How to Make the Best BLT Sandwich with Smashed Tomatoes

My husband Ted and I have been quite busy lately, and I’ve been craving some quick and easy lunches. We recently savored Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato (BLT) Sandwiches on Toasted Sourdough Bread. With the abundance of ripe, juicy tomatoes in peak season here in Central Texas, I can’t think of a better way to use them than on a BLT sandwich, and I’ll show you how in this easy and tasty recipe.

Make Your BLT Sandwich Special with Smashed Tomatoes

When it comes to tomatoes, I love to experiment. Yes, a thick slab of a beefsteak tomato can be amazing on a BLT. but they can be a bit challenging to grow in my simple kitchen garden. However, cherry tomatoes are a different story!

A generous helping of smashed cherry tomatoes, along with cold, crunchy iceberg lettuce and thick slices of crispy bacon, creates an incredible combination. The crushed cherry tomatoes are almost like a slathering of tomato jam, adding a unique twist to the classic BLT sandwich.

After toasting the sourdough bread, top both slices of bread with a generous “shmear” of homemade mayonnaise with a bit of sweet pickle relish added in for good measure. When I assemble my sandwich, I am a bit of a rule breaker. I put the smashed tomatoes on top of the bacon and then top everything off with a super generous layer of iceberg lettuce.

So maybe my sandwich is actually a BTL? Whether you call it a BLT or BTL, all I know is that when you add bacon, lettuce, and smashed tomatoes together, you have the most mouth-watering BLT sandwich in town. You won’t be disappointed!

Crispy Bacon Guaranteed for your BLT Sandwich

If you are looking for an easy, neat, and clean way to make bacon, try baking it in the oven instead of frying it on the stovetop. Yes, baking bacon is the way to go. (And besides, I just like saying it! LOL!!) I have a How to Cook Bacon in the Oven recipe video you can watch to follow along as I bake multiple strips of bacon in my oven.

Plus, I show you how to save the bacon grease—a valuable commodity in any self-respecting traditional foods kitchen! I also share a quick and easy way to clean your baking sheet so that you do not spend a lot of time—and elbow grease—scrubbing it.

Baking your bacon is a win-win on all fronts. You’ll have easy clean-up and deliciously crisp bacon for making BLTs, serving alongside scrambled eggs, or simply having at the ready in your fridge for any time you want some crumbled bacon to top a homemade wedge salad (with homemade blue cheese dressing).

Ingredients to Make a BLT Sandwich with Smashed Tomatoes

Find the full printable recipe with ingredients below.

• Iceberg Lettuce
• Cherry Tomatoes (8-10)
• Crispy Bacon (4 or more slices)
• Mayonnaise
• Sweet Relish
• Sourdough Bread (2 slices)

How to Make a BLT Sandwich with Smashed Tomatoes

Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.

1. Bake bacon in oven.
2. Pat the bacon dry and allow to cool.
3. Toast the sourdough bread.
4. Mix mayonnaise with sweet relish.
5. Smash cherry tomatoes on a plate with a fork.
6. Cut up lettuce.
7. Slather mayonnaise and sweet relish mixture on one bread slice, then add bacon, smashed tomatoes, and lettuce.
8. Slather the mixture on one side of the second slice of sourdough bread and top the sandwich with it.
9. Press down on the sandwich, slice it in half, and enjoy!

So grab some tomatoes, bake your bacon, and enjoy this BLT for a quick and easy lunch. I’m confident this will quickly become one of your favorite summer sandwiches. This type of food makes creating a traditional foods kitchen a fun and scrumptious journey!

Variations

You can use beefsteak tomatoes, instead of smashed cherry tomatoes, for a more traditional BLT sandwich. Also, I chose sourdough bread, since that’s usually what we have readily available in our traditional foods kitchen, but you can use any type of sandwich bread you’d enjoy.

Recipe Tips

Make sure you have crispy bacon. So if you don’t bake your bacon in the oven, make sure it crisps up on the stovetop.

Storing and Reheating

Your BLT sandwich is best enjoyed when made, but it will keep for a day in the refrigerator. Much longer, and your bread will start to become soggy.

For More Great Recipes

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