Instant Pot Pasta BLT Salad

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It is the time of the year when we are attending lot's of barbecues, birthday's, anniversaries, picnics, reunions and Summer holiday parties. I look forward to this time of year, lot's of fun with family and many potluck get togethers. Pasta salad is a family favorite, perfect along side of Barbecue Pulled Pork sandwiches, Barbecue Baby Back Ribs or Hamburger Sliders! This is a 30 minute start to finish salad! I made this for a annual family BBQ on Lake Chelan, it was a big hit! If you like pasta and BLT sandwiches, this salad is for you! 



The main reason to use a Instant Pot for cooking your pasta is that you do not need to drain it. MOST of the time the liquid is absorbed and you are able to move right on to the next step in your recipe.

Instant Pot Pasta BLT Salad

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 (of 1.0 ounce) package dry Ranch dressing mix
• 16 ounces pasta, you can use any pasta, however cooking times vary
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 12 slices bacon cooked and chopped up
• 2 cups romaine torn into 1 inch pieces
• Salt and pepper, to taste

 Mix together the mayonnaise and dressing mix.  Refrigerate and allow to marinate while you prepare the bacon and pasta.

I cook my bacon in the microwave and I like to use "pepper bacon", it adds a little kick. 

While the bacon is cooking you can prepare the pasta. 

Do not allow the pasta to just sit in the water, it WILL effect the cook time. 

Put the 16 ounces of pasta in the instant pot with 4 cups of cold water and 1 teaspoon of salt. The water should just cover the pasta, so depending on what pasta you use the amount of water changes. Close the lid, turn the valve to closed.

Press the pressure cook or manual button and set the time for 1 minute on high pressure.

When it is finished cooking, allow for a Natural Release for 5 minutes for elbow, linguini, spaghetti, penne or fettucini. Then, do a quick release, you may have sputters of liquid come out of the valve, just throw a kitchen towel over the valve. 

Various types of pasta have different slow release times. For glutin free pasta, I would do a quick release, it cooks very quickly in the instant pot. However, you will get liquid spewing out of the valve. To solve this, throw a kitchen towel over the valve. With glutin free, you may need to pour into a colander, it may have some water still in it.

Add tomatoes and bacon stir well. Wait until it is time to serve and mix in the prepared dressing and romaine, check seasoning adding salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy this pairing Instant Pot Barbecue Pork Sandwiches!

 Enjoy the holiday! Stay Safe!