This Bagel BLT sandwich is a fun take on the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. It features a fresh bagel with everything seasoning that adds a whole new layer of texture and flavor and creamy avocado! This bagel BLT is great for breakfast, lunch, or anytime.
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First, What is a Bagel BLT?
To start, a BLT is a Bacon Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich. It typically is served on toasted sourdough bread, but we put it on a delicious bagel!
Why You Have to Make It
This bagel BLT has all the elements of the perfect sandwich. It has crispy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, and classic mayonnaise. Simply put, it’s the best BLT, but if you still don’t believe me, here are some more reasons:
- Bagels are better than bread. That’s right, I went there. A bagel BLT is better than a sandwich BLT because there are so many different flavors of bagels you can choose from. We go with an everything bagel, but you can choose whatever you want!
- We cook the bacon to perfection. Some people are still frying their bacon in a pan on the stove. No need to do this when you can bake it in the oven where it cooks even and perfectly every time. Plus, the cleanup is a breeze!
- One word - avocado. We added avocado to this BLT to make the flavors and texture a homerun. The only thing a classic BLT is missing is some creaminess and more moisture. That’s where avocado comes in. Just smash one up on top of the bagel to complete this glorious meal!
Looking for bacon recipes to try? Check these out: Bacon and Cheese Egg Bake, Breakfast Baked Potato, Dunkin Wake Up Wrap.
Ingredients and Substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitutes unless otherwise noted.
Bacon: We use good old-fashioned pork bacon, normal cut, and hickory smoked. We feel this is the best bacon for BLTs because it's crispy and basically melts in your mouth.
Substitutions: You can use thick-cut pork bacon, however, you'll need to cook it an extra few minutes to get it crispy. Turkey bacon also works if you don't eat pork. The other option is to use leftover bacon.
Bagel: We use the Everything bagel because it lives up to its name! This bagel is loaded with seasonings from poppyseeds to garlic, salt, and onion
Substitutions: You can use any type of bagel you like. Some suggestions include a plain bagel, chive and onion bagel, and tomato basil bagel.
Lettuce: We use butter lettuce because it’s crisp and easy to get the perfect-sized leaf for your bagel sandwich.
Substitutions: Some other leafy green options that make a great substitute include romaine lettuce, spinach, and iceberg lettuce.
Tomato: We use beefsteak tomatoes. They’re one of the biggest tomatoes out there and we’ve found that large tomato slices tend to stay on the sandwich easier. Beefsteak tomatoes also have a mildly sweet flavor that’s perfect for this sandwich!
Substitutions: Any type of tomato can be used. If you use cherry tomatoes then the small pieces tend to fall off the sandwich if you’re not careful.
Avocado: This is what turns a good BLT into a great BLAT (Bacon Lettuce Avocado Tomato). It adds creaminess, and healthy fats, and just makes it overall delicious!
Substitutions: This can be left out or you can use guacamole.
Mayo: No BLT is complete without mayonnaise.
Substitutions: Greek yogurt, ranch, balsamic vinegar, cream cheese spread, or chipotle ranch would all be great substitutions!
Recipe Testing Notes
Throughout our testing of this bagel BLT, we learned some key things that worked and didn't work. Here are the key takeaways!
- The bacon ratio matters: When using fluffy bagels, we learned that the bacon ratio was much more important. In testing, we determined you need 4 pieces of bacon to have the perfect bite.
- Get creative: The most fun part of a BLT is that you can make it your own! Check out all our favorite variations below for some tasty ideas.
How To Make This - Step by Step
Step one: Cook the bacon
Preheat the oven to 420 degrees F. Then, line a baking tray with aluminum foil and lay the bacon pieces flat on the tray. Cook for 12-15 minutes.
Step two: Make the bagels
Toast your bagel using any method you choose. Be sure to slice the bagel in half before toasting if needed. We use an air fryer to toast both bagel halves for about 2 minutes.
Step three: Prep your veggies
While the bacon cooks, slice your tomato into ¼-inch thick slices. Also, prepare lettuce pieces.
Step four: Soak it up
When the bacon is done cooking, remove it from the oven and set the cooked bacon on a paper towel to soak up excess grease.
Step five: Assemble!
Assemble your bagel BLT! First, take some avocado slices and smash them on the bottom half of the toasted bagel using a fork. Then, top with tomato, lettuce, and then four slices of bacon. Finally, spread mayonnaise on the top half of the bagel and top the sandwich. Enjoy!
Watch How to Make This - Step by Step
Expert Tip: How to Cook the Perfect Bacon
Dan is the pro bacon maker in our house. When I first saw him make it in the oven I was astounded by how easy it was, how not messy it was, and how perfect it turned out every dang time. So, if you just want the bacon part of this BLT, here is exactly how.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil.
- Lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes until crispy.
- Remove crispy bacon slices from the oven and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to let them cool and absorb excess oil. You can also dab the top with a paper towel to grab any grease.
- Enjoy!
Common Questions
Duh! Bagels are SO much better toasted with schmear on them. Whether that be avocado and a BLT or cream cheese, always toast them.
A BLT goes great with so many things. I tend to enjoy them during the summer so my favorite side dishes to serve are Ranch BLT Pasta Salad, Air Fried Butternut Squash, and Black Raspberry Pie. Check out more ideas at the bottom of this post!
Bagels are fluffier than bread and flavored. They make an ideal vessel for taking sandwiches on the go because they are stiffer than bread.
To toast a bagel in the oven, place each half on a baking tray with the inside facing the oven coils. Turn the oven on to low broil and toast for 5 minutes or until golden brown.
BLT Variations
A BLT can be served in so many ways! Here are just a few of my favorites.
- Southern Italian: This version utilizes sundried tomatoes, balsamic glaze, and pink peppercorns to bring the flavor of Tuscany to your home. Simply mix the sundried tomatoes and pink peppercorn into the avocado and top with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
- Breakfast BLT: For a morning version, top your bagel BLT with a crispy fried egg.
- South of the Border: For this variation, swap out mayo for chipotle ranch and use guacamole instead of plain avocado. For the final flavor punch, sprinkle taco seasoning on the bacon prior to baking.
How to Meal Prep This
Bagel BLTs make awesome meal prep! Just follow these simple steps to prepare this sandwich in advance.
- Make all components, but do not toast the bagels, and do not cut the avocado. Cut the tomatoes, slice the lettuce, and make any sauce you would like with it. You could also make a quick guacamole with avocado, lime juice, and salt, instead of using just avocado so that it can be prepped in advance.
- Store everything in individual containers in the fridge.
- When ready to enjoy, place the bagel slices and bacon on a large baking tray and bake in the oven on broil for 5 minutes. While these toast cut the avocado and get out your sauce or mayo.
- Assemble your BLT and have lunch ready in 7 minutes!
Fun Fact
American bacon is different from European bacon in that American bacon is from the belly while European bacon is from the back. Another interesting fact is that n the 12th century, the term "bringing home the bacon" was used to describe any man who had not quarreled with his wife for 1 year and 1 day. (source)
What to Serve with a BLT
We love throwing sandwich parties in the summer. If that’s you too, here are more yummy sandwiches, wraps, and burgers to pair with the bagel BLT.
Did you try this and love it? Leave us a review, we would love to hear from you!
Recipe
The Best Bagel BLT
Ingredients
- 2 everything bagels gluten free or dairy free as needed
- 8 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoon mayo
- 1 avocado
- 4 slices tomato large tomato, like beefsteak or similar
- 4 leaves lettuce butter, romaine, or iceburg
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lay the bacon in a single layer on a tray lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until crispy.
- While the bacon bakes, toast the bagels and slice the tomato, lettuce, and avocado.
- Mash the avocado on the bottom bagel piece. Then spread mayo on the top bagel piece. When the bacon is done, transfer it to a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess grease.
- Assemble you BLT in this order: bagel, avocado, tomato, bacon, lettuce, mayo, bagel.
Janelle says
I love love love the addition of avocado!