The BLT-a classic sandwich that continues to stand the test of time. But let's be real here, sometimes it needs a little something to keep things fun.
Enter the BLAT, aka the BLT with avocado sandwich: a simple twist on tradition that adds creamy avocado slices to the mix.
A BLT is my favorite sandwich because you can literally eat this any time of day. Breakfast? Yes ma'am. Lunch? Duh. Dinner? Of course! Add some tater tots to complete the whole meal and you're good to go.
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Morgan's Recipe Review
- Cook Level - This is quite honestly the easiest, most delicious GOAT sandwich you'll ever make.
- Cook Time: The bacon is what will make this recipe longer than 10 minutes, but let's be real, it is sooo worth the wait.
- Swaps and Subs: You can use virtually any bread known to man; however, I do suggest buying bread that can get nice and crispy. Use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon, or dairy-free mayonnaise, works great here!
- Best Served With: I would make this for breakfast along with a fluffy stack of homemade bailey's waffles, lunch with simple spring greens salad, or dinner with my caesar pasta salad. How yummy does this all sound amirite?
Tips, Tricks, and Reminders
- The best way to get the stem out of the iceberg lettuce is to slam the entire head stem-side down onto the counter. This will loosen then stem and will right out with a light tug.
- Feel free to throw in slices of chicken breast, turkey breast, a slice of cheese, or prosciutto if you want to amp up the meat and flavor.
- If you don't want to run the risk of the avocado slipping right out of the sandwich in just one bite, you can mash the avocado into the bread and then layer on the other ingredients. It helps big time.
Key Ingredients
- Bread: To make a great BLT with avocado, the bread really does matter, but you could use whatever you have on hand. Just be sure to toast the bread enough so that it doesn't become soggy.
- Bacon: Traditional bacon is great, but you could always use turkey bacon or plant-based bacon instead. I love using an applewood smoked bacon on the thicker side.
- Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is a classic, but don't shy away from experimenting with romaine, spring mix, baby arugula, or butter lettuce for a slightly softer bite.
- Tomatoes: Fresh summer tomatoes or juicy heirloom varieties add a sweet and tangy balance to your sandwich. Slice them thick for a hearty, satisfying bite.
- Avocados: Go for perfectly ripe avocados to achieve that creamy texture. Thin avocado slices fit beautifully into the sandwich without overpowering the other elements.
- Mayonnaise: The glue that holds it all together. Just enough mayo brings richness without creating a soggy sandwich.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Step by Step Process Photos
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay out your bacon slices evenly and bake until crispy. Thick-cut bacon works wonders here because it stays meaty while offering a satisfying crunch. Once it is fully cooked, lay the slices of bacon on paper towels to absorb any extra fat.
Step 2: While the bacon crisps up, slice your tomatoes thinly. If you can get your hands on heirloom or summer tomatoes, even better-they bring unbeatable sweetness and juiciness. Next, halve your avocado and cut it into even slices. Finally, grab your lettuce leaves and give them a quick rinse to maintain their crunch.
Step 3: Toast slices of bread to a golden brown, just enough to hold up to the juicy tomatoes and creamy avocado without falling apart.
Step 4: Now for the fun part-assembly! Start by spreading mayo on one side of each slice of bread. Layer on the lettuce for crunch, followed by tomato slices, crispy bacon, and creamy avocado slices. Top it with the remaining slice of bread, and press gently to hold it all together.
Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- Swap out the sourdough bread for any type of bread you like such as rye, whole wheat, gluten free, ciabatta, or even in a wrap.
- Ditch the whole bread thing and make a BLT salad bowl!
- If you wanna get extra fancy, swap the mayo for an aioli or a thousand island dressing.
- Not into pork? You can use turkey bacon or a meat-alternative bacon.
Frequently Asked Questions
As I said earlier, truly any bread can work, I just always caution to use a crustier bread like a hearty sourdough, or a pullman loaf, white bread is great too, or even a seeded multigrain bread. The reason is because when you toast the bread you want it to be sturdy, and some breads get softer and soggier quicker than others.
Absolutely! Turkey bacon or plant-based bacon options work well if you're looking for a lighter or vegetarian-friendly twist.
Of course! Think cucumber slices, arugula (instead of iceberg), a slice of fresh roasted turkey or chicken, some Swiss or muenster cheese, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
You can add all of the chopped vegetables in a large ziplock bag and reuse the next day. For the bacon, you can place in a container and use up to 48 hours later. I would not toast the bread and then store it.
If you want to make a BLAT sandwich another time, make the bread the day of.
Hungry for More?
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
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The Best Bacon Lettuce Tomato Avocado (BLAT) Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
- 1 baking sheet
- aluminum foil
- 1 toaster
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 6 slices sandwich loaf bread toasted
- 4-5 slices bacon
- 1 medium iceberg lettuce
- 1 medium avocado halved, then sliced
- 1 large tomato sliced thin
- 3 tablespoon mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400º and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Add a few pieces of bacon to the sheet and place in the oven for 12 minutes until crispy.
- Slice the tomato into thin slices. Then take the iceberg lettuce and with one quick slam on the counter, take out the stem at the bottom. Grab a few pieces of lettuce and set aside. Slice the avocado into thin slices, and set aside.
- Meanwhile, add the bread to the toaster and toast until desired crispness.
- Begin to assemble the BLATs by adding mayonnaise, then lettuce, tomato, avocado, then the other side of the bread.
- Slice into halves, and serve with your favorite side, or eat as is.
Amy says
Although BLT’s are a simple, classic sandwich, the added avocado just gives it the extra richness and creaminess I never knew it needed. Chef’s kiss!
Kaitlyn says
I love ordering BLTs out at the diner, but never thought to make them at home. I also never baked my bacon before, so this recipe is officially my new favorite way to make bacon at home, and the BLTs were delicious!