I love the tang of the BBQ sauce in the dressing. It’s not overwhelming and doesn’t really taste like BBQ. Eric and I made this 2 days in a row because there wasn’t any leftover after the potluck, and we needed more BLT in our lives. It’s just the perfect summer food! Throw on some grilled or rotisserie chicken to make a meal out of it. (Or more bacon…) Have you seen that Office episode where the GPS tells Michael Scott to turn and he drives into the lake? This is me. Can I get an applause for being personally responsible for the death of common sense? Well, me and Michael. A fictional character. Anytime I think of BLTs I think of this line from Miracle Max in The Princess Bride (probably my favorite movie of all time), “Sonny, true love is the greatest thing in the world. Except for a nice MLT, a mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. [smacks lips] They’re so perky. I love that.” Perky?? I love YOU, Miracle Max. We took this to a potluck and every speck got polished off. If you want people devouring your pasta salad and asking you for the recipe, this is the one for you. Also, it only takes 30 minutes to make, so even if you’re rushing, you can still avoid showing up empty-handed. Only cook the noodles until they’re al dente. That means they should have a little bite to them. Use the lowest recommended cooking time on the package, then remove a noodle with a slotted spoon or tongs, let it cool, and test it (by test it I mean eat it). I made this salad for a church potluck, and of course I started making it later than I should have. It wasn’t going to be cold in time. As I was rinsing the pasta I thought, hm, ice cubes? YES. I put some in the colander with the noodles and they cooled off within just a few minutes. Does everyone else already know this trick?? It’s so obvious, but I’ve never even thought of it before. Hooray for cold pasta salads! And not room temperature ones, please. (Ignore the fact that this is macaroni, I shot this on round 2 of this recipe. Rotini is better, trust me.) Keep the bacon separate and add it to individual servings (or the whole salad, if you’re heading to an event) just before serving. That’ll keep it nice and crispy. Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram The Best Macaroni Pasta Salad » trust me guys, I made a million batches, it’s PERFECT Italian Tortellini and Pepperoni Pasta Salad » amazing flavor, so easy to make Avocado Pasta Salad from Spend with Pennies Greek Pasta Salad from Just a Taste Creamy Cheddar Pasta Salad from Center Cut Cook
