BLT Pasta Salad

Nothing quite says summer to me like a good potluck or cookout with friends.

From tasty pulled pork sandwiches to salad made with veggies straight from the garden, the familiar flavors that signal the sun is here to stay always put me in a good mood.

If you’ve followed along at all on the blog, you’ve probably noticed that salads and pastas are staples at our house. So it's pretty much a no brainer that that's exactly what I bring to BBQs with friends. 

A few summers ago on a camping trip I tried this recipe out on my husband and in-laws, and it was met with good reviews. Since then, it’s become one of our favorite, easy-to-make dishes. And, while we use it as a side dish for parties, we usually make it as a main dish for a quick and tasty summer dinner.

BLT Pasta Salad

Adapted from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:

1 lb. bow tie pasta

4-6 cups torn Romaine

1 lb. cherry tomatoes, cut in half

8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

½ c. reduced-fat mayonnaise

¼ c. water

2 tbsp. barbecue sauce

2 tsp. white vinegar

¼ tsp. pepper

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a large serving bowl, combine the pasta, Romaine, tomatoes and bacon. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, water, barbecue sauce, vinegar and pepper. Pour over pasta mixture; toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately.