Homemade BLT Salad in a Jar

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If you ask me, packed lunches just got way more interesting.

This clever twist on the classic BLT sandwich turns the beloved combo into a fresh, layered salad that’s perfect for bringing to work or school. Crisp bacon, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy lettuce stack neatly in a portable jar.

The traditional mayo dressing gets a modern update, drizzling down through the layers and keeping everything fresh until lunchtime. Each ingredient stays exactly where it should, creating those perfect BLT flavors we all know and love.

It’s a practical way to enjoy a lunchtime favorite that’s both filling and fresh, ideal for busy weekdays when you want something better than a basic sandwich.

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What Kind of Bacon Should I Use?

Regular sliced bacon from the grocery store works perfectly for this salad, but you’ve got options depending on your preference. Center-cut bacon tends to be a bit leaner, while thick-cut bacon will give you bigger, meatier pieces that really stand out in the salad. If you’re cooking bacon specifically for this recipe, you’ll want to cook it until it’s nice and crispy since it adds a great textural contrast to the fresh vegetables. Just avoid using maple or heavily flavored bacon varieties, as they might overwhelm the classic BLT taste we’re going for here. A good tip is to cook your bacon in the oven on a lined baking sheet – it’s less messy and cooks more evenly than in a skillet.

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Options for Substitutions

This easy jar salad is pretty flexible and you can switch things up based on what you have in your fridge:

• Bacon: While real bacon gives that classic BLT flavor, you can use turkey bacon for a lighter option. Plant-based bacon alternatives or even crispy chickpeas seasoned with smoked paprika work for vegetarian versions.
• Lettuce varieties: Any crisp lettuce works here! Try romaine, butter lettuce, or mixed greens instead of cos and iceberg. Just avoid delicate leaves like baby spinach as they can get soggy quickly.
• Mayo dressing: Not a mayo fan? Greek yogurt makes a great base for the dressing – just use the same amount as the mayo. You might need an extra pinch of salt. Store-bought ranch dressing works too if you’re short on time.
• Sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt or crème fraîche can replace sour cream in the dressing. Each option will give you that nice creamy texture.
• Tomatoes: Any tomato variety works – cherry tomatoes (halved), roma tomatoes, or even sun-dried tomatoes can add a nice twist. Just make sure they’re well-drained to keep your salad crisp.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making a jar salad is the layering order – putting wet ingredients next to your lettuce will leave you with a soggy, unappetizing mess, so always start with the dressing at the bottom and keep those crisp greens at the top.

A common mistake is not drying your lettuce thoroughly after washing, as excess water will make your salad wilt faster – take the extra minute to spin or pat your greens completely dry before adding them to the jar.

When it comes to the bacon, avoid crumbling it too finely as tiny pieces can get lost in the salad; instead, break it into medium-sized pieces that’ll give you that satisfying crunch in every bite, and make sure to cook it until it’s properly crispy since limp bacon can ruin the texture contrast.

For the best results, leave about an inch of space at the top of the jar to allow room for shaking and mixing when you’re ready to eat, and keep the jar upright during storage and transport to maintain those perfect layers.

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What to Serve With BLT Salad?

This jar salad takes all the flavors of a classic BLT sandwich and turns them into a fresh lunch option that’s perfect on its own, but there are some great ways to round out the meal. A warm, crusty piece of sourdough or a buttery breadstick on the side gives you that bread element you’d normally get in a BLT sandwich. For a heartier lunch, add some soup – cream of tomato or corn chowder both work really well with these flavors. If you’re serving this for dinner, try adding some grilled chicken breast or hard-boiled eggs to make it more filling, and maybe some crispy potato wedges on the side for that diner-style experience.

Storage Instructions

Assemble: Layer your BLT salad in mason jars with the dressing at the bottom, followed by tomatoes, then bacon, and lettuce on top. This keeps everything fresh and crisp, preventing the lettuce from getting soggy. When properly layered, these jars can last in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Keep Fresh: If you’re making the components separately, store the cooked bacon bits in an airtight container, and keep the dressing in a separate jar. The chopped lettuce stays crisp when wrapped in paper towels and stored in a sealed container. Mix everything together just before serving for the best texture.

Prep Ahead: You can cook the bacon and mix the dressing up to 5 days ahead. Chop the lettuce and tomatoes the day you plan to assemble the jars for maximum freshness. This makes putting together lunch a breeze throughout the week!

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 15-20 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 30-35 g

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 4 cooked bacon slices, crumbled
• 2 diced tomatoes
• 2 cups iceberg lettuce
• 2 cups romaine lettuce

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp sour cream
• salt and black pepper, to taste

In the bottom of a jar, combine the mayonnaise, milk, sour cream, and a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Mix thoroughly until smooth to create the creamy dressing.

Step 2: Layer the Bacon

• 4 cooked bacon slices, crumbled

Sprinkle the cooked and crumbled bacon on top of the prepared dressing in the jar.

Step 3: Add the Tomatoes

Add the diced tomatoes to the jar, spreading them evenly as the next layer above the bacon.

Step 4: Add the Iceberg Lettuce

Add the iceberg lettuce to the jar, packing it down gently over the previous layers.

Step 5: Add the Romaine Lettuce

Top off the jar with the romaine lettuce, making sure all the ingredients are layered neatly.

I like to mix both types of lettuce for extra crunch and flavor.

Step 6: Mix and Serve

Seal the jar tightly and shake it well to allow the dressing to coat all the salad ingredients.

Serve immediately, or keep chilled until ready to eat.