Who doesn’t love that irresistible combination of crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and juicy tomatoes? These Mini BLT Bites turn the classic sandwich combo into the perfect bite-sized appetizer for any occasion. Easy to make and even easier to eat!
Don’t you sometimes want just a bite or two of something? Not a whole sandwich, not a whole piece or slice, but just a bite. Enter Mini BLT Bites–a recipe that’s perfect for when you only want a bite. A bite of a BLT, that is.
This BLT appetizer takes all the ingredients of the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich and reduces them to one gorgeous, delicious bite. It’s simply toasted sourdough bread, topped with mayonnaise, a bite of bacon, lettuce, and a halved cherry tomato. Sprinkle with salt. Devour.
This delicious finger food recipe is great for Sunday afternoons while watching whatever sporting event. Fabulous with drinks before dinner. Or just make a plate full for after school snacks.
— This post was originally published on April 26, 2010. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
Recipe Snapshot
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Oven
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Servings: 6
Primary Ingredient(s): Sourdough bread, bacon, cherry tomatoes, lettuce
Skill Level: Easy
What Makes This Recipe Special
This recipe takes everything you love about a BLT and turns it into a neat, two-bite appetizer. You still get the crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, and good mayonnaise that you love all layered on toasted bread. It’s just scaled down to appetizer size.
The contrast of textures is what makes it work. The toast stays crisp, the bacon has just enough give, and the tomato adds freshness. It’s familiar, straightforward, and always one of the first things to disappear from the table.
Ingredient Notes
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- Bread – I prefer sourdough but any hearty bread will work. You need something that will hold its shape when cut small and stacked with the toppings.
- Bacon – Use your favorite. My preference is Smithfield brand thick-cut.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Or grape tomatoes. The multicolored cherry tomatoes are really pretty for this.
- Mayonnaise – It’s always Duke’s for me!
- Lettuce – Boston or Bibb lettuce is nice.
- Salt and Pepper – Of course! Finishing salts such as black or pink Himalayan make a very pretty presentation.
The complete ingredient list with detailed measurements is included in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make BLT Bites
Prep the Bread, Bacon, and Tomatoes
- Trim the crusts from the bread.
- Cut each slice of bread into four rectangles.
- Place the bread rectangles on a baking sheet.
- Toast under the broiler until golden brown. Allow the toast to cool before proceeding.
- Cut the bacon slices into thirds and cut the cherry tomatoes in half.
Pro Tip
You’ll need to use the thickest market bacon you can find for this. Thin bacon will crumble when you cut it into thirds and will crumble even worse when you put a toothpick through it in the final step.
Assemble the Appetizers
- Spread one side of each toast with mayonnaise.
- Top with one piece of bacon.
- Add a lettuce leaf.
- Top with half a cherry tomato.
- Add a pick to hold each stack together.
- Sprinkle with salt (I used Hawaiian black sea salt in the photo).
Makes 12 bites (2 per serving).
Recipe Tips
- To keep the tomatoes from making the toast soggy, lay them cut-sides down on a paper towel for a few minutes to drain before adding them to the assembled BLT bite.
- Don’t cook the bacon until completely crispy. Make sure it still has some “give” so that the picks will go through it without breaking it apart.
Recipe Options
- Want to cut the prep down even more? Skip the bread prep and use melba toast or crackers instead.
- Make an “Italian BLT Bite” by substituting the bacon with prosciutto and adding a tiny mozzarella pearl.
- Use a spicy mayonnaise – stir a little sriracha into the mayonnaise before spreading it.
- Add a slice of pickled jalapeno pepper under the cherry tomato half.
- Make it a little “fancier” by cutting the bread into rounds with a very small biscuit cutter or into shapes with a cookie cutter.
- Make an herbal mayonnaise with a little finely chopped dill or basil.
Make Ahead Tips
To make these BLT appetizers in advance, prepare the individual parts a day ahead. Cook the bacon, cut the tomatoes in half, toast the bread and cut it into squares, prepare the mayonnaise, and prep the lettuce. Store these individually. Assemble the appetizers an hour or two in advance and keep them covered at room temperature until serving.
Menu Suggestions
For a casual party, serve BLT Bites along with Sausage Balls, Blue Cheese Dip with Crudites, and Texas Caviar with tortilla chips.
On game day, offer these appetizers with Baked Buffalo Wings, Hot Baked Crab Dip, and Bacon-Wrapped Sausage-Stuffed Jalapenos.
For afternoon tea, serve with a variety of Tea Sandwiches, Cranberry Pecan Baked Brie, and Southern Spiced Tea.
Questions About BLT Bites
A BLT is a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. It’s made from two pieces of bread (usually white bread, sometimes toasted) spread with mayonnaise and topped with crispy bacon, sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper, and lettuce. We tend to think of it as distinctly American, with the first recorded mention being in the 1903 Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book.
Try rye bread, pumpernickel, or Melba toast for a quick and easy alternative.
Be sure to let the toast cool completely before adding the toppings, and drain the BLT tomatoes as described above.
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BLT Bites
Ingredients
- 3 slices sourdough bread
- 4 slices thick-cut bacon cooked
- 6 ripe cherry tomatoes
- 6 teaspoons mayonnaise
- lettuce
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Trim the crusts from the bread.3 slices sourdough bread
- Cut each slice of bread into four rectangles.
- Place the bread rectangles on a baking sheet.
- Toast under the broiler until golden brown. Allow the toast to cool before proceeding.
- Cut the bacon slices into thirds and cut the cherry tomatoes in half.4 slices thick-cut bacon, 6 ripe cherry tomatoes
- Spread one side of each toast with mayonnaise.6 teaspoons mayonnaise
- Top with one piece of bacon.
- Add a lettuce leaf.lettuce
- Top with half a cherry tomato.
- Add a pick to hold each stack together.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.salt and pepper
Notes
- The recipe makes 12 pieces. Two pieces per serving.
- To keep the tomatoes from making the toast soggy, lay the tomatoes cut sides down on a paper towel for a few minutes to allow them to drain before adding them to the assembled BLT bite.
- May be made an hour or two in advance and kept covered at room temperature until serving.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
I’m Lana Stuart, an award-winning cookbook author, food blogger, and lifelong cook raised deep in Southwest Georgia. I started Lana’s Cooking in 2009 to share the tried-and-true recipes I grew up with. Around here, the food is full of flavor, the traditions run deep, and there’s always room at the table.
Never would have thought of this one! Great!
These look perfect! What a wonderful treat. But I agree with the other posts, I would not be able to stop at a few!
Such a clever idea, Lana! I bet those are a hit wherever you take them!
what a wonderful party food idea!
Now this is what I’m talking about. I’m having people over in a few weeks but didn’t want to cook a meal, just some some stuff to nibble on and these are perfect! Thanks Lana.
This recipe would be great for that, Teri. Just be sure to use the thick-cut bacon. And, by the way, I cook my bacon in the oven not on the stovetop. Much less mess that way!
These are awesome! And I love that they can go either in the direction of a tailgate or a tea.
Oh now these look so good! I can’t wait for tomatoes!
That is such a cute idea. That must be great for parties.
I love this idea…and they’re so beautifully presented. It would be easy to get carried away and eat these without realizing how many you’ve put away! =)
These have got to be delicious because you can’t go wrong with that combination. I’d have to double or triple or even quadruple the recipe though, because just a bit won’t be enough.
It’s easily doubled, tripled, whatever. Make sure there are lots of folks around to help eat them because it’s easy to keep picking up one, then another, then another…
What a fun bite! These would be perfect for a tea party!
BLT appetizer style. I love it!!!! Though, it would be hard to eat just one.
These BLT Bites are an awesome idea…love it!
Oooh, I made these a few months ago, but yours look SO much better!! Mine didn’t have bread, so maybe that’s what I need to do next time. Delicious though, right?! :)
Tailgate! Great recipe following the big draft weekend!
These rock! What a great idea!
These look wonderful and so pretty too. My only problem with these is that I would want a bite, and then another bite and then….Many thanks for sharing.