These BLT bagels are perfect for hot summer days. Warm toasted everything bagels, smeared with a delicious garlic mayo, layers of crispy applewood smoked bacon, thick slices of juicy tomato and a surprise ingredient...arugula!
BLT bagels combine two of my favorite things; bacon and bagels. I absolutely love the chewiness of the bagels and the fact that it can hold all the ingredients without getting soggy or falling apart. Serve these sandwiches for lunch, as a snack or take it on your next picnic or beach day!
If you're looking for more tasty summer recipes, try my Creamy Cajun Potato Salad and Fried Pickle and Ranch Dip.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Great way to use leftover bagels- Bagels are the perfect sandwich bread. They're thick, sturdy, and have the best chewy texture. They can hold all the sandwich fixings without getting soggy.
- Crispy bacon- I'm not sure if there's anything better than thick crispy bacon. This sandwich has layers upon layers of bacon.
- Garlic mayo- Store-bought mayo is flavored with fresh garlic and fresh lemon juice. It adds so much flavor to this sandwich.
- Fresh ingredients- Juicy, ripe tomatoes and arugula. They're the perfect summer ingredients and bring so much freshness to this sandwich.
Ingredient Notes
- Bagels- Feel free to use your favorite bagels. For this recipe, I used everything bagels from Trader Joe's.
- Bacon- I love applewood smoked bacon and cook it inside the oven, which gives you perfectly crisp bacon. Clean up is a breeze as well!
- Tomatoes- Use vine-ripe, beefsteak or heirloom tomatoes. Slice them thick and make sure to season them with salt and pepper.
- Greens- I use arugula but you can also use butter lettuce, green leaf lettuce, or your favorite spring mix.
- Mayo- I use an olive oil based mayonnaise but use your favorite brand.
- Garlic- Use fresh garlic cloves. Skip the jarred stuff
- Lemon juice- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor. I do not recommend using bottled lemon juice.
Step By Step Instructions
STEP 1: Make the garlic mayo. In a small bowl, combine mayo, finely minced garlic, lemon juice and salt. Whisk to combine. Then, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
*You can make this in advance.
STEP 2: Cook the bacon. Preheat oven to 375°. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, place the bacon side-by-side on the tray. Cook bacon for 18-20 minutes or until desired crispiness.
Once done, transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
STEP 3: Toast bagels. Slice bagels in half. Place in toaster oven for 4-6 minutes until the bread is golden brown and warmed through.
Then, spread a good amount of garlic mayo over each bagel half.
STEP 4: Add the produce. First, lay a pile of arugula on the bottom half of the bagel. Then, add sliced tomatoes. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper.
STEP 5: Layer on the bacon. Take 3-4 slices of bacon and break them in half. Arrange the bacon on top of the tomatoes. Then, add the top half of the bagel to close the sandwich.
Use a serrated knife to cut in half. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Make sure to toast the bread until golden brown. This not only adds great texture but prevents the sandwich from absorbing moisture and getting soggy.
Cook your bacon inside the oven. No need to stand over a splattering pan of bacon. This method is effortless, doesn't require flipping and also gives you perfectly crisp slices of bacon every time.
Use ripe tomatoes. This is one of the key ingredients inside this sandwich, so make sure your tomatoes are ripe and juicy for the best BLT sandwich. Slice them thick and always season them with salt and pepper.
Don't hold back on the mayo. It adds so much flavor to this sandwich. Bagels are also a lot thicker than traditional sliced bread, which means they require a bit more mayo to keep them nice and moist.
FAQ
Yes, you can. Feel free to use turkey bacon for a healthier option. I cook them exactly the same way I do regular bacon. I drizzle a bit of olive oil over the turkey bacon, which keeps them moist and helps them brown in the oven.
It's best to make a BLT sandwich right before serving to ensure the ingredients stay fresh and the bread does not get soggy. You can prep all the ingredients ahead of time and when you're ready to eat, assemble the sandwiches.
You can customize your BLT to your preference but some of my favorite ingredients to use are avocados, sliced cheese, or a perfectly fried egg.
Storing
These BLT bagels are best when they are freshly made. However, you can refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container or sandwich bag for up to 24 hours.
If you have leftover ingredients, store them separately inside the refrigerator.
More Summer Recipes To Try
If you decide to try this recipe, please make sure to leave a STAR RATING on the recipe card and leave a comment below. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Let's stay connected on social media. Tag me on Instagram @theepicureanmouse. Make sure to follow me on Pinterest for more delicious family recipes.
📖 Recipe
BLT Bagels
Ingredients
Garlic Mayo (Aioli)
- ¾ cup Mayonnaise
- 2 Garlic cloves finely minced
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice fresh
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
BLT Bagels
- 4 Everything Bagels halved and toasted
- 2 Tomatoes vine ripe, beefsteak or heirlooms, sliced thick
- 2 cups Baby arugula divided
- 1 lb Applewood smoked bacon cooked until crisp, divided among bagels
- Salt and pepper to season tomatoes
Instructions
Garlic Mayo (Aioli)
- In a small bowl, combine mayo, finely minced garlic, lemon juice and salt. Whisk to combine. Then, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
BLT Bagels
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, place the bacon side-by-side on the tray. Cook bacon for 18-20 minutes or until desired crispiness.
- Once done, transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate
- Slice bagels in half. Place in toaster oven for 4-6 minutes until the bread is golden brown and warmed through.
- Then, spread a good amount of garlic mayo over each bagel half.
- First, lay a pile of arugula on the bottom half of the bagel. Then, add sliced tomatoes. Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper.
- Take 3-4 slices of bacon and break them in half. Arrange the bacon on top of the tomatoes. Then, add the top half of the bagel to close the sandwich.
- Use a serrated knife to cut in half. Serve and enjoy!
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