A BLT sandwich is a classic and delicious sandwich made with crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and creamy mayonnaise on toasted bread. While the BLT is tasty on its own, pairing it with complementary side dishes can take this sandwich to the next level. The right sides can provide extra flavors, textures, nutrition, and variety to make your BLT meal complete.
Popular Sided Dishes for BLTs
Here are some of the most popular and delicious sides that pair wonderfully with BLT sandwiches:
- French Fries – Crispy, hot french fries are a perfect match for BLTs. The saltiness and crunch balances out the sandwich.
- Potato Salad – Creamy, cool potato salad with a touch of mustard is a classic BLT accompaniment. It adds potato flavor and cools down the spicy sandwich.
- Pasta Salad – Chilled pasta salads with veggies, cheese, and tangy dressings complement a BLT extremely well. They add carbohydrates to make it a heartier meal.
- Coleslaw – Refreshing coleslaw with crunchy cabbage and carrots in a creamy dressing compliments a BLT sandwich. The cool creaminess balances the texture.
- Onion Rings – Crispy, battered onion rings add sweetness and crunch to complement the sandwich flavors and textures.
- Fruit Salad – Fresh fruit salads with melons, berries, citrus, and other fruits add sweetness and nutrition and help cut the richness.
- Cottage Cheese – Mild, creamy cottage cheese paired with tomato-basil is a tasty and healthy side for BLTs. It adds protein and calcium too.
- Pickles – Dill pickle chips or spears complement BLTs with their sour crispness and ability to cut through the rich flavors.
- Tomato Soup – Creamy tomato soup is delicious with a BLT for dunking. It brings out more tomato flavor and adds comfort.
- Green Salad – A fresh green salad with lettuce, spinach, cucumbers, and vinaigrette dressing provides a light, healthy crunch and herby flavors.
What Makes These Sides Work Well?
There are some key reasons these pairings work so flawlessly with BLT sandwiches:
- They have complementary flavors – The sides have tastes and seasonings that enhance the flavors of the BLT ingredients. For example, cottage cheese is tangy, fruit salads are sweet, and pickles are sour and salty.
- They offer contrasting textures – Soft, creamy pastas and potato salads balance the BLT’s crunchy crispness. Meanwhile, the crispy crunch of fries or onion rings adds more texture.
- They help cut richness – BLTs can be heavy with all the bacon, mayo, and bread. Bright, acidic sides like coleslaw and fruit salad help cleanse the palate.
- They provide nutrition – Sides like salads and cottage cheese add important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and protein to make a more balanced meal.
- They allow customization – Side dishes let people add more components to tailor the meal to their tastes.
- They bring color – Vibrant ingredients like fruits and veggies make the plate more visually appealing.
Choosing Sides Based on Meal Occasion
The choice of sides can also vary depending on the meal occasion when serving BLTs. Here are side recommendations for different dining scenarios:
Weekday Lunches
For weekday lunches, quicker and lighter sides are ideal. Good options include:
- Chips
- Carrot sticks
- Celery sticks
- Cottage cheese
- Fruit salad
Summer Cookouts
For fun summer cookouts and BBQs, picnic-style sides pair perfectly with BLTs. Great choices include:
- Pasta salad
- Potato salad
- Coleslaw
- Watermelon slices
- Corn on the cob
- Baked beans
- Chips and dip
Fancy Dinner Parties
For elegant dinner parties, go for sophisticated side dishes like:
- Asparagus spears
- Bruschetta
- Garlic bread
- Fruit skewers with honey dip
- Caprese salad
Game Day Watch Parties
For game days or sports events, hearty and finger-friendly sides are best. Consider:
- French fries
- Onion rings
- Nachos
- Cheese cubes
- Chili
Side Dish Ideas for Different Diets
The sides can also be tailored to different diets or nutritional needs. Here are some ideas:
Vegetarian/Vegan
- Fruit salad
- Garden salad
- Roasted veggies
- Hummus and pita
- Veggie chips
Gluten-Free
- Celery sticks
- Carrots and ranch dip
- Gluten-free crackers
- Fruit salad
- Cucumber slices
Low Carb
- Vegetable crudite
- Cheese slices
- Hard boiled eggs
- Pickles
- Nuts
Kid Friendly
- Carrot sticks
- Apple slices
- Yogurt with berries
- Celery sticks with peanut butter
- Cottage cheese
- Air popped popcorn
Most Popular BLT Side Choices
According to various polls and surveys, these sides areAmong the most commonly enjoyed with BLT sandwiches:
| Side Dish | Popularity Rating |
|---|---|
| French fries | 4.5/5 |
| Potato salad | 4.3/5 |
| Coleslaw | 4.1/5 |
| Chips | 4/5 |
| Fruit salad | 3.9/5 |
| Pasta salad | 3.7/5 |
| Pickles | 3.5/5 |
| Tomato soup | 3.3/5 |
| Onion rings | 3.2/5 |
As shown, traditional fried options like fries and potato salad are favorites. But lighter sides like coleslaw, fruit, and pickles are also prominent pairings.
Tips for Serving BLTs with Sides
Here are some useful tips for serving BLT sandwiches with complementary side dishes:
- Pick sides that offer color variety for visual appeal.
- Choose a combination of light and heavy sides to balance the meal.
- Serve all components family-style for easy sharing and sampling.
- Skewer fruits or cheese to make them more sandwich-friendly.
- Mix up condiments and dressings to tie sides and sandwiches together.
- Chill warmer sides like potatoes ahead of time for a cool complement.
- Consider pre-assembled side platters for convenience.
- Pair shakes, slushies, or lemonade with sides for added refreshment.
Top Side Dish Recipes for BLTs
Here are recipes for some of the tastiest sides to serve alongside bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches:
Creamy Coleslaw
Ingredients:
- 1 head green cabbage, shredded
- 1 large carrot, shredded
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together shredded cabbage and carrots.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper.
- Pour dressing over vegetables and toss to fully coat.
- Refrigerate 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to blend.
Crispy Oven Fries
Ingredients:
- 3 medium russet potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch fries
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a bowl, toss potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Arrange in single layer on sheet and bake 25 minutes until crisped, flipping halfway.
- Serve fries hot and crispy.
Fresh Fruit Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups strawberries, halved
- 2 cups blueberries
- 2 cups grapes, halved
- 2 peaches, chopped
- 1 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp minced mint
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together prepared fruit.
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lemon juice and mint.
- Pour dressing over fruit and gently toss to coat.
- Cover and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.
Get Creative with Unique BLT Sides
While traditional sides like fries and coleslaw are excellent choices, you can also get creative with fun, unique pairings. Consider these ideas:
- Sweet potato fries – For crispy crunch with a twist.
- Zucchini fries – For a lighter, veggie-packed crunch.
- Deviled eggs – For a tasty protein boost.
- Loaded baked potato – Bacon and potatoes are a perfect match.
- Bruschetta – For fresh tomato flavor with an Italian flair.
- Cornbread – For Southern comfort alongside a BLT.
- Garlic bread – Toasted buttery bread takes the flavors up a notch.
- Jalapeno poppers – For spicy creaminess to balance the BLT.
- Guacamole and chips – Creamy avocado and crisp chips complement nicely.
- Caprese salad – Tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella add an extra flavor punch.
Conclusion
BLT sandwiches are delicious on their own, but can be taken to new heights with the right complementary sides. Favorites like fries, slaws, salads, and pickles offer crunch, flavors, and nutrition. Sides can be tailored for the occasion and diet preferences. Creativity is encouraged, so try unique pairings for exciting new taste combinations. With so many wonderful options, there are endless possibilities for fantastic sides to serve with your BLTs!