Damn Good BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Jalapeño Cashew Dressing
Damn good BLT pasta salad made with fresh corn, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, creamy avocado and crispy bacon. This easy, healthy BLT pasta salad recipe is tossed in an incredible, creamy jalapeño cashew dressing for an unbelievably delicious twist on your favorite sandwich. Perfect for potlucks, BBQ's or enjoying for a healthy lunch or dinner!
Servings 6 servings
Calories 451kcal
Ingredients
- 1 batch of jalapeno cashew cream dressing
- For the pasta salad:
- 12 ounces bacon
- 10 ounces pasta of choice (I suggest bowties or large shells, gluten free if desired)
- 1 ½ cups corn, grilled, raw or sauteed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved (I love using heirloom cherry tomatoes for color variety)
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 2-4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 slightly ripe but still firm avocado, diced
Instructions
- While the cashews are soaking for your dressing, I suggest chopping all your veggies and having them ready to go. You can also cook your bacon: add bacon to a large skillet or pan and place over medium heat, cook bacon on both sides until crispy and golden brown. If the pan starts to smoke at any point, simply lower the heat. I always cook my bacon on medium low heat. Once bacon is done, blot with a paper towel to absorb excess grease, then chop into bite sized pieces and set aside.
- Next cook your pasta until al dente, drain and then place in a large bowl. Add all of the jalapeno cashew dressing, then stir together to combine. Next add the chopped bacon, corn (I prefer grilled or sauteed), halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, romaine lettuce and avocado. Gently toss again, then taste and adjust seasonings as necessary, adding more salt and pepper if you’d like. Serves 6, or 4 as a larger meal. Garnish with extra corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado and bacon.
Notes
This BLT pasta salad will stay fresh covered in the fridge for about 3-4 days. It’s delicious made ahead of time, too, so feel free to prep it the night before a picnic or bbq, or prep it for your weekday lunches. I would recommend adding the avocado and romaine on when you're ready to serve so that they stay fresh.
See the full post for delicious, easy ways to customize!
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving (based on 6) | Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 54.2g | Protein: 18.6g | Fat: 19.5g | Saturated Fat: 3.9g | Fiber: 7.4g | Sugar: 7.3g