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GET IT NOWMy BLT Salad Recipe Is The Best Parts Of The Sandwich
I’m obsessed with this BLT salad. It’s light and fresh, yet comforting, and I’m literally sitting here eating a giant bowl of it as I type this. Here’s why it gets me:
- The best parts of a BLT sandwich – Fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, rich avocado (not in a regular BLT, but always in mine!), creamy ranch dressing… it’s all the flavors of the sandwich, without the bread.
- 5 simple ingredients – The always-in-your-fridge kind.
- Fast and easy – If you have the bacon precooked, you can throw this salad together in just 10 minutes. It’s the kind of dish I make when I don’t feel like cooking.
- Better for you – Unlike sandwiches, my BLT salad recipe is naturally gluten free and low carb. And that means it leaves you feeling so much better.
Make this salad with me for your next picnic, an effortless weeknight side dish, or even lunch!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my BLT salad recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Bacon – You’ll need it cooked. Store-bought bacon bits are fine as a shortcut, but cooking it yourself tastes better.
- Lettuce – Romaine is my fave. Butter lettuce or iceberg also work well.
- Tomatoes – I prefer halved cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes for their sweetness, less juices, and easier chopping. Feel free to cut larger tomatoes into wedges if that’s what you’ve got.
- Avocado – Although it’s not a strict requirement for the sandwiches, I always add this to my BLT salad! You can dice or slice it based on your preference.
- Dressing – I made my 5-minute ranch dressing. Feel free to use your favorite store-bought brand, or change it up with my blue cheese dressing or even green goddess dressing.
How To Make BLT Salad
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Cook the bacon. You can air fry the bacon, cook it in a skillet, or even microwave bacon for this recipe. I usually cook big batches of bacon in the oven for the week. Drain on paper towels, then chop or crumble.
- Prepare the dressing. Whisk together the ranch dressing here.
- Assemble the BLT salad. Combine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and bacon in a large salad bowl or platter. Drizzle the dressing on top and toss to coat, or serve with the dressing on the side. Sometimes I garnish with fresh chives and fresh cracked black pepper, as shown below.
My Recipe Tips
- If you cook the bacon in advance, fry it briefly the day-of. I always do this to restore its crunch!
- Adjust salt and pepper to your taste. You can adjust the dressing upfront, or wait until after mixing the BLT salad.
- Add protein to make it a meal. My go-to is a healthy baked chicken breast or sometimes sliced hard boiled egg. You can also try sirloin steak tips, baked shrimp, or even leftover ham.
- Want extra crunch besides the bacon? Some people add croutons, but I think cheese crisps or sliced almonds are a lot more delicious.
- Feel free to add extra veggies. Fresh cucumbers, red onions, or bell peppers pair well with these flavors.
- For a fun presentation, stuff the salad inside avocado halves. See my BLT stuffed avocado for instructions and a visual.
BLT Salad (5 Ingredients)
My BLT salad recipe has all the best parts of the sandwich, except lighter! Throw it together in just 10 minutes with 5 ingredients.
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Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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If using homemade dressing, prepare the ranch dressing like this.
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Place chopped lettuce into a large bowl, or divide among serving bowls.
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Top with the halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and crumbled bacon.
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Add dressing and toss well to coat, or serve the dressing on the side of the individual bowls.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 cup
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above for my favorite ways to change this up to your liking.
- Storage & meal prep: BLT salad tastes best fresh, but you can cook the bacon, mix the dressing, and chop the veggies several days in advance if you store them separately. Once mixed, eat within one day. And I definitely recommend adding the avocado right before eating — it will brown!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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BLT Salad
6 Comments
Kara
0I love the addition of the avocado. Went perfectly with my keto enchiladas!
Diana
0We really enjoyed this salad. I already had crispy bacon and some rotisserie chicken that I needed to use up, so it all went into the salad bowl along with your ranch dressing recipe. 10/10
Journa Liz Ramirez
0This salad is so satisfyingly good and delicious. Thanks Maya for this highly recommended recipe! I’ll surey have this again.
Shelby
0A summer classic! This recipe is amazing on a super warm night when you don’t want to cook.
Raquel
0Loved this refreshing salad – great flavors.
Cindy
0An absolutely delicious recipe! I love the flavour combinations and will definitely be making it again!