BLT with Lemon Basil Mayo

This BLT sandwich recipe is made with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce and tomato, and topped with a homemade garlic lemon basil mayo for a twist!

When it comes to sandwiches, it's hard to beat a BLT. This version is dressed up a bit with the addition of a lemon garlic herb basil mayo. It makes this classic sandwich even tastier!

Bacon is basically a food group in America and my favorite way to utilize it is to whip up a batch of these BLT sandwiches. A BLT is a classic American sandwich made with toasted bread, bacon, lettuce, sliced tomato, and mayo.

A BLT strikes a delicious balance of tastes and textures. It combines salty bacon with tangy tomatoes and the mayo provides a bit of sweetness. The bacon and bread are crispy, the lettuce and tomato cool, and the mayo creamy.

It's delicious as-is, but I like to take it up a notch with the addition of an herb mayo. It's made with garlic, lemon juice, and fresh basil leaves.

The lemon basil mayo gives this classic sandwich a gourmet twist. It takes almost no time to prepare and adds a lot of flavor to an already tasty sandwich!

Jump to:

• How To Dress Up A BLT Sandwich
• Ingredients For A BLT Sandwich
• How To Cook Bacon In The Oven
• How To Cook Bacon On The Stove Top
• How To Make Lemon Basil Mayo
• Can I Use Dried Basil Instead Of Fresh?
• How To Make A BLT with Lemon Basil Mayo
• What Type Of Bread Is Best?
• What To Serve With A BLT Sandwich
• How To Store Leftovers
• BLT with Lemon Basil Mayo

How To Dress Up A BLT Sandwich

One of my favorite ways to dress up any recipe is to add some fresh herbs to it. Fresh herbs brighten up any dish with extra freshness and flavor. They help to wake up all of the other flavors in the dish.

Herbs also add lots of color and visual appeal to everything from soups to salads to casseroles.

During the summer, I love to grow fresh herbs of all kinds in the garden. Having an abundance of herbs means that anything I prepare during those months is probably laden with them.

The lemon basil mayo used to make this BLT is one of them. I love to make these sandwiches during the summer months with fresh basil from the garden, but it's easy enough to grab from the supermarket any other time of year.

Ingredients For A BLT Sandwich

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 8 slices Gluten Free Sandwich Bread (or regular sandwich bread if not gluten free)
• 1 lb. Bacon (gluten free)
• 2 Roma Tomatoes
• 1 package Green Leaf Lettuce (or any leafy greens)
• 1 cup Mayo
• 2 cloves Garlic
• ¼ cup Lemon Juice
• 1 cup Fresh Basil Leaves
• ⅛ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper

How To Cook Bacon In The Oven

The star of a BLT sandwich is, of course, bacon.

As for the bacon, I find that a thick-cut variety works better when making sandwiches. It holds its shape better after cooked and makes for a heartier sandwich.

This recipe calls for 1 package (equals1 lb.) of bacon, but you can certainly make more if you really like to pile it on, or if you'd like some leftovers for breakfast.

Make sure to use a gluten free brand of bacon if gluten is an issue for you.

I used to cook bacon on the stove top, but recently a friend turned me on to baking it in the oven. Baking the bacon in the oven ensures that it is crispy when cooked, drastically reduces the amount of grease in the cooking process, and is overall much easier than frying it on the stove top.

1. To make the bacon in the oven, start by heating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line 2 large baking sheets with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
3. Line the bacon on the baking sheets, being careful not to overcrowd them.
4. Place the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on desired crispiness.
5. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and place the cooked bacon on some paper towels to drain.
6. Discard the aluminum foil or parchment paper once the bacon is cooked.

How To Cook Bacon On The Stove Top

If you prefer to cook bacon on the stove top, it's best to cook in batches so as not to crowd the pan and to keep the splatter level to a minimum.

1. Place the first batch of bacon in a skillet on the stove top. I love to use a cast iron skillet for bacon, because the grease creates a nice seasoning.
2. Place the cast iron skillet on the stove top and heat to medium-low.
3. Cook the first batch until the edges start to curl. I prefer to cook bacon on lower heat because it cuts down on the splatter factor and it prevents the bacon from burning.
4. Cook for roughly 6 minutes on the first side, flip, and cook for another 6 minutes on the second side, depending on how crispy you like your bacon.
5. Once the first batch is finished, remove it from the skillet and place on some paper towels to drain. Drain any excess grease from the skillet and repeat with the remainder of the bacon.

How To Make Lemon Basil Mayo

The lemon basil mayo adds another great level of flavor to this BLT. The lemon juice provides a tangy kick and the basil adds an element of freshness to the sandwich.

This sauce feels light, even though it's made with mayo. The brightness of the sauce helps to balance the heaviness of the bacon.

It's super easy to make and can be prepared while the bacon is cooking in the oven.

All that's needed to make this basil mayo is to add all of the ingredients to a food processor and pulse until completely combined.

1. To make the sauce, add 1 cup mayo, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, and ⅛ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper to a food processor.
2. Pulse all of the ingredients until completely combined.

Can I Use Dried Basil Instead Of Fresh?

I do not recommend using dried basil instead of fresh when making this herb mayo. Dried basil is not nearly as flavorful as fresh and as a result will make for a flavorless sauce.

Jarred basil pesto is a great substitute for fresh basil if you aren't able to find it. If using jarred basil pesto, sub ½ cup of it in place of the fresh basil leaves.

Keep in mind that most brands of jarred basil pesto contains dairy if dairy is an issue for you.

How To Make A BLT with Lemon Basil Mayo

Once the bacon is cooked and the lemon basil mayo prepared, there are only a few more steps needed to prepare the sandwich.

I like to use Roma tomatoes when making sandwiches, but you can use any type of tomato you like.

As for the greens, I prefer leafy green lettuce, because it's a bit more sturdy than some of the more delicate lettuce varieties. It holds its shape and does not easily fall off the sandwich.

1. To assemble the sandwich, cut 2 Roma tomatoes into slices.
2. Toast 8 slices of sandwich bread in the toaster or in the oven. If toasting the bread in the oven, place the bread slices on a baking sheet and heat for 3-4 minutes on the first side. Flip the bread, and toast for an additional 3-4 minutes on the second side.
3. Slather a generous amount of the lemon basil mayo onto one (or both) slices of the toasted bread.
4. Place 1-2 pieces of leafy green lettuce onto one half of the sandwich.
5. Add 2-3 tomato slices on top of the lettuce.
6. Finish with 4 slices of the cooked bacon (feel free to cut the bacon in half if needed).
7. Place the second slice of bread on top of the bacon and cut the sandwich in half. Repeat with the remainder of the sandwiches.

Love sandwiches? Check out these recipes!

• Turkey Rachel Sandwich
• Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich
• Italian Grilled Cheese
• Pan Seared Walleye Sandwich
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
• Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwich

What Type Of Bread Is Best?

Like all good sandwiches this BLT is messy and a little hard to eat. A good sandwich is not a dainty thing. Some of the best sandwiches I've ever had probably should have come with a bib.

This recipe is gluten free and I find that a hearty gluten free sandwich bread works great. My favorite brands of gluten free bread for sandwiches include Canyon Bakehouse, Udi's, and Schar.

If gluten is not an issue for you any variety of hearty sandwich bread like sourdough, Texas Toast, or white bread is perfect.

Feel free to use a homemade gluten free sandwich bread or a low carb bread.

You can also go the low carb route with this recipe by chopping all the ingredients into pieces and adding them to a gluten free low carb wrap.

What To Serve With A BLT Sandwich

I love dishes like this because they're great on their own, or paired with a light salad or side dish like roasted veggies.

I personally think coleslaw goes particularly well with a BLT. This crunchy coleslaw, blue cheese coleslaw, kohlrabi slaw, or ginger miso slaw are all great options.

A potato salad like this Mediterranean potato salad or Spanish potato salad are delicious, as is this dill pickle pasta salad.

For a lighter pairing you can't go wrong with marinated tomato salad, snap pea salad, balsamic pickled beet salad, or marinated green bean salad.

Roasted vegetables are a great option. I love this Mediterranean roasted cauliflower, garlic green beans, parmesan roasted cauliflower, and maple sesame Brussels sprouts.

These air fryer parsnips and air fried crispy mushrooms are also a delicious pairing.

How To Store Leftovers

It's best to store all of the components of these sandwiches separately in the refrigerator, so that the bread doesn't get soggy.

The cooled bacon, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce may be stored separately in airtight containers.

Any leftover lemon basil mayo may be stored for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Feel free to use any leftover mayo as a sandwich spread spread or dip for veggies.

This dish is best served fresh and I do not recommend freezing it.

Looking for more lunch recipes? Don't miss these!

• Lemon Basil Chicken Salad
• Mustard Egg Salad
• Curried Chickpea Salad
• Lemon Dill Egg Salad
• Tarragon Chicken Salad

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