Combine the best ingredients of a BLT sandwich and a great pasta in this creamy dish. It's so loaded with smoky bacon, tomatoes, romaine lettuce and mayonnaise you'll have a hard time not eating all of it yourself.
Pasta Salad:
8 oz. ditalini pasta or another very small pasta
½ lb. thick-cut bacon, about 5-6 slices, cooked with reserved bacon grease
2 c. grape tomatoes, halved
2 c. romaine lettuce, thinly chopped
Dressing:
¾ c. mayonnaise
2½ T. warmed bacon grease
1 T. white vinegar
½ t. kosher salt, or to taste
¼ – ½ t. freshly ground black pepper
Cook bacon; when done, set aside to drain on paper towels; reserve the bacon grease.
While bacon is cooking, cook the pasta according to package directions; drain under cold water until pasta has cooled.
Slice the tomatoes and chop the lettuce.
Stir mayonnaise, bacon grease, vinegar, salt and pepper together in a large bowl; add the pasta, tomatoes, lettuce and bacon; toss well.
Serve immediately or place in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
6 servings.