These BLT Sliders take a classic BLT to the next level. Extra thick cut bacon, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of sweet pesto vinaigrette are sandwiched between two pieces of grilled sourdough for the perfect bite. A little sweet, salty, fresh, and so many different textures. Plus they require minimal cooking and are super easy to assemble!
Like most, I really enjoy a crispy piece of thick cut bacon. Since moving to Seattle, our primary grocery store is Whole Foods. So I have gotten to try many new food brands which for me is super fun.
One day I was browsing around in the bacon section and saw a package of bacon with only 4 pieces (compared to the normal 10-12). It was still a 12 ounce package, meaning each piece of bacon is a whopping 3 ounces. I could not wait to try this out.
After frying this up one morning for brunch I was completely sold. This is some of the best bacon I had ever had.
Now this bacon is a littler pricier so I don’t use it for all of my cooking. In fact some recipes, like my Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers, will not work with bacon this thick. But for recipes where the bacon is left in large pieces or is the star of the dish, this bacon is perfect.
I wanted to create an easy summer recipe where this bacon could be the star. So naturally BLTs came to mind. I elevated the classic BLT with some fresh mozzarella, grilled sourdough, and a delicious sweet pesto vinaigrette.
These sliders are pure gold. Even my bacon hating husband loved them! Hope you enjoy! xx
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Highlights
- Contrasting textures and flavors
- Minimal cooking
- Easy to assemble
- Extra thick bacon
- Sweet and tangy pesto vinaigrette
- Grilled sourdough
- Creamy fresh mozzarella
- Perfect summer cookout appetizer
Ingredients
- Thick Cut Bacon: Each piece of the bacon I used is 3 ounces. It is Nature’s Ranchers Steakhouse Smoked Uncured Bacon, which is sold at Whole Foods. This is the thickest cut I have seen. You can use thinner bacon and layer more pieces.
- Sourdough Bread: You can swap this for sliced baguette. Be sure the bread is not sliced too thickly and is about the size of your tomatoes.
- Mozzarella Medallions: Swap for sliced fresh mozzarella balls.
- Basil Pesto: I just use store bought but you can also make your own.
- White Vinegar: Swap for apple cider or white wine vinegar.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Instructions
before you start . . .
- Prep the produce. Wash the tomatoes and lettuce. I like to cut the tomato slices pretty thick and pat them dry. Try to cut the lettuce in pieces that are about the size of the bread. Also pat dry. The excess water can make the sliders soggy.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Heat grill or grill pan. I use a grill pan on my stove because I do not have a grill. You can grill the bread outside as well.
Step 1: Place the bacon on a baking sheet lined with foil and wire rack. Bake for 25-40 minutes depending on thickness and desired doneness. Cut into small pieces.
Step 2: While the bacon cooks, brush the bread generously with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
TIP - Keep an eye on the bacon. It is done when it has deepened in color and is sizzling.
Step 3: Grill for about 2 minutes per side on a grill pan on the stove over high heat or outside. Set aside.
Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together the pesto, honey, and vinegar.
Step 5: Spread some of the pesto on half of the bread slices.
Step 6: Place the tomato, lettuce, bacon, mozzarella, on the pesto brushed bread. Brush more pesto on top of the mozzarella if desired. Use a skewer to secure.
NOTE - These sandwiches will not stay together unless secured.
Expert Tips & Recipe Notes
- Use the freshest produce. This is a simple sandwich so the quality of the ingredients is really important.
- Bake your bacon. If you have not tried baking your bacon, it is the best! It requires no flipping so it is super hands off. You also do not have to worry about grease splattering all over the stove. Be sure to use parchment paper if you are not using a wire rack.
- Grill the bread. The charred flavor and subtle notes of bitterness you taste when the bread is grilled works very well with the other flavors. Don’t skip this step!
- Assemble right before serving. I do not recommend assembling these too far in advance. The bread's texture will deteriorate and become soggy.
- Secure. Use wooden skewers or (maybe) toothpicks to hold these together. The pesto vinaigrette tends to make the ingredients slide around. I use skewers because I don’t believe most toothpicks are long enough for these extra tall sliders.
FAQs
You can store already constructed sliders in the refrigerator covered for 1-2 days. These do not hold up great because the bread becomes soggy. You can deconstruct them before storing and toast the bread before serving.
I do not recommend assembling these ahead of time because they can get soggy. You can prep everything the day before, but wait to assemble right before serving.
No! This is the primary reason I prefer to cook it in the oven. It sizzles but since it is cooking lower and slower, it does not splatter, like it would on the stove.
Bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
The mayo adds oil or fat to the sandwich so that it is not dry. Pesto is also oily which makes it a great spread for many sandwiches, like a BLT. Not to mention, it has a wonderful herbaceous flavor that goes well with the tomato and bacon.
You can serve these BLTs as an appetizer, but you can also serve them as the main course. In fact, I just ate one for lunch! My favorite side for a sandwich is a salty potato chip, but you can also serve them with Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, a Greek Salad, or Seasoned Red Potatoes.
At a minimum, you need bacon, lettuce, and tomato to make a BLT. There are many other ingredients that you can add to add more flavor. Try adding avocado, mayo, pesto, a fried egg, other cold cuts, hot sauce, honey, or jam.
You can use iceberg or romaine. I typically have romaine on hand because I prefer it, but either will do.
Related Recipes
BLT Sliders
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- 4 pieces (12 ounces) thick cut bacon*
- 6 small slices sourdough bread, cut in half*
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil for brushing
- 6 thick tomato slices
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves
- 6 mozzarella medallions*
Pesto Vinaigrette
- 3 Tablespoons basil pesto*
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions:
- Review all recipe notes and instructions before beginning.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the bacon on a baking sheet lined with foil and wire rack. Bake for 25-40 minutes depending on thickness and desired doneness. Cut into small pieces.
- While the bacon cooks, brush the bread generously with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Grill for about 2 minutes per side on a grill pan on the stove over high heat or outside. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the pesto, honey, and vinegar.
- Spread some of the pesto on half of the bread slices.
- Place the tomato, lettuce, bacon, mozzarella, on the pesto brushed bread. Brush more pesto on top of the mozzarella if desired. Use a skewer to secure.
My all-time favorite sandwich is a BLT, and when I saw this recipe, I couldn't wait to try it! I had vine-ripened tomatoes that I picked this morning, and I made this for lunch. Wow! It's the best BLT I ever had! It was so full of flavor, and the grilled sourdough bread is delicious! Loved this! 🙂
I love how creative this is. We're hosting a house warming soon and this will definitely be on the menu with how easy it is!
Wow! These BLT sliders were amazing! I had never thought about adding pesto but the pesto vinaigrette was the shining star of this! Definitely adding these to the rotation!
These little sliders are so good! I served them at an outdoor brunch with friends recently and they went crazy for them!
Our favorite sandwich now as a slider! What a great idea. Thanks for the tip about grilling the bread instead of toasting. That's going to be a game changer, and the combo of pesto and honey! Yum... I must try this tomorrow!! Thank you for sharing.