This BLT pasta salad recipe is the ultimate summer salad and has an irresistible creamy pesto dressing! It's a fun twist on BLTs that is a must-have at BBQs and picnics.
Boil a large, salted pot of water for the shellbows pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions. Once it's done, drain it and then let it cool in a colander.
Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Once it's cooked, reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat and add it to a small bowl that you will make the dressing in, then transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
Add the remaining dressing ingredients to the bowl with the bacon fat and stir until smooth.
Once the pasta is cool, transfer it to a large salad bowl and add the remaining salad ingredients.
Pour the dressing over top, toss, then taste and season with salt & pepper as needed. Serve immediately.