18 BLT-Inspired Recipes That Check All the Boxes

Sometimes, we might forget about the BLT. But boy, when you remember it, it feels like a revelation all over again. It might just be the perfect sandwich profile (and the fail-safe order no matter how sketchy the diner): crispy, salty bacon, juicy and acidic tomato and the fresh crunch of lettuce, whether that's iceberg, romaine or just about any other green. The best news is, this is a sandwich whose appeal translates well to any kind of food. Salad is salad, but a BLT salad is a wow, yes! BLT pasta bake, BLT dip — these will always solicit a sort of "hooray!" feeling, which is aces whether it's just an ordinary weeknight or a dish you bring to a potluck. We all know that "put an egg on it" was a catchphrase a few years back, but we think the next one to go viral should be, "Give it the BLTreatment."

There are those of us who love beans any way, but there are plenty of people for whom a bean salad sounds maybe too healthy to be fun. Well, that was before the BLT bean salad. This one uses white beans and a mayo-fresh herb dressing that brings all the tang you want to this hearty salad, studded through with hits of bacon (of course!). You'll love having this in your fridge as much as you'll love eating it.

Maybe you've heard of egg-in-the-hole, that classic breakfast of an egg cooked in a piece of toast with a hole cut out of it. This takes that principle and brings it so over the top. You've got an avocado-toast base, piled high with your B, L (here, in the form of arugula) and T. Though including avocado typically translates something as "California," this sando also gets a dose of sunny yellow sunshine in the form of an egg cooked in the hole of an everything bagel. This is a sandwich you'll need to recover from — in the best way possible.

This feels like a something-from-nothing recipe if we've ever come across one. A store-bought, already-cooked pizza crust is the base, and it's topped with mozzarella and a fresh and fabulous BLT salad. Go ahead and leave the basil leaves whole, as pictured — they just become high-impact salad greens that way.

Bacony red sauce calls to mind the Roman amatriciana sauce, which incorporates guanciale (pork jowl). Here, it's the base to a baked pasta, which uses whole wheat noodles for some heft and fiber, and fresh mozz and ricotta for protein boosts (and so much creaminess!). No, there's no lettuce here, but there is a green: Escarole plays beautifully with the flavors.

We probably don't have to tell you that adding bacon to your avocado toast is a genius move. But adding the fresh crispness of mixed greens and thick tomato slices brings so much complexity. And a fried egg on top finishes it off for an incredible feast, even if you felt like your pantry was nearly empty.

BLT just adds so much interest to a baked mac and cheese, not least of all because the romaine is roasted first. (Who knew?) It's folded in with Gruyere and Cheddar, along with cherry tomatoes and cooked bacon. A crunchy herbed breadcrumb topping makes it truly spectacular.

A bacon burger needs no explanation, nor does a burger topped with lettuce and tomato. But ranch dressing is so complementary of this combo. Double that recipe for fresh buttermilk ranch dressing, because it goes equally well with your fries or tots on the side (sweet potato fries, too!).

These tasty bowls put an egg on it and BLT-ify it! They have tons of protein from the quinoa, and lots of veggies cooked in the bacon drippings (!) plus juicy tomatoes, their savory quality enhanced by salting ahead of time. Though grain bowls often have a healthful aura, sometimes at the expense of tastiness, there's no question that this one combines both.

BLTs make an ideal cocktail hour bite, pairing well with bubbly, martinis or Manhattans. Here, they're skewered with homemade croutons (made from excellent bread) and a Green Goddess dipping sauce. This is an easy lift that makes a great impact.

This is super-straightforward in preparation and in flavor profile, with the tomatoes getting cooked alongside the bacon for a luscious, almost jammy effect in the salad. Though you can go with lots of pasta shapes, we love corkscrews here, sort of springy in the mouth, a lovely textural contrast. Sour cream and chives meld everything together.

You may have had a bacon dog before, but this one is also "dragged through the garden," as a Chicagoan might say. Adding fresh ingredients like tomatoes and lettuce to a hot dog really round it out for a fully adult palate, and bring some salad with your dog (hey, we're fans). And yes, it is easy! But it's also easy to love.

This truly turns the BLT on its head, with the tomato taking the place of the bread, holding everything together. Inside, you'll find both bread cubes and lettuce, and of course it wouldn't be complete without the bacon. This is spiritually part salad, part vegetable side — and wholly delicious.

All the elements of a BLT are in this dip, with a garlicky Green Goddess base. Serve with crackers or toast, which bring in the sandwich element, or just additional stems of romaine. Though note: The dip also contains the lettuce and the tomato, for a fantastic texture party.

Yes, BLT can even slaw — and we promise, it slays. Start with a bag of store-bought slaw mix, and add bacon, red onion, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. A buttermilk-avocado dressing brings creaminess and tang. As with all good slaws, this one just keeps getting better over time.

Yes, it's true that when it comes to lobster roll, the simpler, the better. But it's also true that seafood and bacon make amazing partners (just ask chowder!). Those crispy, salty bits here really enhance the fresh and briny flavors here on a buttery roll. Heaven.

The wedge salad is another old-school, can't-go-wrong classic. It often includes bacon, and tomatoes, for that matter. But here it's intentional, with a homemade French dressing (made with the bacon grease — yum) that elevates this to steakhouse-ready. It works on the side or as an appetizer.

This is sort of an answer to Croque Monsieur, that classic French cafe classic of a ham sandwich coated in egg and fried. In that same vein, French toast makes amazing sandwich bread with BLT fillings. If you've ever felt that a plain BLT sandwich isn't filling enough, this version will be.