Description
Elevate your pasta salad game with this delightful BLT Tortellini Pasta Salad featuring crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomatoes. Tossed in a creamy peppercorn dressing, it’s a flavorful dish perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
- Cheese-filled tortellini
- Beef bacon
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce
- Cherry or grape tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Cracked peppercorns
- Garlic powder
- Lemon juice
- Chopped parsley or basil
Instructions
- Cook the Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Cook the Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the beef bacon until crisp. Remove from the skillet and let it drain on paper towels. Once cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta and bacon are cooling, chop the lettuce and halve the cherry tomatoes. Place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, cracked peppercorns, garlic powder, and lemon juice. Whisk until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste, adding salt or more pepper as desired.
- Assemble the Salad: In the mixing bowl with the lettuce and tomatoes, add the cooked tortellini and chopped beef bacon. Drizzle the creamy peppercorn dressing over the top and toss gently to combine, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Garnish: If using, sprinkle freshly chopped herbs over the salad for an added pop of color and flavor.
- Chill and Serve: For the best flavor, let the salad sit in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
Keywords: Feel free to customize your ingredients by adding avocado, cucumber, or crumbled blue cheese. You can also cook the tortellini a day in advance and store it with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.