BLT is one of the best summer sandwiches out there. However, it can be hard to get it right if you’re not experienced with cooking it. To make matters worse, you may not know what to serve with BLT.
Not only do you have to prepare the bacon and the lettuce, but you also need to serve a side with it that compliments both ingredients well.
And this is without stealing the spotlight away from them completely. Thankfully, I’ve put together an ultimate guide on what to serve with BLT, so you’ll never have trouble pairing up this sandwich again!
1. Crispy Cheese Curds
The starter of our list of what to serve with BLT is crispy cheese curds. You’ll love these crispy cheese curds if you’re a cheese lover. They’re a classic Canadian dish and perfect for dipping in tomato ketchup.
What’s more, they take just 20 minutes to make so they are perfect if you’re looking for an easy appetizer! You can make them in batches and freeze them, too, so they’re always on hand when needed.
2. Orange Citrus
A simple orange citrus salad is so gorgeous that it’ll instantly elevate any dish, thus making it what to serve with BLT. It’s also insanely easy and as refreshing as a summer breeze.
Start with a bowl of mixed greens and top it off with oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, or clementines – or whatever you have on hand.
Next, add red onion and avocado if you want an extra boost of flavor. Finish off by drizzling the salad with olive oil and sprinkling some sea salt over the top. You can add in some protein, like grilled chicken or fish, for a complete meal.
3. Corn Ribs
Bring out these trendy corn ribs with your BLT sandwiches, and your guests will ask for seconds. The dish is not only delicious but also visually appealing. Fill a deep pan with water, salt it, and bring it to a boil.
When it reaches a full boil, place six ears of corn in the water for about 5-6 minutes or until they are tender.
Add butter or olive oil to coat the bottom of a baking dish before putting in half of the corn. Then, cover each ear with bacon and spoon on some sauce (or just drizzle) over the top.
Continue layering until you have 3 layers of each ingredient in total (the top layer should be all sauce).
Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes before removing from the oven and letting stand 10 minutes before serving hot! This is what to serve with BLT that makes you want more!
4. French Potato Salad
Another delicacy of what to serve with BLT is this French potato salad. It uses a vinaigrette dressing. The secret ingredients are fresh parsley and garlic, giving it that extra kick.
The best part is this recipe is easy and quick so that you won’t be stuck in the kitchen all day.
5. Fried Pickles
I like to make these fried pickles to go alongside my BLT. When it comes to what to serve with BLT, they are a great appetizer and a good way to get your kids in on the meal. Kids love eating food that looks like grown-up food, and this is one of those recipes.
Plus, it’s very easy, which makes it an even better option for kids, who can’t always be patient enough for some of our more complicated dishes.
They are also very kid-friendly because they are breaded and then fried. The breading helps keep them from getting too wet while frying, so they won’t fall apart as easily as un-breaded pickles would.
6. Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are crowd-pleasing finger food that your group can grab in between rounds of cornhole. Recipe: boil, peel, and mash hard-boiled eggs with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and paprika.
Afterward, scoop the mixture into serving dishes. Finally, garnish each dish with paprika and parsley before serving. If you are seeking what to serve with BLT, here’s a perfect option!
7. Broccoli Cheddar Balls
Broccoli cheddar balls are the ultimate way to sneak more veggies into your diet. With just a few ingredients, these broccoli and cheese balls, which are what to serve with BLT, can be made in no time.
First, place the softened butter in a bowl, then add egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Secondly, mix until dough forms, then add shredded cheese.
Form dough into 1-inch-sized balls then flattens out in a pan that has been greased with butter or cooking spray.
Lastly, bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Pack these with a BLT sandwich for a balanced but decadent lunch meal!
8. Veggie and Hummus Platter
Regarding what to serve with BLT, a veggie and hummus platter is an excellent dish to pair with your BLT sandwich for lunch or dinner.
You can either buy a premade one from the grocery store or make your own, which will cost less.
Some of my favorite combinations are carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, black olives, and other veggies like celery.
You can also add some cheese sticks for a protein boost or a few pieces of fruit if you want something sweet. Whatever you decide to put on your plate, it’s bound to be delicious!
9. Chicken Chopped Salad
Keep your lunch meal healthy by making a chicken chopped salad to go with your BLT sandwich.
Meanwhile, if you are searching for what to serve with BLT that’ll make your taste buds tingle, you can’t go wrong with this.
To prepare this delectable: Dice up cooked chicken, mix in fat-free mayonnaise, and add in mustard.
Next, add lettuce (torn), onion (chopped), fresh parsley, and lemon juice. Mix well. Serve on top or side with your sandwich. You can load it up with different vegetables to make it more nutritious.
10. Zucchini Fries
These zucchini fries are made even healthier because they’re oven baked! Their preparation is also very simple. To start with, slice each zucchini into long strips and coat in olive oil and salt.
Then, spread them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between them. Finally, bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes.
Take a break from your usual potato fries by cooking some zucchini fries to go with your sandwich instead! This is also included as what to serve with BLT!
11. Herbed Buttermilk Dressing
This dressing is fresh and creamy but also has so much flavor from fresh herbs like parsley, chives, thyme, or tarragon! To make this dressing on the list of what to serve with BLT is super easy!
Combine buttermilk with lemon juice or vinegar of choice, minced garlic, finely chopped onion or shallot, ground black pepper, and chopped fresh herbs of choice. Add salt to taste if desired.
12. Nachos
A tray of flavorful nachos is the ultimate dish to pair with a simple BLT sandwich to satisfy your need for something salty, crunchy, and savory.
While there are many different options of what to serve with BLT out there, here’s how to make the perfect platter of nachos.
First, load up your plate or bowl with chips or tortilla chips (the best choice if you want a crunchier texture).
Then, add any toppings, such as shredded cheese and diced tomatoes. Next, add any other desired toppings, such as salsa or sour cream.
Top it all off by sprinkling shredded lettuce on top for an added fresh flavor that pairs well with the rest of these bold flavors. Now you have a truly mouthwatering platter that will have you coming back for seconds!
13. Mac and Cheese
No other dish screams comfort than a bowl of gooey and cheesy mac and cheese. There are plenty of variations out there, but we recommend a classic combination like elbow noodles, butter, milk, flour, salt, and pepper.
To make it even better, you can add your favorite toppings like crispy bacon bits or even sautéed mushrooms. We aren’t done yet with our list of what to serve with BLT!
14. Kimari
Kimari is a popular street food in South Korea. It’s made of finely chopped vegetables and meat or seafood that are mixed together. It is then served as an appetizer with rice, noodles, or as a filling for buns.
The word kimari comes from the Japanese word kamaboko, which means fish cake, so they are often made of fish or seafood.
These recipes use pork because it’s available at most grocery stores, but feel free to substitute your favorite meat instead.
Also, it’s excellent to pair with sandwiches. If you have the Kimari, there’s no need to worry about what to serve with BLT because you already have the best one!
15. Shrimp Tempura
What to serve with BLT? Here’s one! Shrimp tempura is lightly crisp and tender inside and has a nice crunch.
I also like to fry up some rice in sesame oil until it’s slightly browned for this dish. The fried rice makes for a great base, soaking up all that delicious sauce from the shrimp.
It does this while adding an extra layer of crispy texture that compliments this dish nicely. Finish off by adding a few drops of soy sauce on top before serving.
16. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
Get more than your fill of bacon goodness by pairing your BLT sandwich with these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers.
After cooking, stuff one or two poppers with a small piece of cheese, wrap them in bacon, and place them on a baking sheet for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. For extra flavor, sprinkle salt and pepper over the poppers before serving.
To make an easy dipping sauce, combine mayonnaise, hot sauce (such as Tabasco), lemon juice, and zest. Stir until combined and season with salt and pepper to taste.
So if you are confused as to what to serve with BLT, these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers might be perfect for you!
17. Onion Rings
As we approach the end of this list of what to serve with BLT, we thought this specialty shouldn’t be excluded.
Take your BLT sandwich up a notch by making some onion rings to go with it! Follow this recipe to make crispy, juicy, and satisfying onion rings.
And don’t forget to dip them in ketchup or mayo for an extra flavor kick! One fun idea is dipping onion rings in ranch dressing instead of ketchup.
To start, mix buttermilk powder (found at most grocery stores) with water. Once mixed, add salt and sugar, then stir until combined before adding mayonnaise.
18. Tomato Soup
Thinking of what to serve with BLT? Why not start off your meal with a bowl of tomato soup? It’s simple, quick, and easy.
Start by dicing onion, garlic, celery stalk, and carrots. Further, cook until tender in a little bit of olive oil or vegetable oil over medium heat.
Add cans of crushed tomatoes, a can of tomato paste, and water. Then, season with salt and pepper to taste.
Next, simmer for about 45 minutes uncovered or until thickened. You may want to add a touch more water if it seems too thick at first.
Lastly, turn off the heat and puree using an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.
19. Air Fryer Potato Chips
Speaking of what to serve with BLT, I love my air fryer. I know it may sound silly, but I find myself using it a lot more than I thought I would.
The crispy texture and taste of food from my air fryer are so good. One favorite thing that I like to make is air-fried potato chips.
They are easy to make, can use any flavor chip you want, and are healthier than normal fried potatoes. Plus, some great brands out there have lower fat content in their chips.
All you need for this recipe is an air fryer and your favorite chip! Air fryer potato chips end this list of what to serve with BLT!
Conclusion
There’s just something about BLTs that makes eating them even more enjoyable than usual. It may be the gooey and melty cheese, the crunch of the lettuce, or the saltiness of the bacon.
Whatever it is, BLTs are simply delicious and should be eaten as often as possible! But what to serve with BLT?
The possibilities are endless, and no two combinations will taste exactly alike. It all depends on your personal tastes and preferences.
