BLT Salad

I look forward to tomato season every year, and a BLT (my favorite sandwich) is at the top of my priority list. But I need to have some variation besides just sandwiches, and making this BLT salad gives all the tastes without all the bread.

It's not without carbs because I add in some croutons, but if you need your version to be lower carb you can of course control that. Either way, you get the delicious taste of bacon, lettuce, and tomato in every bite! I love it as a summer side, but it could also pass for a light lunch.

Ingredients Needed

• Bacon - get the thick cut kind for more bacon taste
• Lettuce - green leaf lettuce will work but I prefer romaine for the way it holds its crunch
• Tomatoes - large, juicy, ripe heirloom tomatoes are my preference here, but cherry tomatoes will work too
• Croutons - I get the big Texas Toast kind, they replace the bread with a bit of crunch. Homemade croutons would be an amazing addition!
• Dressing: mayo, a little milk, and seasonings

How to Make this Easy BLT Salad

Start by cooking the bacon. I use a large skillet on medium heat (medium-high if I'm in a hurry). Cook the bacon, turning occasionally, until completely browned. I like crispy bacon for the best texture. When the bacon is cooked through, remove it to a paper towel lined plate to drain and cool down.

Make the creamy dressing by mixing the mayonnaise with a little milk and the seasonings. I use a whisk for this step, or a small blender would work well to ensure even mixing. Set this aside for a few minutes while you finish the prep.

Chop the lettuce and tomatoes and place in a medium bowl. When the bacon has cooled enough to handle, chop or crumble this and add to the bowl.

Pour the dressing into the bowl and toss lightly to coat. Add croutons and toss again, then serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

I love this salad with all the grilled meats we have in summer: pork skewers, BBQ chicken leg quarters, or even a juicy lucy. I recently made it as a side for stuffed zucchini boats and loved the combination! And on game day, I'll have this with shredded beef sandwiches, a perfect family pleaser!

Storage of this Salad

This salad is best eaten right away, but you can do a few things to prolong that life a little. If you're taking it to a potluck, bring the dressing separately and add it when you get to the party. I also like to add the croutons just before serving to maintain their maximum crunch.

If you use green leaf lettuce, it will wilt by the next day so trying to keep leftovers isn't too great. However, romaine lettuce maintains its crunch better, and having a little of this salad the day after making is possible. Any longer than that I would not recommend.

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BLT Salad

All the delicious flavors of a BLT sandwich but in salad form. The only bread is croutons, so you can control how much you add if you want to keep it lower carb.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Calories:

Author: Sula

Ingredients

• 1 head lettuce romaine heart
• 2 tomatoes large, chopped
• 1 pound bacon
• 1 cup seasoned croutons

Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt - to taste*

Instructions

• Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until it is all evenly browned (about 10 minutes). Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
  1 pound bacon
• Blend the dressing ingredients together using a whisk, then set aside.
  ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons milk, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, Salt - to taste*
• Chop the lettuce and tomatoes and place in a medium bowl. Chop the cooled bacon and add to the bowl.
  1 head lettuce, 2 tomatoes
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly to combine.
• Add the croutons and toss again. Serve immediately.
  1 cup seasoned croutons

Notes

*salt is an individual preference and can also vary according to what bacon is used. When I use a pound of Oscar Mayer thick-cut bacon, I don't add any salt. When I use the pre-cooked bacon, I end up adding a little salt.

Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.