This BLT Salad is reminiscent of the classic sandwich, but in salad form! Crispy bacon, fresh romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes and crunchy croutons are tossed in a homemade buttermilk dressing. This is a simple salad with big flavor!
I love transforming classic dishes into new culinary creations. Although it may not be a vast change, this BLT Salad is a really favorable alternative to the infamous sandwich! What sets this salad apart from the rest is the creamy homemade buttermilk and chive dressing – to die for.
Made with a just a handful of simple ingredients like crispy bacon, bright tomatoes, fresh romaine and crunchy croutons, don’t worry, I’ll show you how to make your own.
Why Make This BLT Salad
- Easy and Quick To Make
- Simple Ingredient List
- Classic Sandwich In Salad Form
- Delicious & Fresh
Let’s face it! Is there a more classic sandwich out there than a BLT? Ok, maybe there is, and it might be the grilled cheese, but we are focused on this bad boy right now. For those of you who have never had a BLT, it stands for bacon, lettuce and tomato. 3 simple ingredients, that when paired together in a sandwich – are perfection.
But what if.. what if we took the bread from that sandwich, toasted it up, turned it into a crouton and made a salad?! I think I’m onto something here..
Ingredient Notes
Salad
- Bacon – Cut into 1″ pieces. You can use regular or turkey bacon, if that’s what your prefer.
- Lettuce – I used romaine lettuce, chopped. Please feel free to use your preference of greens.
- Tomatoes – Cherry tomatoes, halved. Again, you can use your preference! A whole tomato, diced, will work as well.
- Croutons – Use your preference, see “FAQs & Expert Tips” for make your own instructions.
Dressing
- Mayonnaise – Use my homemade mayonnaise recipe, or store-bought.
- Sour Cream – Substitute plain greek yogurt.
- Buttermilk – If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own using 2 cups of regular milk, and 2 tbsp of either lemon juice or white vinegar.
- Seasoning – Garlic powder, salt and pepper.
How To Make A BLT Salad
- Cook Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisped to your preference. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Make Dressing & Toss Salad: Whisk the dressing ingredients together. Add the salad ingredients to a large salad bowl, reserving 1/4 cup of the bacon. Drizzle the dressing into the salad bowl and toss well to coat the ingredients well with dressing.
- Garnish & Serve: Garnish with reserved bacon and serve.
FAQs & Expert Tips
FAQs
Want to make your own croutons? It’s super easy!
Prep: Preheat the oven to 350F.
Toss: Place the croutons on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle with garlic powder and salt. Toss well to coat the bread.
Bake: for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crisped. Toss the bread once or twice as they bake to avoid burning. Set the croutons aside to cool down.
Make sure the croutons have fully cooled down to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container or sealable bag. They will last 3 days at room temperature.
As always, you are free to add or remove any ingredients and make this salad your own. Of course, it is a BLT salad so I wanted to keep it simple and in the same realm as the popular sandwich but you are more than welcome to include other ingredients! Try cucumbers, bell peppers, sprouts, green onion, shredded carrot, pumpkin seeds, cheese, hard boiled egg, olives, onion or sunflower seeds!
This salad can be served as a quick lunch, full meal or side to your main course! I mean, if you’re really a fan, serve it alongside my avocado BLT sandwich for a maximum BLT experience.
Tips
- If you want to amp up the protein in this salad, try adding chicken, salmon, or hard boiled eggs!
- Planning on keeping your salad for longer? Don’t toss the salad with the dressing! Save it for individual servings.
Leftovers
If you plan on having any leftovers, leave the dressing on the side and toss individual servings. Undressed salad will last around 2-3 days in the fridge, if your salad is already dressed, it will become soggy in the fridge!
The Dressing
Your homemade salad dressing will last 1 week stored in an airtight container, bottle, or jar.
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BLT Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 12 slices bacon cut into 1" pieces
- 1 head romaine lettuce about 6 cups chopped
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup croutons
Dressing
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon buttermilk
- 2 tablespoon chives chopped fine
- ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisped to your preference. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Make Dressing & Toss Salad: Whisk the dressing ingredients together. Add the salad ingredients to a large salad bowl, reserving ¼ cup of the bacon. Drizzle the dressing into the salad bowl and toss well to coat the ingredients well with dressing.
- Garnish & Serve: Garnish with reserved bacon and serve.
Tips & Notes:
- If you want to amp up the protein in this salad, try adding chicken, salmon, or hard boiled eggs!
- If you plan on having any leftovers, leave the dressing on the side and toss individual servings. Undressed salad will last around 2-3 days in the fridge, if your salad is already dressed, it will become soggy in the fridge!
- Your homemade salad dressing will last 1 week stored in an airtight container, bottle, or jar.
