BLT Sandwich

Learn how to make a classic BLT Sandwich with my easy recipe and lots of tips included! There are a few secrets to the best BLT sandwich (bacon, lettuce, & tomato). It's an easy dinner idea for a busy weeknight and it's also a great way to use up that fresh garden produce. 

BLT Sandwich Recipe

A BLT sandwich might be one of those things that you don't think you need a "recipe" for. But, there are many tips for making the best BLT at home. This bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich is made with thick-cut bread, creamy & thick mayonnaise, fresh crisp green leaf lettuce, and juicy ripe red tomatoes. It's the ultimate easy weeknight dinner idea for those busy nights. 

So much texture with the crispy toasted white bread, crisp bacon and lettuce, and the juicy tomatoes paired with the creamy and cool mayonnaise. It really is a classic recipe that does not get the attention it deserves. 

This classic sandwich often gets overlooked or forgotten which is why I wanted to share this "recipe" today. I make these for dinner at least twice per month because they're simple to make, only a few ingredients, and everyone loves them at my house.

Ingredients Needed

• Thick Cut White Bread - I highly recommend sticking with a good quality, thick-cut (½-inch) pieces of white bread with this recipe. The beauty of a BLT is that you can make as many, or as few, as you need. Just use the correct amount of bread pieces for however servings you need to make. 
• Mayonnaise - This matters! For best taste and creamy texture use a good quality brand of mayo. I do not recommend using low-fat, reduced-fat, lite, or olive oil mayo. 
• Bacon - A thick-cut bacon is preferred but any bacon will work just fine. I think the crispier bacon, the better when it comes to a classic BLT sandwich. 
• Green Leaf Lettuce
• Sliced Tomatoes - A bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich is the best way to use up ripe garden tomatoes! The riper, the juicier is best when it comes to this sandwich. 

How To Make a Classic BLT Sandwich (Bacon, Lettuce, & Tomato Sandwich)

It is so simple to make a BLT sandwich at home!

• Preparation : Make sure you slice the tomatoes and cut the lettuce so it's ready to go. 
• Toast The Bread : You can use a toaster oven to toast the bread or spread each slice of bread with butter and broil it in the oven. Broil on LOW heat for 2-3 minutes or until browned to your liking. 
• Cook The Bacon : Cook the bacon in a skillet pan on the stove top, in the oven, or use microwaveable bacon. 
• Assemble The Sandwiches : Spread a thick layer of mayonnaise on the bottom slice of bread. Top with 3 pieces of bacon, lettuce, sliced tomatoes. Spread mayonnaise on another slice of bread and place it down onto the tomatoes. Gently press together. Cut in half or in a diagonal shape and serve. 

Classic BLT Sandwich FAQ's

• What Makes a BLT So Good?

  • Sometimes simple and classic is always the best. Everything on the BLT pairs perfectly together. The thick hearty bread, topped with creamy & rich mayonnaise, and then the crisp fresh lettuce and juicy tomatoes. And don't forget the salty crispy bacon! 
  • With all the fresh ingredients on this sandwich it's no wonder that it tastes amazing even though it's simple. 
  • After years of making this sandwich for my own family, I think that the mayonnaise is what will make or break the sandwich. I highly recommend using full-fat, regular mayonnaise, and try to use a quality brand. The generic brands or store brands are not as tasty and rich in texture as Best Foods or Hellmen's (my preferred brands when it comes to mayo). 

• Variation & Substitution Ideas for a BLT

  • If you want to switch it up from the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato there are several things you can do. 
  • Avocado : Try adding some sliced avocado onto the sandwich for a BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato).
  • Spice It Up : Sprinkle some red chili pepper flakes onto the top of the sliced tomatoes. You can also sprinkle on some kosher salt and black pepper if wanted. I love adding a little sprinkle of kosher salt onto the sliced tomatoes. 
  • Bread : You can use any bread you prefer in this recipe. Gluten-free, Dave's Killer Bread, a light bread, wheat bread, etc. We love it the classic way with thick-cut white bread. We love the Grandma Sycamores white bread for this recipe. 
  • Toasting The Bread : You can make this really easy and just use a toaster for this OR spread each slice of bread with butter and broil it for 2-3 minutes until it's browned and crispy. 

• How To Cook Bacon For a BLT Sandwich

  • Oven Method : Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare a cookie sheet (12" x 18") by lining it with tin foil or parchment paper. Make sure that you cover the entire pan with the tin foil or parchment paper so there are no gaps or wholes. You may need to use two sheets for the pan and have them overlap in the middle. Lay the bacon onto the parchment paper or tin foil making sure that the bacon is not overlapping. Cook for 20 minutes. No need to flip the bacon halfway through. Remove the crispy bacon from the pan and lay it on a paper towel to drain and cool down. If using thick cut bacon you may need to cook for closer to 25 minutes. Turkey bacon only needs to be cooked for about 12 minutes. 
  • Microwave : For an easy weeknight dinner I will sometimes just use microwaveable bacon. Follow the directions on the box. I highly recommend using a good quality brand like the Costco brand (Kirkland Signature) is the best. Some brands yield rubbery and soft bacon when it's cooked in the microwave. Be sure and use bacon that is specifically for the microwave. 
  • Air Fryer : Place the bacon strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer making sure they are not overlapping. You may need to cook a couple batches of bacon to have enough. Cook at 350 degrees F for 8-9 minutes. For thick-cut bacon cook for about 11-12 minutes. Remove bacon strips to a paper towel so they can drain and cool down. 
  • Skillet Pan : Heat a large skillet pan over medium-high heat. Place slices of bacon inside the skillet pan and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side of bacon. Once crispy, remove bacon from the pan onto a paper towel lined plate or countertop and let the bacon drain and cool down. 

• Serving Suggestions

  • BLT's are great served with a sweeter side dish like chopped fruit, Lemon Yogurt Fruit Salad, Ambrosia Fruit Salad, Marshmallow Cherry Fluff, or Pear Jello. 
  • You can also serve with a side of Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or a pasta salad like my Tri Color Pasta Salad or Easy Italian Pasta Salad. To add more bulk and protein to the meal try serving this Poppyseed Chicken Pasta Salad alongside a BLT sandwich. 

• Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

  • Yes you can BLT's ahead of time. In fact, I love taking these on a picnic or to the beach or lake for an outing during the day. All you have to do is prepare each item and store it separately before serving.
  • Toast the bread and place the toasted pieces of bread into an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Slice the tomatoes and place them in a separate air tight container, like a Tupperware with a lid. Cut or pull apart pieces of the green leaf lettuce and store them inside a gallon size Ziploc bag with a piece of paper towel to soak up any moisture. Cook the bacon and once it's cooled to room temperature place the bacon in an airtight container. 
  • When you're ready to eat, everyone can assemble their own sandwiches. 

Recipe Tips

Here are some of my helpful tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen. 

• Use A Good Quality Mayo : This is my #1 tip when it comes to making BLT sandwiches at home. Use a full-fat mayonnaise and a good tasting one. I love Best Foods brand of mayo which is also called Hellmen's if you're on the East coast. I lived on the East coast and for some reason it's marketed under a different brand there. Here on the west coast it is called Best Foods. The brand is not as important as the type of mayo used. I do not recommend using a lite mayo, reduced-fat, no-fat, or olive oil mayo. They taste differently and they are not as thick & creamy as the regular stuff. 
• Bacon : I find that the crispier the bacon, the better! There are several ways to cook bacon so cook it how you prefer. You can even use the microwavable bacon but make sure it's a good quality one that does not turn soft and rubbery. I love the Costco brand (Kirkland Signature) of microwaveable bacon. 
• Thick Cut Bread : White bread is best for a BLT sandwich. Make sure that you are using thick-cut slices of bread, about ½-inch thick. 
• Toasted Bread : It's important to use toasted bread for these sandwiches. You need the crispy, browned exterior (not burnt!) to hold up against the creamy mayo and juicy tomatoes. You can make this really easy and just use a toaster oven OR try spreading each slice with butter and broil it in the oven for 2-3 minutes. The butter adds another layer of flavor and it helps gets the bread toastier and crispier (golden browned) on the outside. 

More Sandwich Recipes You'll Love

• Pineapple Chicken Salad Sandwiches - A creamy chicken salad with pineapple, grapes, and almonds wrapped in a super creamy sauce with cream cheese and pineapple juice. These are best served on croissants as sandwiches.
• Baked Ham & Cheese Sandwiches - Sweet Hawaiian sliders filled with mayo, Swiss cheese, and ham. Topped off with a buttery spread of mustard, brown sugar, and seasonings. These are hot, gooey, and so tasty with that butter topping that melts right into the sandwiches. 
• Hot Chicken Salad French Bread Sandwiches - A loaf of French bread makes the perfect base for this oven baked, hot & cheesy, chicken salad sandwich. Serve as open-faced sandwiches!