Bacon Lettuce Tomato Salad Recipe
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This BLT Salad recipe is the classic sandwich you love — minus the bread. Crispy bacon, chopped romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and a quick creamy homemade dressing come together in under 20 minutes. It’s the perfect easy lunch or summer side dish.
Made with a tasty glaze, this Bacon Lettuce Tomato Salad recipe comes together in just about 20 minutes! It is one of our easy salad recipes you will love.
You can take almost any sandwich and make it a salad by removing the bread and adding lettuce with a good dressing. This BLT Salad is full of flavor and still brings all the comfort of the sandwich to the table.
Why You’ll Love This BLT Salad Recipe
The classic BLT sandwich is one of my all-time favorites and turning it into a salad makes it lighter, just as satisfying, and even easier to throw together.
Bacon is the ultimate salad topping because it stays crispy even when tossed with dressing, and it adds smoky, salty flavor to every single bite. Paired with crunchy romaine and a creamy homemade dressing, this salad delivers real comfort food flavor without the bread.
You can serve it as a light main dish or as a side alongside grilled chicken or burgers. Add avocado, shredded cheese, or a hardboiled egg to bulk it up.
Like my Mango Arugula Salad, my Chicken Salad with Yogurt dressing, and my Italian Chopped salad, this leafy green salad is delicious and nutritious.
Ingredients For BLT Salad
- Romain Hearts. Hearts of romaine are crunchier and have more flavor than the full heads of romaine. They will also keep fresh longer.
- Cherry Tomatoes. Of course, nothing beats tomatoes in season from a farmer’s market. You can use any good tomato for this salad but cherry tomatoes are very easy to prepare.
- Croutons. Pick your favorite! Croutons add a wonderful crunch.
- Bacon. Pre-cooked bacon is needed for this recipe. When you purchase bacon, you can make the whole package and divide it up for the meals you have planned. I love have cooked bacon on hand for things like this.
- Dressing. Homemade dressing takes this salad over the top and makes it something special.
Ingredients for the Dressing
- Mayonnaisse. Everyone has their brand of choice, and any mayonnaise will work well for this recipe.
- Sour Cream. I try not to purchase generic sour cream. Compare the ingredients between store brand and the brand name when you are out shopping next time and you will see why. The taste just does not compare.
- Fresh Chives. Growing your own fresh chives is super easy, and they add so much flavor. Of course, you can also purchase chives at the grocery store.
- Pepper. I prefer freshly ground black pepper if you have a pepper mill.
- Salt. Salt to taste.
- Garlic. Crushed garlic cloves are best for this recipe. Use a garlic press to make it super easy!
- Milk. Whatever milk you have on hand will work.
How to Make BLT Salad
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Roughly chop the romaine hearts.
- Halve the tomatoes.
- Cook the bacon if you do not have leftover bacon to use.
- Combine the romaine, tomatoes, and bacon in a large bowl and toss well.
- Mix the dressing and toss it with the salad.
- Add croutons as you serve the salad.
Directions to Make the Homemade Dressing
- Combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and chives.
- Slowly add milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
- You can add additional salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
Tips for the Best BLT Salad
- Use fresh ingredients – fresh lettuce and fresh tomatoes are a must.
- The easiest way to cook five or six pieces of bacon is in the microwave between two pieces of paper towel on a glass plate. It takes about one minute per slice of bacon, plus you may need to add a little extra time in the end depending on your microwave. See below for other bacon cooking methods.
- Unless you are serving the salad immediately, keep the bacon separate and add it with croutons as it is served.
- Make the dressing ahead and refrigerate it.It keeps for up to two weeks and actually gets better as the flavors meld. It will keep for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator.
How to Cook the Bacon
- Microwave – Place strips between paper towels on a microwave-safe plate. Cook about 1 minute per slice. Quick and easy with minimal cleanup.
- Stovetop – Cook in a skillet over medium heat, turning once, until crispy. About 8–10 minutes total.
- Oven – Bake on a foil-lined sheet pan at 400°F for 15–20 minutes. Best for cooking a large batch — the whole package at once.
- Note – If not serving immediately, keep bacon and croutons separate and add them right before serving so they stay crispy.
BLT Salad Dressing Options
The homemade creamy dressing in this recipe is absolutely worth making It just takes just a few minutes and uses simple pantry ingredients. But here are a few other options that work beautifully with BLT flavors:
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Homemade Creamy Dressing (recommended): The recipe below uses mayo, sour cream, garlic, chives, and a splash of milk. It’s tangy, garlicky, and clings perfectly to the romaine.
Ranch Dressing: Bottled ranch or homemade ranch dressing are both great shortcuts.
Greek Yogurt Ranch: Swap sour cream for plain Greek yogurt in the homemade dressing for a lighter, higher-protein version.
Blue Cheese Dressing: If you love the bacon and blue cheese combo, a creamy blue cheese dressing takes this salad in a more steakhouse direction.
BLT Salad Variations & Add-Ins
This BLT salad recipe is delicious as written, but it’s also a great base for customizing. Here are some easy ways to switch it up:
- Avocado: Diced or sliced avocado adds creaminess and healthy fats — a natural match with bacon and tomato.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or crumbled feta all work well.
- Hardboiled Eggs: Adds protein and makes it more filling as a main dish.
- Grilled Chicken: Turn this into a complete meal by adding sliced grilled or rotisserie chicken.
- Sweet Corn: Fresh or roasted corn kernels add a pop of sweetness that contrasts nicely with the salty bacon.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp bite.
- Lettuce Options: Romaine is classic, but butter lettuce, iceberg, or a spring mix all work. Iceberg adds extra crunch; butter lettuce is softer and mild
Frequently Asked Questions
What dressing goes on a BLT salad?
The most popular dressing for a BLT salad is a creamy mayo-based dressing, which mirrors the mayo spread on a classic BLT sandwich. This recipe uses a quick homemade version made with mayo, sour cream, garlic, and fresh chives. Ranch dressing is the next most common option and works beautifully as a shortcut.
Can you make BLT salad ahead of time?
Yes! The dressing can be made up to two weeks ahead and stored in the fridge. You can also chop the romaine and cook the bacon in advance. Just store all the components separately and toss them together right before serving so the lettuce stays crisp and the bacon and croutons don’t get soggy.
What can I add to a BLT salad?
BLT salad is very versatile. Great add-ins include diced avocado, shredded cheddar or crumbled feta, sliced hardboiled eggs, grilled chicken, sweet corn, or thinly sliced red onion. Any of these bulk it up nicely for a more filling meal.
What lettuce is best for BLT salad?
Romaine hearts are the classic choice because they’re crisp, sturdy, and hold up well to creamy dressing. Iceberg is another great option for extra crunch. Butter lettuce gives a softer, milder bite. Avoid delicate greens like arugula or spinach, which can wilt quickly once dressed..
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. For best results, keep the bacon and croutons separate so they stay crispy.
If you love salads like I do, try this Mango Arugula salad, or this Ranch Pea Salad for a fabulous side dish this season. Both are simple to make and delicious!
Recipe FAQs
This salad stands alone as a fantastic meal but it would also work well as a side salad for almost any meal if you like.
A true BLT Salad uses Romaine lettuce, but if you want to substitute butter lettuce or iceberg – go ahed and use what you have on hand.
BLT Salad can be refrigerated for one or two days in an airtight container.
More Easy Salad Recipes
BLT Salad Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2-3 romaine lettuce hearts
- 1 lb cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 1/2 cups croutons
- 12 oz bacon cooked until crispy
- homemade dressing to taste.
Homemade Dressing for BLT Salad
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh chives chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- For the salad, rough chop the romaine hearts, combine romaine, tomatoes, and bacon in a large bowl, and toss.
- Add dressing to taste.
- When serving, add the desired amount of croutons.
Homemade Dressing
- For the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and chives in a jar or other container to store any leftover dressing in.
- Slowly add milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
- You can add additional salt and pepper, to taste, if needed.
Notes
Nutrition
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I like BLT everything. It’s just so fresh looking – I love it!
Thank you!