{"id":91,"date":"2025-08-14T00:49:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T00:49:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/?p=91"},"modified":"2025-08-14T00:49:34","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T00:49:34","slug":"blt-macaroni-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/14\/blt-macaroni-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"BLT Macaroni Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"

BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

A Cool, Creamy, and Flavor-Packed Pasta Salad Inspired by the Classic Sandwich<\/h3>\n

If you’re looking for the perfect side dish for your next summer barbecue, picnic, or potluck, this BLT Macaroni Salad<\/strong> is about to become your new go-to recipe. It takes everything you love about the classic BLT sandwich \u2014 crispy bacon<\/strong>, juicy tomatoes<\/strong>, and crunchy lettuce<\/strong> \u2014 and mixes it into a cool, creamy, comforting pasta salad that\u2019s perfect for warm weather gatherings.<\/p>\n

This recipe is a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. It\u2019s incredibly easy to make, full of texture and flavor, and can be customized to your taste. Whether you\u2019re serving it as a side dish or as a light lunch on its own, this BLT macaroni salad is fresh, flavorful, and totally satisfying.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Prep Time: 15 minutes<\/h3>\n

Cook Time: 10 minutes
\nChill Time (Optional): 30 minutes
\nServings: 6\u20138<\/p>\n

\u00a0Ingredients<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • 8 oz (about 2 cups) elbow macaroni<\/strong>, uncooked<\/li>\n
  • 6\u20138 slices of bacon<\/strong>, cooked until crispy and crumbled<\/li>\n
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes<\/strong>, halved (or use 2 medium tomatoes, diced)<\/li>\n
  • 1 cup chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • \u00bd cup mayonnaise<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • \u00bc cup sour cream<\/strong> (or plain Greek yogurt for a lighter option)<\/li>\n
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar<\/strong> (or lemon juice)<\/li>\n
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • \u00bd teaspoon garlic powder<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • Salt and black pepper<\/strong>, to taste<\/li>\n
  • Optional:<\/strong> \u00bc cup chopped green onions or red onions, and shredded cheddar cheese for extra flavor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u00a0Instructions<\/h3>\n

    1. Cook the Pasta<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni<\/strong> and cook according to the package directions until just al dente \u2014 typically around 7\u20138 minutes.
    \nOnce cooked, drain and rinse<\/strong> under cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta down quickly. Set aside to dry slightly while you prepare the other ingredients.<\/p>\n

    2. Cook the Bacon<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    While the pasta cooks, fry the bacon<\/strong> in a skillet over medium heat until it\u2019s crispy and golden brown.
    \nTransfer to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease, then crumble or chop it into small bite-sized pieces.<\/p>\n

    Time-Saver Tip:<\/strong> Use pre-cooked bacon or bacon bits if you’re short on time.<\/p>\n

    3. Make the Creamy Dressing<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise<\/strong>, sour cream<\/strong>, apple cider vinegar<\/strong>, Dijon mustard<\/strong>, garlic powder<\/strong>, salt<\/strong>, and black pepper<\/strong>.
    \nThis tangy, creamy dressing ties the salad together and adds that signature BLT richness.<\/p>\n

    4. Assemble the Salad<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Add the cooked pasta<\/strong> to the bowl with the dressing and stir until well coated.
    \nThen gently fold in the chopped lettuce<\/strong>, cherry tomatoes<\/strong>, and crumbled bacon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    If you’re adding any extras like green onions<\/strong> or cheddar cheese<\/strong>, stir them in now.<\/p>\n

    5. Chill (Optional but Recommended)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    For the best flavor, cover the salad and refrigerate for 30 minutes<\/strong> before serving. This allows the flavors to blend and gives the pasta time to soak up the dressing.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Note:<\/strong> Add the lettuce just before serving if you plan to refrigerate for more than a few hours \u2014 this helps keep it crisp and fresh.<\/p>\n

    6. Serve and Enjoy!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Serve cold or at room temperature. Garnish with a bit of extra bacon, tomato, or fresh herbs if you\u2019re feeling fancy. It pairs beautifully with grilled meats, burgers, sandwiches, or as part of a picnic spread.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Storage Tips<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Refrigerator:<\/strong> Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    • Make-Ahead Tip:<\/strong> You can cook the pasta and bacon the day before, then assemble everything just before serving for the freshest texture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u00a0Variations & Add-Ins<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Make it lighter:<\/strong> Use light mayo and Greek yogurt.<\/li>\n
      • Add protein:<\/strong> Toss in grilled chicken or diced turkey for a heartier salad.<\/li>\n
      • Cheesy version:<\/strong> Stir in shredded cheddar or mozzarella.<\/li>\n
      • Extra crunch:<\/strong> Add chopped celery or cucumbers.<\/li>\n
      • Spicy twist:<\/strong> Add a few dashes of hot sauce or chopped pickled jalape\u00f1os.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \u00a0Why You\u2019ll Love This BLT Macaroni Salad<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Simple ingredients, BIG flavor<\/li>\n
        • A fun twist on a classic sandwich<\/li>\n
        • Perfect make-ahead dish for parties and BBQs<\/li>\n
        • Kid-friendly and fully customizable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          This BLT Macaroni Salad<\/strong> is the ultimate fusion of comfort food<\/strong> and fresh summer flavors<\/strong>. Whether you’re bringing it to a cookout, serving it as a side at dinner, or enjoying leftovers for lunch, it’s a dish you’ll find yourself making again and again.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe   A Cool, Creamy, and Flavor-Packed Pasta Salad Inspired by the Classic Sandwich If you’re looking…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":92,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-91","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salad"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91\/revisions\/93"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipes.ukbiddingdirectory.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}