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This BLT salad combines the elements of a BLT sandwich—crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce—in a fun twist on the classic. It’s incredibly tasty and easy to make. Plus, the versatility of this BLT salad recipe allows you to customize it to your liking—add grilled chicken for extra protein or sprinkle some blue cheese for a bolder flavor.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This BLT Salad Recipe
This BLT salad is fast, easy, and so delish! With its vibrant flavors and simple preparation, you’ll find yourself making it all summer long. Whether you’re hosting a backyard gathering or heading to a potluck, this BLT salad is sure to be a hit.
🥗 BLT Salad Ingredients
- 🥬 Lettuce: Wash and chop iceberg lettuce.
- 🍅 Tomatoes: Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
- 🥓 Bacon: Cook bacon until crisp. After it cools, crumble it into small pieces.
- 🍞 Croutons act as the bread component of a BLT sandwich.
- BLT Salad Dressing: I like using a creamy dressing for this BLT salad. Ranch is great, or even a dollop of mayo since that’s what’s traditionally used on the sandwich.
👩🍳 How to Make This BLT Salad
After you prep your BLT ingredients, this salad comes together quickly!
- Put all the veggies in a salad bowl.
- Top with croutons and bacon.
- Toss with ranch dressing or mayo and serve immediately.
🗒 Variations
- Make it more filling by adding chicken or shrimp.
- BLAT: Add an avocado to this BLT salad.
- Extra Veggies: Throw in red onion, bell pepper, or cucumber.
- Cheese: Add blue cheese or feta.
- Herbs: Top your salad with fresh herbs, like basil or chives.
🗒 Substitutions
- Bacon: Feel free to use turkey bacon if you prefer.
- Lettuce: Swap iceberg with romaine or little gem lettuce.
- Tomatoes: Substitute grape tomatoes or dice a large tomato.
- Gluten-Free Salad: Use gluten-free croutons.
- Salad Dressing: Whip up this Dijon red wine vinaigrette if you prefer a lighter dressing.
🍽️ Best served with
This BLT salad is excellent for a light lunch or as a side dish with dinner. Pair it with any grilled protein, like chicken or shrimp, and side dishes, such as potato salad or corn on the cob.
👝 How to Store
Cooked bacon and the other ingredients will last four to five days in the fridge. If you store everything separately, you can assemble salads as needed right before eating. Once the salad is coated in dressing, it’s best to eat it immediately since the lettuce will get soggy the longer it sits.
🤔 Common Questions
BLT salads are best with crisp, crunchy lettuce, like iceberg, romaine, or little gem. The creamy dressing would be too heavy for mixed greens.
You can cook bacon in the oven or on the stove, but baking it is the easiest, least messy method.
Preheat your oven to 400°F and place a cooling rack on a sheet pan. Lay the bacon in a single layer on the rack, and cook it for 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces and how crispy you want them. Check the bacon periodically, and once done, transfer it to paper towels to drain.
You can buy croutons from the grocery store or make homemade croutons using any bread. Cut it into cubes and toast it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F. I also have this recipe for pizza dough croutons.
BLT Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ¼ cup croutons
- Ranch dressing or mayonnaise
Instructions
- Combine iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and crumbled bacon in a salad bowl.
- Add croutons and drizzle with ranch dressing or a spoonful of mayonnaise.
- Toss gently and serve immediately.
