For the best BLT sandwich you'll ever eat, try making our Air Fryer BLT! We use the air fryer to make crispy bacon and golden brown toast, then top it all off with the perfect balance of mayo, lettuce, and salted tomato. It's ready in 20 minutes with no effort, and every bite is tastier than the last!
Jump to:
- Choosing Your BLT Sandwich Ingredients
- Watch the Video
- BLT Extras
- How to Make a BLT Sandwich in the Air Fryer
- Can I make this BLT in a skillet or the oven instead?
- Can I make the bacon ahead of time?
- Disposing of Bacon Grease
- Recipe Tips
- Try this recipe with...
- Air Fryer Sandwich Recipes
- The Best BLT Sandwich - in Your Air Fryer!
- Feedback
When you think of a BLT, your first thought might be that this is an easy sandwich to make. A classic BLT sandwich - it's just bacon, lettuce, and tomato on bread, right?
But it's not really that simple, is it? Great BLTs have just the right quality, balance, and placement of ingredients to achieve the texture you want. Crunchy bacon and crisp bread with no sogginess from the tomato and lettuce - it's harder to achieve than it might sound!
We'll show you how to make the perfect BLT sandwich in the air fryer. Bacon cooks wonderfully in the air fryer, and the toast is irresistibly golden and crunchy. Let's get air frying!
Choosing Your BLT Sandwich Ingredients
- Bacon: Look for thick-cut bacon. It's meatier and has a better texture when cooked. You can find good quality thick-cut bacon at your local grocery store in the refrigerated section where they keep other meats. You might also find it at specialty butcher shops or your local farmers’ market. If you want, feel free to use turkey bacon, too, but it won't be exactly the same. If you really prefer it, you can use thin-cut if you'd like, but we'd recommend piling on extra if you do!
- Sandwich Bread: Choose bread that's sturdy enough to hold all the delicious fillings of your BLT without falling apart. Look for fresh sandwich bread in the bakery section of your grocery store. You can also try specialty bread stores for more artisan options. We tend to enjoy a thicker cut sourdough bread for this BLT recipe, but a classic thick and sturdy white bread works, too. If you're feeling adventurous and want a truly special sandwich bread, we recommend making homemade potato bread. King Arthur Flour has a wonderful Potato Bread Recipe we've been making for years!
- Mayonnaise: Opt for a high-quality mayonnaise for the best flavor. You can find good store-bought mayonnaise in the condiments aisle of most grocery stores. Look for ones with simple ingredients and avoid any that contain artificial flavors or preservatives. When we don’t feel like making homemade mayonnaise, our favorite store brands are Dukes and Blue Plate mayonnaise. If you prefer it, you can also use Miracle Whip, but we recommend mayo.
- Lettuce: Green leaf lettuce or any big leafy green lettuce, such as romaine lettuce or bibb lettuce, works well for BLT sandwiches. Choose leaves that are crisp and fresh. You can find lettuce at your local grocery store, usually in the produce section. Look for leaves that are vibrant in color and free from any wilting or browning. Avoid iceberg lettuce, it is much less flavorful than other types.
- Tomato: You can eat BLT sandwiches all year, but they're extra yummy in the summer when tomatoes are at their tastiest. Summer tomatoes are full of sweet, savory, and juicy flavors all the way from the skin to the middle. If you can't grow your own tomatoes, you can find good ones at your local farmers' market or farm stand. If you have to go to the grocery store, try to get tomatoes that are grown nearby for the best taste. Look for ripe tomatoes that are firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure. Slicing them thickly will give your sandwich juiciness and flavor. Tip: Use a bread knife to get the perfect tomato slices!
- Salt & Pepper: We season our tomato with a little salt and black pepper. We recommend using kosher salt or sea salt flakes to season the tomato rather than table salt.
Tomatoes can vary in size, which will determine how many slices you use on your BLT. If your tomatoes are small, you might want to add more slices. Alternately, if you have beautiful jumbo tomatoes like heirlooms, you might want to halve the slices before adding them to your sandwich.
Watch the Video
BLT Extras
- You can add a little butter to both sides of your bread before spreading the mayo on top for extra richness.
- Feel free to add a slice of cheese if you'd like. We prefer our BLT sandwich recipes without cheese, but cheddar is a good choice if you do.
- Mix your mayo with some yellow mustard or Dijon. Mayo and mustard make a great combo for a BLT if you like the flavor of mustard.
- Add a little avocado. Avocado slices are delicious on a BLT, if you want a little something extra.
How to Make a BLT Sandwich in the Air Fryer
Step 1 - Spray the air fryer basket with natural oil, such as olive oil or avocado oil, in an oil sprayer. Never use a non-stick spray, as this can damage your air fryer's non-stick coating. Then, place a single layer of bacon in the basket without overlapping any pieces.
Step 2 - Air fry the bacon at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Halfway through the cook time, turn each slice over using tongs. Make sure not to use metal tongs to turn the bacon, as this scrapes the coating of your air fryer and is dangerous.
Step 3 - Remove the bacon from the air fryer using tongs and set it aside on paper towels to drain. Draining the bacon is what will make it extra crisp and crunchy for the best texture on your sandwich in addition to getting rid of the excess grease.
Step 4 - Add your slices of bread to the air fryer basket next. Air fry them at 400°F for 5-6 minutes, turning each slice over halfway through the air frying time. Air fry to your desired golden-brown color.
Step 5 - Lay toasted bread on a work surface and spread mayonnaise on both halves. Layer one piece of toast with lettuce, then top with tomato slices. Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
Step 6 - Lay three half-slices of bacon on top of the tomatoes, then layer the remaining 3 slices of bacon on top cross-wise. Place the other piece of toast on top and cut the sandwich in half. Serve, and enjoy!
Can I make this BLT in a skillet or the oven instead?
Absolutely. We find it the most convenient to make it in the air fryer, but if you don't mind a little extra cleanup, you can use a pan to toast the bread. If you're not air frying the bacon, we recommend you bake it in the oven on a rimmed baking sheet with a rack, lined with foil, for about 20 minutes at 400°F.
Can I make the bacon ahead of time?
You can, but if you do, we recommend reheating it in the air fryer to bring it back to a crunchy texture. Make sure to drain well, then store in an airtight container.
Disposing of Bacon Grease
Important: Do not pour your bacon grease down the sink - it will damage your plumbing! Allow the grease to cool, then pour it into a disposable container, such as a disposable cup. Place the cup in the refrigerator until the grease solidifies, then dispose in the trash. Do not pour hot bacon grease into the trash can directly as it could start a fire.
Recipe Tips
- This sandwich is best enjoyed right away. If it sits for too long, the texture won't be right.
- If you have the time, making your own homemade mayo is the way to go for the best sandwich. You can customize the amount of egg you use when you make homemade mayo, which makes a huge difference in the flavor of mayonnaise. Delis tend to use extra heavy mayo, which generally uses extra egg yolks, so you can also ask your favorite sandwich shop to sell you some of their mayo.
- See our comprehensive guide to Air Fryer Bacon and Air Fryer Toast for even more tips and tricks on making the best bacon and toast in the air fryer, including timing tips for your bacon depending on your preferred level of crispness.
Air Fryer Sandwich Recipes
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
The Best BLT Sandwich - in Your Air Fryer!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Paper Towels
- Plate
Ingredients
- 3 strips bacon thick-cut
- 2 slices sandwich bread
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 leaves Green leaf lettuce or your favorite big leafy green lettuce
- 2 to 4 thick slices ripe tomato salted (see note)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with oil. Make sure to use olive oil or avocado oil in a sprayer bottle.
- Place the bacon into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don't overlap any pieces.3 strips bacon
- Air fry the bacon at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, turning each slice over halfway through air frying. Air fry to your desired crispness. Don't use metal tongs when turning the bacon as it can scratch your air fryer.
- Remove from the air fryer to a paper towel lined plate to drain before serving.
- Air fry slices of bread at 400°F for 5-6 minutes, turning each slice over halfway through air frying. Air fry to your desired golden brown color.2 slices sandwich bread
- Lay toasted bread on a work surface and spread mayonnaise on both sides. Layer one piece of toast with lettuce and top with tomato slices. Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and pepper to your liking.2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 leaves Green leaf lettuce or your favorite big leafy green lettuce, 2 to 4 thick slices ripe tomato, Kosher salt, Freshly ground black pepper
- Break bacon slices in half. Lay 3 half slices of bacon on top of tomatoes and then layer the remaining 3 slices of bacon on top crosswise. Place the remaining toast on top and cut sandwich in half. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
- Tomatoes can vary in size which will determine how many slices you use on your BLT. If your tomatoes are small, you might want to add more slices. Alternately, if you have beautiful jumbo tomatoes you might want to halve the slices before adding them to your sandwich. Customize your BLT to your liking!
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