I’ve been making this bacon and avocado pasta salad on repeat lately, and let me tell you—it’s become my go-to for summer gatherings and lazy weeknights. There’s something about crispy bacon combined with creamy avocado that just works, and when you toss it all with perfectly cooked rotini and a generous drizzle of ranch dressing, you’ve got yourself a crowd-pleaser. Trust me, this one’s a keeper!
| Preparation Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 15-20 minutes |
| Total Time | 35-50 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
| Servings | 8 servings |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2100-2300
- Protein: 45-55 g
- Fat: 90-110 g
- Carbohydrates: 270-290 g
Ingredients
For the roasted tomatoes:
- 12 oz tomatoes (cherry or grape varieties work best)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
For the salad:
- 1 lb pasta (Barilla rotini)
- 3 avocados (pitted and diced into 1/2-inch chunks)
- 8 strips bacon (cooked until crispy and crumbled)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (to toss with avocado)
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
For the dressing:
- 1 1/4 cups ranch (Hidden Valley)
Step 1: Roast the Tomatoes for Flavor Depth
- 12 oz tomatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread them in a single layer on the prepared pan.
Roast for 15-20 minutes until the tomatoes are blistered and slightly caramelized—this concentrates their sweetness and adds a rich depth to the salad.
While the tomatoes roast, you can move on to cooking the pasta.
Step 2: Cook the Pasta and Prepare the Bacon
- 1 lb pasta
- 8 strips bacon
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente.
While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon strips in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes.
Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble it into bite-sized pieces once cooled slightly.
This parallel cooking saves time and ensures everything is ready to assemble.
Step 3: Chill the Pasta
- cooked pasta from Step 2
Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it with cold water until completely cooled.
This stops the cooking process and prevents the pasta from getting mushy while sitting in the dressing.
Toss the cooled pasta lightly with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Step 4: Prepare the Avocado and Combine Base Elements
- 3 avocados
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/4 cups ranch
- chilled pasta from Step 3
While the pasta cools, pit and dice the avocados into 1/2-inch chunks.
Immediately toss them with the fresh lemon juice—this prevents browning and adds brightness to the salad.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilled pasta from Step 3 with the ranch dressing and stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
I like to add the dressing while the pasta is still slightly warm, as it absorbs more flavor than cold pasta.
Step 5: Assemble and Finish the Salad
- roasted tomatoes from Step 1
- crumbled bacon from Step 2
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- lemon-tossed avocado from Step 4
- pasta mixture from Step 4
Add the roasted tomatoes from Step 1 and most of the crumbled bacon from Step 2 to the dressed pasta, along with the fresh parsley.
Gently fold in the lemon-tossed avocado chunks, being careful not to break them apart—this keeps the avocado pieces intact and visually appealing.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Top the salad with the remaining bacon and avocado pieces for a beautiful presentation.
Ranch Bacon and Avocado Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread them in a single layer on the prepared pan. Roast for 15-20 minutes until the tomatoes are blistered and slightly caramelized—this concentrates their sweetness and adds a rich depth to the salad. While the tomatoes roast, you can move on to cooking the pasta.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon strips in a skillet over medium-high heat until crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then crumble it into bite-sized pieces once cooled slightly. This parallel cooking saves time and ensures everything is ready to assemble.
- Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it with cold water until completely cooled. This stops the cooking process and prevents the pasta from getting mushy while sitting in the dressing. Toss the cooled pasta lightly with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- While the pasta cools, pit and dice the avocados into 1/2-inch chunks. Immediately toss them with the fresh lemon juice—this prevents browning and adds brightness to the salad. In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilled pasta from Step 3 with the ranch dressing and stir until the pasta is evenly coated. I like to add the dressing while the pasta is still slightly warm, as it absorbs more flavor than cold pasta.
- Add the roasted tomatoes from Step 1 and most of the crumbled bacon from Step 2 to the dressed pasta, along with the fresh parsley. Gently fold in the lemon-tossed avocado chunks, being careful not to break them apart—this keeps the avocado pieces intact and visually appealing. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Top the salad with the remaining bacon and avocado pieces for a beautiful presentation.