Description
Discover the ultimate summer side with this BLT Pasta Salad, featuring tender pasta tossed with smoky smoked beef, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp lettuce, cool cucumber, and a velvety ranch dressing. Perfect for picnics, barbecues, or quick lunches, this easy-to-make dish offers bright flavors, satisfying crunch, and protein‑rich goodness in every bite. Ready in just 25 minutes, it serves six and makes a colorful, crowd‑pleasing addition to any table. Serve with fresh fruit or light soup now ASAP.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta (any shape)
- 4 ounces smoked beef, cooked and chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- ½ cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta until al dente, drain and cool.
- Chop smoked beef and prepare vegetables.
- In a large bowl combine pasta, smoked beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumber.
- Add ranch dressing, season with salt and pepper, and toss.
- Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crunch
- add sliced almonds or toasted pumpkin seeds. Substitute grilled chicken if desired. Use homemade ranch for a fresher taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No‑cook (aside from pasta boiling)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: BLT Pasta Salad, pasta salad recipe, summer side dish, easy pasta salad, smoked beef salad, ranch dressing pasta, picnic side dish, quick pasta salad, fresh vegetable pasta, summer picnic recipe, protein pasta salad