All the flavors of a classic sandwich, in a crowd-friendly dish.

ABLTis like an upgradedtomato sandwich.

Instead of croutons to replace the bread, we went with a crispy garlic and herb breadcrumb topping.

Southern Living BLT Pasta Salad in a bowl to serve with extra bacon on the side

Credit:Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Toss the cooked, drained noodles with a little bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

Ingredients

1Tbsp.garlic-and-herb butter(such as Kerrygold)

1/2cuppanko breadcrumbs

1cupmayonnaise

1/3cupwhole milk

1(1-oz.

)envelope ranch dressing mix

4tsp.Dijon mustard

1(16-oz.)

Add panko, and cook, stirring often, until toasted, 3 to 5 minutes.

Transfer to a small bowl, and set aside.

Sprinkle with toasted panko and additional sliced scallions just before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Over or undercooking your pasta is a big one.

Plus, pasta always softens slightly as it sits and absorbs the dressing.

Another related mistake is not salting your pasta water.

Salt is the key to properly seasoning your pasta and ensuring the final dish isnt bland.

This is ahotly debated topic.

Pasta salads will technically work with any short noodle.

This allows the flavors to meld and for the mixture to properly chill.