheese is another tasty option—I just don’t add it to mine since it’s not on a traditional BLT sandwich.
• Diced avocado would be delicious, but I recommend adding it to each serving since it browns so quickly.

Step-By-Step Instructions (with photos)

This does not include a photo of the pasta cooking. See recipe card below for complete directions with amounts.

Step 1: Cook the seasoned chicken in a nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat, about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Step 2: Crisp up the bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat for a couple of minutes per side.

Step 3: Mix the ranch dressing and milk together. 

Step 4: Add everything to a large bowl and toss to combine. rees

How to Make This BLT Pasta Salad Healthier

Want to lighten things up a bit? Here are a few easy swaps:

• Use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon to cut back on fat.
• Swap in a healthier pasta like chickpea pasta, whole wheat, or a veggie-based option.
• Go for a lighter dressing—try reduced-fat or low-calorie ranch, or make your own using Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream as the base.

These simple changes keep all the flavor while giving the dish a nutritious boost!

Frequently Asked Questions