Healthy BLT Salad Recipe

There’s nothing better than a cool, crunchy salad on a warm summer day. They’re family-friendly and perfect for summer potlucks and get-togethers. Summer is also the perfect time to eat salads, with gardens and farmers’ markets overflowing with produce.

We don’t eat much bread around here, so I wanted to recreate the taste of a classic BLT sandwich with a veggie-packed salad. Salad greens topped with crispy bacon, sweet cherry tomatoes, and a tangy lemon mustard vinaigrette. It doesn’t get any fresher than this!

BLT Salad: A fresh take on a classic salad

What’s the appeal of a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich? It’s so simple, yet always satisfying. But what if you swapped the thin slices of tomato and lettuce leaves for a generous helping of wholesome veggies?

Mixing up a BLT salad for dinner is a great way to use up veggies from your garden. You can use whatever veggies you like – I like arugula and baby spinach, which are rich in B vitamins and iron, and romaine lettuce for its crunchy texture.

Not yet confident in your gardening skills? These cherry tomatoes are a kid-friendly garden treasure and super easy to grow. All you need is a big pot, some soil, some stakes and string, and some sunshine! Kids will love watching the cherry tomatoes ripen, and their natural sweetness is perfect for this salad. Even if you don’t have much of a garden, these are great as potted plants to plant on your balcony or porch.

BLT Toppings

Topping the salad with sliced ​​avocado and creamy goat cheese gives it a taste similar to the mayonnaise on a traditional BLT. This salad is a refreshing and satisfying way to enjoy the flavors of a BLT without the bread.

If you like your bacon crispier, choose regular or thin slices, but if you want more bacon flavor, try thick cut bacon. Here are some other topping ideas:

• Freshly chopped chives

• shredded cheddar cheese (substitute for goat cheese)

• Finely chopped red onion

• homemade Grain-Free Croutons

Takeaway Lunch

Salads are often quick and easy to make, making them the perfect dinner for busy days. Add some sliced ​​chicken for an easy protein-packed meal, or grill some meat and serve this BLT Salad as a side dish.

I like to make this ahead of time in a mason jar (another handy use) to have an easy-to-carry salad container. Place the wet ingredients (tomatoes, dressing, avocado) in the bottom. Then add your salad greens on top and put the lid on. When you’re ready to serve, shake the jar to mix everything together or dump it onto a plate.

If you look at the instructions, you’ll notice that I divide everything evenly between four plates. Alternatively, you could just put everything in a big bowl and serve it as is, but this method won’t give everyone the exact same amount of toppings.

BLT with avocado?

Absolutely! Avocados are delicious and healthy too.

Avocados are one of the most versatile ingredients. They’re delicious on their own, but mild enough to pair with other flavors. They’re most commonly mashed into guacamole, but they’re also great in soups and salads. I like to use avocado in my eggless mayonnaise, or toss a little in a smoothie.

Avocados are nutritious and creamy, making them a great alternative to eggs and dairy in some recipes, and they’re also rich in fiber, potassium, B vitamins, and healthy fats.

dressing

Commercially available salad dressings are often loaded with highly refined oils and artificial additives, so when you make them at home, you can be sure your family is getting plenty of healthy fats and real ingredients.

It can be cheaper to make your own salad dressing because most of the common ingredients are already on hand: common ingredients include olive oil, various vinegars, and herbs.

Rather than making the dressing from scratch every time I need it, I make a double or triple batch to save time. (Tip: using dried herbs will stay fresh the longest.) I store it in a mason jar with a lid so it’s ready when I need it.

The vinaigrette for this salad is a mix of lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, and a little salt and pepper. It’s quite tangy and can also be used as a marinade for chicken or fish. Shake it in a mason jar and store the remaining portion in the fridge to enjoy the next day.

For some of my other salad dressing recipes, check out this post .

Homemade ranch dressing

I used to be pretty stingy with store-bought ranch dressing. I love a tangy vinaigrette for this salad, but ranch dressing works just as well. Instead of buttermilk or sour cream, my recipe uses Greek yogurt for extra protein. If you’re not a fan of vinaigrettes, give ranch dressing a try.

More Summer Salad Recipes

Looking for more delicious salad combinations? Here are some of our favorites:

What’s your family’s favorite summer salad? Tell us below!