Sandwiches Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Classic BLT
A timeless favorite with crisp bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomato.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Good to know
- Crispy
- Ready in under 30 minutes
Matched from this dish's own ingredients and timing. Browse more: crispy recipes30-minute meals
Instructions
5 steps- 1
Preheat a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-low heat. Lay the 4 slices of bacon in the cold pan to allow the fat to render slowly.
- 2
Cook the bacon for 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally until it becomes deep golden brown and reaches your desired crispness. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- 3
While the bacon cooks, slice the tomato into 1/4-inch thick rounds and season lightly with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Wash and thoroughly dry the lettuce leaves.
- 4
Toast the 2 slices of white bread in a toaster on medium heat until lightly golden brown and crisp.
- 5
Assemble the sandwich: Spread 1 tbsp of mayonnaise evenly on one side of each toasted bread slice. On the bottom slice, layer the lettuce, seasoned tomato slices, and crispy bacon. Top with the second slice of bread, mayonnaise-side down. Cut diagonally and serve immediately.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
76/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving160
Calories
6 g
Protein
9 g
Carbs
11 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
The BLT grew out of the American tea-sandwich tradition of the early 1900s and went mainstream after World War II, when refrigeration and year-round supermarket lettuce and tomatoes made all three fillings reliably available. Its appeal is seasonal logic disguised as a year-round staple: it is genuinely at its best in late summer when tomatoes are ripe, which is why cooks fuss so much over the tomato here.
Listahan note
This version starts the bacon in a cold cast-iron pan over medium-low heat so the fat renders slowly into even, flat strips instead of curling, and it salts the tomato before assembly so the slices taste seasoned rather than watery.
Technique cues
- Laying bacon in a cold pan and bringing it up slowly renders the fat before the meat seizes, which keeps the strips flat and crisp instead of buckling.
- Salting the tomato rounds and letting them sit briefly draws out surface moisture so it does not run into the bread, while seasoning the slice all the way through.
- Drying the lettuce thoroughly after washing matters because any clinging water dilutes the mayonnaise and softens the toast on contact.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Slice and salt the tomato and dry the lettuce while the bacon renders so everything lands ready at once.
- Make-ahead
- Cook the bacon up to a day ahead and re-crisp it for a minute in a dry pan before building.
- Leftover move
- There is no good leftover sandwich, so chop any extra bacon and tomato into a next-day breakfast scramble.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Pour the rendered bacon fat into a jar to save and wipe the pan while it is still warm.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
thick-cut bacon
Main protein
Purpose: It supplies the smoke, salt, and fat that the rest of the sandwich is built around, and thick cut holds its crunch against the soft tomato.
Handling: Start it in a cold pan over medium-low and flip occasionally so it renders flat and even.
Adaptation: Turkey bacon works but renders less fat, so add a thin film of oil to the pan and expect a leaner, less crisp bite.
heirloom tomato
Acid and juice
Purpose: Its sweet-tart juice is the whole reason the sandwich exists in summer and balances the salty bacon.
Handling: Cut into 1/4-inch rounds and salt lightly so it seasons and sheds excess water before it touches the bread.
Adaptation: A ripe vine tomato is the closest stand-in; a winter tomato will be mealy, so roast or skip it instead.
iceberg or romaine lettuce
Crunch layer
Purpose: It adds the cold, watery snap that sets the BLT apart from a plain bacon sandwich.
Handling: Wash and dry the leaves completely so no water dilutes the mayonnaise.
Adaptation: Butter lettuce is softer and more delicate; it trades crunch for a tender bite.
full-fat mayonnaise
Binder and moisture barrier
Purpose: Spread to the edges it both seals the toast against tomato juice and carries fat and tang across every bite.
Handling: Spread one tablespoon edge to edge on each toasted slice.
Adaptation: Avocado mashed with a squeeze of lemon gives a richer, eggless spread but softens the crunch contrast.
white sandwich bread
Structure
Purpose: Toasted, it gives a crisp neutral frame that keeps the filling from making the sandwich floppy.
Handling: Toast to light golden so it is crisp but still pliable enough to bite cleanly.
Adaptation: Sourdough adds tang and a sturdier crumb but a chewier, less classic texture.
Technique notes
- Spread mayonnaise on both inner faces, not just one, so the toast is sealed on both sides against tomato moisture.
- Assemble and eat immediately; a BLT degrades within minutes as the warm bacon steams the lettuce.
- Layer lettuce against the bread and tomato in the middle so the crisp leaf shields the toast from the wettest ingredient.
Ingredient swaps
- Gluten-free direction
- Use a sturdy gluten-free sandwich bread and toast it a shade darker since those loaves soften faster under the filling.
- Lower-sodium direction
- Choose a lower-sodium bacon and skip salting the tomato, leaning on black pepper for seasoning instead.
- Egg-free direction
- Swap the mayonnaise for mashed avocado with lemon to remove the egg while keeping the creamy layer.
Serve alongside
- Kettle-cooked potato chips
- Dill pickle spears
- Sweet corn on the cob
- Tomato soup
- Iced sweet tea
- Cold lemonade
- Light lager
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Store any extra cooked bacon refrigerated for up to 4 days; do not store an assembled sandwich, which turns soggy fast.
- Re-crisp leftover bacon in a dry skillet over medium for about a minute rather than microwaving, which makes it rubbery.
- Cooked bacon freezes well for up to a month; thaw in the fridge overnight before re-crisping.
Equipment
- Cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet
- Toaster
- Sharp serrated knife
- Paper-towel-lined plate
Make this household-aware
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