The BLT sandwich is a classic and beloved sandwich that features crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, and creamy mayonnaise on toasted bread. While the standard ingredients deliver plenty of flavor, BLTs can be taken to the next level with the addition of tasty side dishes and extras.
When serving up BLTs, it’s important to think about sides that will complement the savory bacon, cool lettuce, and sweet tomato. Crunchy, creamy, and tangy sides pair particularly well. Here’s an overview of some of the best side options for BLT sandwiches.
Crunchy Vegetable Sides
Since BLTs feature cool, crunchy lettuce, they pair nicely with other fresh, crisp vegetables. Crunchy veggie sides provide contrasting textures and flavors. Some excellent crunchy veggie sides for BLTs include:
- Carrot sticks – Shredded or cut into sticks, carrots give you vitamin A, fiber, and crunch.
- Celery sticks – Celery is low calorie, full of water, and offers satisfying snaps.
- Cucumber slices – Cool, refreshing cucumber slices balance the richness of the bacon.
- Coleslaw – Creamy, vinegar-based coleslaw complements a BLT perfectly.
- Dill pickle spears – Tart, garlicky pickles cut through the savory flavors.
- Radishes – Spicy radishes pack a crisp, peppery crunch.
- Jicama sticks – Mild, juicy jicama has an apple-like crunch.
- Green salad – A fresh green salad with vinaigrette is a lighter side for BLTs.
These vegetarian sides all provide crisp texture to contrast the soft bread and juicy tomatoes in a BLT sandwich. Their bright flavors balance out the rich bacon. Crunchy veggie sides also add more vitamins, minerals, and fiber to make your BLT meal more nutritious.
Creamy Potato Sides
In addition to crisp, fresh veggies, creamy potato sides also complement BLT sandwiches wonderfully. Potatoes blend smoothly with the sandwich fillings and provide heartiness. Some stellar creamy potato sides for BLTs include:
- Potato salad – Chunky potato salad is a classic BLT accompaniment.
- Mashed potatoes – Smooth, creamy mashed spuds are comfort food.
- Hash browns or home fries – Fried or roasted potatoes add crunch.
- Macaroni and cheese – Cheesy, gooey mac and cheese screams comfort.
- Loaded baked potatoes – Baked potatoes piled with bacon, cheese, etc. pair perfectly.
The creaminess and starchiness of potatoes balance the strong flavors and varied textures in a BLT. Potatoes also provide a hearty base to make your sandwich meal satisfying. When making potato sides, mix in other vegetables like shredded carrots to add even more nutrition.
Tangy Sauce and Dip Sides
BLT sandwiches already contain the tangy flavors of tomato and mayo. You can play up this tanginess even more with sauce and dip sides. The richness of the bacon and bread also helps cut through very tangy accompaniments. Some great tangy sauce and dip sides for BLTs include:
- Caesar salad dressing or aioli for dipping
- Guacamole or avocado spread
- Tartar sauce or remoulade
- Balsamic vinegar for drizzling
- Greek yogurt ranch dip
- Hummus
- Salsa
- Tzatziki sauce
The creaminess of these dips and sauces balances with the tartness and spices. Drizzling vinegar adds welcome acidity to cut through the rich bacon. Tangy sides also allow you to incorporate more vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions.
Crunchy Vegetable Sides Pairings
Here are some recommended side pairings using crunchy vegetables:
| BLT Sandwich | Crunchy Vegetable Side Options |
|---|---|
| Classic BLT | Celery sticks, dill pickle spears, coleslaw |
| BLT with avocado | Cucumber slices, shredded carrots, radish slices |
| BLT with pesto mayo | Carrot sticks, shredded cabbage, green salad |
| Caprese BLT | Cherry tomato salad, grilled zucchini slices, broccoli slaw |
Match lighter sides with bold BLTs, and vice versa. The crunch and moisture of the vegetables add nice contrast. For instance, the classic creamy coleslaw complements the simple flavors of a traditional BLT. But the pesto mayo BLT would pair better with drier sides like carrot sticks. Think about flavor intensities as well as textures.
Creamy Potato Sides Pairings
Here are recommended side pairings focused on creamy potato dishes:
| BLT Variation | Creamy Potato Side |
|---|---|
| BLT with pimiento cheese | Loaded mashed potatoes |
| BBQ bacon BLT | Macaroni and cheese |
| BLT with fried green tomatoes | Southern-style potato salad |
| BLT with basil mayo | Creamy hash browns |
The starch and creaminess of the potato sides balances out bolder, more complex BLT fillings. Pair simple sides with complex sandwiches and vice versa. For instance, pimiento cheese and BBQ bacon are already heavily flavored, so they would do well with plain creamy mashed potatoes. But a BLT with just basil mayo can handle a loaded potato side.
Tangy Sauce and Dip Sides Pairings
Recommended sauce and dip accompaniments for various BLTs:
| BLT Type | Tangy Dipping Sauces |
|---|---|
| BLT with pepperjack | Guacamole, salsa |
| Mediterranean BLT | Hummus, tzatziki |
| BLT with herb mayo | Buttermilk ranch, Caesar dressing |
| BLT with fried green tomatoes | Spicy remoulade, tartar sauce |
Tangy sauces pair especially well with spicy or herb-flavored BLTs to cool things down. Thick creamy dips complement BLTs with lots of crunchy components like fried green tomatoes. Pick sauces that incorporate flavors already in the sandwich, like tzatziki sauce with a Mediterranean BLT. The possibilities for tangy sides are endless!
Conclusion
When serving up crispy, savory BLT sandwiches, don’t forget about the sides! Crunchy fresh vegetables, creamy potato salads, and tangy sauces or dips all make excellent accompaniments. Think about contrasting textures and flavors to balance out the components of your BLT. And mix and match simpler and more complex sides with basic and loaded BLT variations. With tasty sides, you can take your BLT sandwich from great to gourmet!
