Avocado-lovers, this is for you! This easy BLAT Pasta Salad not only contains chunks of avocado, but it also features a creamy avocado ranch dressing. If that’s not enough, a few extra avocado slices make a beautiful garnish! After the pasta and bacon are cooked, this salad comes together quickly.
The dressing is made in the blender to ensure a smooth consistency and can be made in advance to save time. This would be a great dish to prepare for your next barbecue, but it’s also substantial enough to serve on its own as a light meal, or with your favourite protein to create a complete family dinner.
Can you make BLAT Pasta Salad ahead of time?
BLAT Pasta Salad is a fantastic recipe to meal prep and make ahead of time. The avocado ranch dressing can keep up to 3 days in advance. Store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Combine it with the remaining ingredients just before serving.
PrintBLAT Pasta Salad
Easy and delicious BLAT Pasta Salad loaded with crispy bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato, pasta and an outrageously good avocado ranch dressing. This is an amazing salad to bring along to your next gathering or is substantial enough to stand as a meal on its own!
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
Avocado Ranch Dressing
- 1 avocado
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley
- ¼ cup (10 g) fresh dill
- 1 tbsp fresh chives
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp whole egg mayonnaise
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Salad
- 200 g (7 oz) bacon rashers
- 500 g pasta, cooked and drained
- 1 avocado, cut into chunks, plus extra slices for garnish
- 2 cups (60 g) rocket/arugula or spinach leaves
- 1 cup (150 g) grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red onion, finely diced
- Dill sprigs, to garnish
Instructions
- Add all of the avocado ranch dressing ingredients to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
- Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan).
- Line a baking sheet with baking paper and arrange the bacon rashers so that they are flat and not overlapping. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and golden. Allow to cool (the bacon will harden as it cools).
- Combine the bacon, pasta, avocado, rocket or spinach leaves, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl. Drizzle with the avocado ranch dressing and toss to combine.
- Garnish with the extra avocado slices and dill sprigs and serve immediately.
Notes
MAKE AHEAD
Prepare the Avocado Ranch Dressing up to 3 days in advance and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Combine with remaining ingredients just before serving.
LEFTOVERS
Store leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: salad, pasta salad
- Method: combine
- Cuisine: Italian
Janette says:
This homemade dressing is very fresh tasting with the herbs. It was super easy make with an immersion blender. I love a salad with ‘items to chase’ in the bowl and this salad doesn’t disappoint!