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    Bites with Bri » Appetizer & Snack » BLT Sliders

    BLT Sliders

    Published: Jul 13, 2021 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Brianna May · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    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! 

    closeup side view of slider

    If you slider recipes, try these Easy King's Ham & Cheese Sliders.

    Jump to:
    • Highlights
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert Tips & Recipe Notes
    • FAQs
    • Related Recipes
    • BLT Sliders

    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.

    steps 1 & 2 
cooked bacon on wire rack sliced into thirds
bread brushed with olive oil on plate

    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.

    steps 3 & 4
grilled bread on plate
pesto vinaigrette mixed together in jar

    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.

    steps 5 & 6
pesto spread on bread
sandwiches being assembled

    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.
    single slider upclose

    FAQs

    How do you store leftovers?

    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. 

    Can you make these ahead of time?

    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. 

    Does cooking bacon in the oven splatter?

    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. 

    What does BLT sandwich stand for?

    Bacon, lettuce, and tomato. 

    What can you put on a BLT instead of mayo?

    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. 

    What is a good side dish for BLT sandwiches?

    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. 

    How do you dress a BLT sandwich?

    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. 

    What is the best lettuce for a BLT?

    You can use iceberg or romaine. I typically have romaine on hand because I prefer it, but either will do. 

    Related Recipes

    • Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Dip
    • Air Fryer Spinach Dip
    • Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    • Bisquick Sausage Balls
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    5 from 5 votes

    BLT Sliders

    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!
    Servings6 sliders
    Prep5 minutes
    Cook30 minutes
    Total35 minutes
    Course: Appetizer/Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Author: Brianna May

    Equipment:

    • Grill Pan

    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.

    Notes:

    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.
    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.

    NUTRITION:

    Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 852mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g
    Did you make this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention or tag @bites.with.bri_ or use the hashtag #biteswithbri
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jeri

      July 14, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      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! 🙂

      Reply
    2. Julia

      July 14, 2021 at 9:10 am

      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!

      Reply
    3. Kayla DiMaggio

      July 14, 2021 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
    4. Freya

      July 13, 2021 at 10:08 pm

      5 stars
      These little sliders are so good! I served them at an outdoor brunch with friends recently and they went crazy for them!

      Reply
    5. Melinda

      July 13, 2021 at 9:37 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Bri!

    I am a recipe developer, food photographer, blogger. My goal is to teach you how to cook, not just follow my recipes. I love to cook with bold flavors that are still family friendly. My hubs is a picky eater and all of these recipes are approved by him, so I am sure you and your family will love them too. Learn more about Bri >>

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