This BLT Salad is the ultimate salad recipe--even the non-salad eaters love this one! Made with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a creamy ranch dressing, this BLT Salad recipe put a delicious spin on a classic BLT sandwich.
Is there anything better than the combination of bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes?
Whether served in a classic BLT sandwich, a BLT Pasta Salad, or in this simple BLT salad, the combination of crunchy lettuce, salty bacon, and fresh tomatoes is truly magical.
Reasons to Love this BLT salad
- Bacon. Lettuce. Tomato. That may be all that needs to be said to convince you to try this salad😉
- Crowd Pleasing Salad Recipe. Just as you find yourself drawn to this epic combination, so do many, many others! This salad will ALWAYS be a hit at a dinner party!
- Kid-Friendly. Between the bacon and ranch dressing, your picky eaters may even ask for seconds.
- Easy Salad Recipe. Cook the bacon, whisk the dressing together, and toss everything together. This salad is easy, yet insanely impressive!
Ingredients for BLT Salad
Clearly a BLT salad needs to be made with bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes. Finished with ranch dressing, fresh chives, and croutons, this salad is truly memorable.
- For the Homemade Ranch Dressing: Milk, vinegar, sour cream (or mayonnaise) and Homemade Ranch Seasoning combine together to create a creamy, tangy dressing that perfectly compliments the bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Croutons: The croutons are optional, but do add a nice crunch and flavor. I prefer to use homemade croutons, but lightly seasoned or garlic and herb croutons work well in this recipe.
- Bacon: This recipe only requires 8 slices of bacon, while most packages of thick-cut pork bacon come with 16 slices. Freeze the remaining bacon by stacking individual pieces between parchment paper and placing them in a freezer-safe bag. Remove bacon strip by strip as needed from the freezer. Or prepare the full package of bacon and use the leftovers for recipes like Instant Pot Egg Bites, Bacon Ranch Potato Salad, or in place of the sausage in Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole.
How to Make A BLT Salad
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Bake Bacon
I find the best way to prepare crispy bacon for this BLT salad is to bake the bacon. This not only is a hands-off process and the bacon will cook much more evenly in the oven than it does in a skillet. Plus this method is MUCH less messy! Once cooled, dice the bacon into bite-sized pieces.
Prepare Homemade Ranch Dressing
While you can use store-bought ranch dressing, homemade ranch dressing comes together in minutes, and the flavor rivals that of a restaurant! I use the time the bacon is in the oven to quickly whip up the dressing.
Assemble Salad Right Before Serving
While you can prepare the dressing and bacon in advance, this BLT salad is best served immediately after preparation. The croutons and bacon will lose their crunch if stored in the refrigerator once tossed in the dressing. Toss the lettuce with a small amount of the dressing.
Serving Suggestions
This Bacon Lettuce Tomato Salad is the perfect accompaniment to entrees like Ribeye Steak, London Broil, or Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, as it delivers restaurant-quality results.
That said, this BLT salad is also easy enough to make any night of the week! It makes a great side salad for recipes like Honey Lemon Chicken, Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts, or Lemon Baked Cod.
More Easy Side Salad Recipes
- Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Spinach Bacon Salad
- Tossed Greek Salad
- Mandarin Orange Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Broccoli Apple Salad
I hope you enjoy this BLT Salad and be sure to leave a comment and review below after you give it a try! I love to hear from you!
BLT Salad
Ingredients
- 8 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 large head romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 1 cup croutons
- 2 tablespoons chives minced
For the Creamy Dressing
- ¾ cup sour cream or mayonnaise
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon dried basil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire cooking rack on the baking sheet. Evenly space out the bacon out on the prepared pan and bake for 15-18 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and browned.
- While the bacon is baking, mix together the milk and vinegar and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Add in the sour cream, parsley, dill, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper and mix well, adding in additional milk, 1 tablespoon of milk at a time, if needed to thin.
- Wash and dry the lettuce well and then chop into bite-size pieces. Slice the tomatoes in half. Chop the cooked bacon into small pieces as well.
- Toss together the lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and ½ cup of the dressing together and place in a serving dish.
- Top the salad with croutons and chopped chives.
- Serve the salad immediately with additional dressing on the side.
Mel
Absolutely loved this salad! So full of flavor and so filling!
Kristyn
This is one of my favorite salads! It's easy to throw together & tastes so good!! I'll be eating it all summer long!
Kristen Chidsey
You and me both! This is always a favorite here! Thrilled to hear you enjoyed as well 🙂
JJ
This was a hit at our family dinner! The dressing with sour cream was perfect, turned out creamy and the crispy bacon added just the right touch. Definitely making this again!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing your family enjoyed, JJ! Thanks for sharing!
Mel
Absolutely loved this salad! So much flavor and so easy to put together!
Willie
This salad is incredible! The flavor is spot on, it was such a hit for dinner this week!
Kristen Chidsey
Love hearing this! Thanks for taking the time to share.
Glenna
So much flavor in every bite! Loved every bit of this flavorful salad.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Glenna! It is super flavorful!
Les
Love this delicious BLT Salad and the dressing was the best over the crisp greens and tomatoes.
Kristen Chidsey
Wonderful! So happy to hear you enjoyed the salad, Les!
wilhelmina
I am obsessed with this salad! All the flavor of my favorite burger in a fresh salad!
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much, Wilhelmina! I love hearing you enjoy it.
Beth
I made this salad for dinner yesterday and it was a hit!
I'll be making it again. Thank you for the recipe!
Ann
This was sooo good although I ended up making the dressing too watery, but the taste was amazing!!
Jenni
This salad is so good! Easy to make, filling, and the kids loved it! We will definitely make this again!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! I love to hear your kids enjoyed as well Jenni!
Lisalia
This was the perfect lunch salad for my monthly girlfriends lunch. So filling and full of healthy goodies. They all asked for the recipe! Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
You know it is a winner when people ask for the recipe 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to share your review Lisalia!