You’re here for one purpose – to learn how to make the ultimate BLT Sandwich – and this recipe delivers! You’ll love everything from the toasted bread, perfectly cooked bacon, thick slices of juicy tomato, and an irresistible layer of avocado (which is optional but highly necessary).
What makes this really memorable is our famous 3-ingredient sandwich sauce that makes this the best BLT recipe you’ll try. Love at first bite!
What is a BLT?
B L T stands for Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. Okay, okay, so we snuck in some avocado, which makes it a BALT, or maybe it’s a BLAT? Either way, the important takeaway is that once you try this iconic sandwich with avocado, there is no going back.
BLT Ingredients
There are 3 components to this sandwich (bread, fillings, and sauce) and the quality of your ingredients can take your sandwich from good to exceptional:
- Bread – Honestly any bread will work here, but my all-time favorite bread for a BLT is Sourdough Bread for the elevated taste and texture. If using storebought sliced bread, look for a generous 1/2″ thick slice for a heartier sandwich. You’ll also need a bit of butter for toasting the bread which adds a ton of flavor to the sandwich.
- Fillings – bacon, lettuce and tomatoes are the iconic blend, but I also can’t ignore avocados. Use thick-sliced heirloom tomatoes if you can get your hands on them; they are so meaty and satisfying. Iceberg is the classic choice but you can also use green leaf lettuce, romaine, or butter lettuce (a.k.a. Boston or Bib lettuce).
- Sauce – Traditionally, mayo is used for BLTs, and it works in a pinch, but I’m here to tell you that there’s something better (more on that below).
The Best BLT Sandwich Sauce
We fell in love with this sandwich sauce when we tried the Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich at a restaurant called Kneaders. I loved the spread so much that I asked for an extra side to take home so I could re-create it. My love for copycat recipes runs deep.
It has just 3 ingredients and the combination is memorable: 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons sour cream, and 2 teaspoons yellow mustard. The sauce also keeps well in the refrigerator if you want to make a batch to have on hand. Try it on your next BLT and you will have a new favorite.
How to Cook Bacon for a BLT
The easiest (and least messy) way to cook a big batch of bacon is to oven-baked bacon. We prefer regular thin-cut bacon for BLT’s because it’s easier to bite through, but thick-cut bacon will also work well if that is what you have on hand.
- Regular Bacon: arrange in a single layer over a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and bake in the center of the oven at 400˚F for 15-20 minutes.
- Thick-Cut Bacon: Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack over the foil. Arrange bacon over the rack and bake at 400˚F for 20-28 minutes. You can omit the rack but you will need to flip the bacon halfway through so the bottom gets crisp.
- For a Single Sandwich or a smaller batch of bacon, I cook my bacon in the Air Fryer or on a skillet.
How to Make a Perfect BLT Sandwich
- Start by cooking your bacon and setting it aside to cool (instructions above) then prepare your sauce and refrigerate it until you need it. Also, butter and toast the bread on both sides.
- Spread 1 Tbsp sauce over the bottom bun then layer with lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, avocado, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
- Spread another 1 Tbsp sauce over the top bun and place it over the avocado
