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posted by Amy Johnsonon June 23, 2021 (updated Dec 17, 2021) 80 comments »
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Randy is here again today to talk about one of his new favoritedishes, thisBLT Macaroni Salad Recipe that I regularly make for picnics and potlucks. There are a fewmacaroni salad recipes we like, but when bacon, baby spinach, and tomatoes get together with pasta, something special happens. I’ll let Randy tell you more about it. Take it away, Randy!
When I think of macaroni salad, I think of eating outdoors. I normally enjoy macaroni salad at picnics or tailgate parties, or church luncheons. It’s easy to make a lot of it at one time, it goes with many different main dishes, it travels well, and it’s so familiar that even picky eaters will scarf it down. What’s more, if you make extra, macaroni salad makes for great leftovers right out of the fridge.
This BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe is everything that’s great about macaroni salad and more. It’s satisfying but not too rich, and it can be a meal in itself. The vegetables are definitely pretty and add color to the salad, but they aren’t just for show. The tomatoes and the greens just taste great together, and they are the perfect compliment to the crispy bacon. There’s a reason BLT sandwiches are so popular.
I am not always the most polite person around large outdoor spreads of food. That’s because outdoor food spreads involve fried chicken, and there’s almost never enough fried chicken to go around. I do what it takes to make sure I get some prime fried chicken pieces. Sometimes I begin conversations with the person who is closest to the chicken platter right before the dinner bell rings just to claim the best real estate. Or, before the meal, when no one is looking, I conceal one of the chicken plates with a dishtowel. One time I brought a casserole lid from home labeled ‘pickled sardines’ that I used to cover the best-looking fried chicken plate.
The best thing about Amy’s BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe is I don’t need to bully my way to the chicken to eat well. If I get boxed out, and all the legs and wings are gone before I get there, I can still eat something delicious and satisfying. And I can look down my nose at those fried chicken bullies.
Thanks, Randy! Lesson of the day: Don’t get between Randy and the fried chicken unless you have a batch of BLT Macaroni Salad as a backup. Enjoy!
A few BLT Macaroni Salad recipe notes:
- You can store this homemade BLT macaroni salad in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- The combination of tomatoes, bacon and spinach is definitely the best but the mix in can be slightly switched inf yo don’t have some of the ingredients on hand. You can add cherry tomatoes instead of regular ones; you can use spinach or lettuce.
- The mayo and sour cream dressing can be mixed with the macaroni the night before and refrigerated that way.
- Add all your mix-ins a couple of hours or right before serving, if possible, for the best texture and results!
More delicious salad recipes:
- Cucumber and Tomato Quinoa Salad Recipe
- Blueberry Watermelon Feta Mint Salad Recipe
- Avocado Bacon Tomato Spinach Corn Salad
BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe
BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe
Yield: 16
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
A tasty macaroni salad with all the flavors of a BLT.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 8 pieces of bacon, crumbled
- 1 cup seeded and diced tomato
- 1 cup roughly chopped baby spinach
Instructions
- Cook macaroni according to package instructions. Drain.
- Mix together remaining ingredients, and toss with macaroni until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Did you make this recipe?
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Originally published September 26, 2014. Last updated July 28. 2021.
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What began as a place for me to explore and share about my random hobbies and interests, has morphed into mostly sharing recipes — essentially a living, breathing, growing cookbook that is my absolute pleasure to share with you. The recipes here are simple, easy to prepare and nourishing for body and soul. Read more...
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80 comments on “BLT Macaroni Salad Recipe”
Keni Ford —Reply
Wondering if it would mess w/the taste if I added pecans……
Penny —Reply
I agree with the lady that said the amount of Mayo isn’t enough. It seemed a little dry so I just had more to my preferred creaminess
Cheryl —Reply
Best pasta salad ever! I used bow tie pasta instead. It was the hit of our picnic!
Amy Johnson —
Great to hear it, Cheryl! Bow tie pasta is one of my favorites.
Lori —
absolute hit! added mozzarella pearls, purple onion. splash lemon juice. and 1 pkg restaurant ranch drsng mix!!!
Paula B Norby —Reply
If you fry your bacon first and use the grease in the water you boil the pasta it really tastes yummy!
Sally @ Savory With Soul —Reply
Wow! This looks so creamy and AMAZING! Love pasta, love bacon – will have to try this very soon. Will let you know how it goes. On a side note, I just ran across your blog from a Pinterest share of this pasta salad, and I’m now following you too. I’m from Western NC (lived there my first 30 years of life), so definitely can relate to the fried chicken dilemma above (HA!)
Amy Johnson —
I hope you enjoy it, Sally!
Joan —Reply
I love this recipe! I have made it several times. Over the past yearI made a few changes. I did modify the seasonings, as mine was too salty. One half teaspoon of salt is enough with all that bacon and rice vinegar, which have a lot of salt. I also cut the garlic and black pepper in half. I doubled the baby spinach and nearly doubled the mayo, since it soaks it up after refrigerating. One helpful tip I’ve found for seeding tomatoes is to chop them and then spin them in a salad spinner. It works great to get out the seeds and goo, leaving just chopped tomato. My newest addition is to add one cup of chopped, poached chicken. Now I call this my club Mac salad. Thanks for such a flavorful and inspirational twist on Mac salad!
Cheryl —Reply
What can I substitute for the spinach?
Amy Johnson —
I would try romaine or other crispy lettuce.
Eliza —Reply
I am OBSESSED with this recipe and I found it a few years ago and I usually bring it to a tailgate for friends before a show or game and it is a HUGE hit!!!!! My family and I also love it and my mom goes crazy for it when I bring some over because I’ve been making it a lot this summer!!!! HEAVENLY!!!! Thank-you for this amazing recipe.
Erin —Reply
Hey this recipe is awesome! I added some hidden valley ranch powder to mine and it made it an awesome ranch BLT salad. Thanks for the idea!
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