BLT salad recipe with a rich and creamy homemade garlic dressing. Perfect as an entire meal with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and more!
BLT sandwiches are such a classic meal idea but when the spring and summer months come along, we want something a little more light but still filling and delicious.
This loaded BLT salad isn’t meant as a side dish, this is meant as the main event! And who could resist a salad with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and creamy homemade garlic salad dressing.
So bring on the summer heat, and bring on the loaded salads, because in this house it’s a hit every time.
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A salad as an entire meal? Absolutely!
As the weather warms up our meals change from hearty comfort food in the winter to lighter variations. But there is also another thought involved. If I fill up on heavy meals during the summer such as meat and potatoes, I’ll have no room for ice cream.
And when the heat hits 100 degrees outside, everyone is asking for ice cream and how can I say no when I absolutely want ice cream too?
So every so often we skip the big dinners and make a hearty salad instead.
BLT SALAD RECIPE
Salad Ingredients
- 1 head of lettuce or mixed greens
- 7-8 slices of bacon
- grape tomatoes
- 1 avocado
- red onion- sliced
- 4 hard boiled eggs (optional)
Homemade Garlic Dressing
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 3 TBS mayonnaise
- 2 TBS milk
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- pinch of salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 425°
I like to start by cooking our bacon while I prepare everything else. Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking tray with tin foil (for easy clean up) and place half the package of bacon on the baking tray. Approximately 7-8 slices. Bake for 8-12 minutes until nice and crispy.
Place cooked bacon on a plate with a paper towel and set aside.
Hard Boiled Eggs (Optional)- Since this is a main course we like to add hard boiled eggs to our salad. While the oven is preheating for the bacon, this is a great time to start the hard boiled eggs. Fill a medium size pot halfway with water. Add 4 eggs. *note- There should be enough water just to submerge the eggs completely.
Set to medium high heat. Once eggs come to a boil, allow to boil 5 minutes. Turn off burner and allow them to continue to cook in the hot water for 15 minutes.
Bring pot over to sink and run them under cold water. Peel and set aside.
Prepare your salad
While eggs are boiling and bacon is baking, prepare your salad. Start by washing and drying your greens. For our summer salads we like to use mixed greens with lettuce, arugula and spinach. But you can use whatever type of greens you like such as Romaine, Red leaf, Boston lettuce ect.
We use a little less than half a large package of mixed greens (about 3-4 hand fulls) which is enough for a family of four.
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Slice the vegetables
Tomatoes- We love to use a grape tomato melody with yellow, orange and red tomatoes, but you can use whatever tomatoes you have on hand. Slice them into bit sizes and add to mixed greens.
Avocado- Avocado is perfect for this hearty BLT salad recipe.
Red Onions- Only half our family likes red onions so when I do add them to the salad, I make sure to add them only to one side.
Top with crispy bacon and chopped hard boiled eggs. (eggs optional)
WHAT DRESSING GOES WITH BLT SALAD
Every family has their favorite go to salad dressings in the fridge and this BLT salad goes great with Ranch or similar creamy dressings. Personally, we are a huge fan of Brianna’s Homestyle Poppyseed Dressing and it goes perfect with this salad.
This salad also goes great with a simple homemade creamy garlic dressing, which we also love.
Homemade Creamy Garlic Dressing
Makes enough for approximately 4 servings.
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 3 TBS mayonnaise
- 2 TBS milk
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- pinch of salt and pepper
Combine these ingredients in a bowl and chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
This BLT salad recipe is perfect for an easy summer dinner idea. One that just might leave you with a little extra room for some ice cream.
Best Wishes! ~Sara
BLT Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 head of lettuce or mixed greens
- 8 slices bacon
- 10 oz grape tomatoes
- 1 avocado
- ¼ red onion
- 4 hardboiled eggs (optional)
Homemade Garlic Dressing
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 3 TBS mayonnaise
- 2 TBS milk
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. vinegar
- pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Line a baking tray with tin foil (for easy clean up) and place 7-8 slices of bacon.
- Bake for 8-12 minutes until nice and crispy.
- Place cooked bacon on a plate with a paper towel and set aside.
- *Optional hard boiled eggs- Fill a medium size pot halfway with water. Add 4 eggs.
- Set to medium high heat. Once eggs come to a boil, allow to boil 5 minutes. Turn off burner and allow them to continue to cook in the hot water for 15 minutes.
- Bring pot over to sink and run them under cold water. Peel and set aside.
- Prepare your salad. Start by washing and drying your greens. Tear into bite size pieces and place in salad bowl.
- Add sliced grape tomatoes, 1 sliced avocado and red onions.
- Top with crispy bacon and chopped hard boiled eggs. (eggs optional)
Homemade Creamy Garlic Dressing
- In a medium bowl combine 1/3 cup sour cream, 3 TBS Mayonnaise, 2 TBS milk, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Mix to combine and place in fridge to chill until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
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