By far, my favorite summertime (or any time) side dish is pasta salad. I love pasta, and as far as salads go, if it's got pasta in it, it works for me! This recipe has a number of interesting ingredients in it that come together perfectly.

A word of advice before you get started. My personal preference is to not have a goopy, drippy salad, that's slathered in dressing to overpower the rest of the flavors. With that said, this recipe might be a little bit "drier" than you like, or are used to. This can easily be fixed with adding a little more ranch dressing until you have the perfect consistency.

Let's Prep:

Is there any better side dish than Pasta Salad ?

This is a simple recipe that that doesn't require a whole lot of prep work. I really like this recipe because it's easy, yet has tons of flavor that stands up well to most any main dish you can throw at it. Prepping this dish includes cooking your pasta, and letting it cool slightly. Chopping your veggies, getting your spices ready and cooking bacon. These are all things that can be done simultaneously for efficiency and making quick and easy work of this dish.

This dish comes together really well and can be tailored to your specific tastes and preferences.

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Let's Cook:

As mentioned above, cooking and prepping this dish is really a blurred line as we're cooking a couple of things separately and putting them together. Mainly the pasta and the bacon. The we combine with the others, mix and incorporate, chill and serve. It really doesn't get much easier than this.

Let's Eat:

After all of the ingredients have been cooked, prepped and assembled. Make sure you're doing plenty of mixing and tasting to ensure that all of the flavors match what you like. If you want a little more salt, add some. More ranch? Add some. After that it's time for the fridge.

Best advice I can give is to make this the day or night before you'll be serving it and seal up well and put in the fridge overnight. This needs to be COLD when serving for the best flavor.

Consider the endless possibilities for customization with this recipe. While the classic combination of bacon, lettuce, and tomato forms the heart of this dish, don't hesitate to explore variations that suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.

For a lighter option, swap the bacon for grilled chicken or crispy tofu for a protein-packed twist. Experiment with different types of pasta, such as penne or fusilli, to add interesting textures to the salad. Incorporate additional vegetables like roasted red peppers, cucumber, or grilled corn for added depth and crunch.

If you're feeling adventurous, introduce unexpected flavors by incorporating ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, olives, or artichoke hearts. For a spicy kick, sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes or drizzle with a touch of sriracha mayo.

The dressing can also be personalized to your liking. Try a balsamic vinaigrette or just use the ranch dressing for a tangy alternative.

Whether served as a side dish at a summer cookout or enjoyed as a satisfying lunch option, this versatile BLT pasta salad is sure to impress. Get creative in the kitchen and make it your own, and don't forget to share your delicious creations with friends and family. Happy cooking!

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