This super easy BLT bagel sandwich is bursting with flavor and texture. It's the perfect sandwich any time of the day, plus it takes just 15 minutes to make. This recipe is a great way to use up cream cheese and bagels.
[This recipe was originally posted in August 2020. It has been updated with cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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How will bagel sandwich make your life easier?
If you bought bagels and have a couple left, but are tired of plain bagels & cream cheese, turn your bagel into a BLT bagel. It takes just about 15 minutes to make, is super easy, and well, it has bacon on it. Not much easier than this.
Want other sandwich recipes? Here are a couple easy ones: Grilled Turkey & Brie Sandwich with Blueberry Mustard, Chicken Salad Pita Sandwich, or a Brisket Grilled Cheese.
What makes this blt sandwich on a bagel so good?
How do I make a bagel sandwich?
Start to make your BLT bagel by cooking the bacon-lay out 3 slices on a large sautee pan. Cook until desired doneness. Remove bacon and place on a plate with a paper towel to soak up excess grease. Set aside.
While bacon is cooking, slice tomato into about ¼ thick slices, wash lettuce and set aside. Slice your bagel in half and toast to preference. Smear cream cheese on one or both bagel slices.
Place bacon slices on bagel, breaking off bacon if it is too long.
Fold lettuce over in half to better fit on bagel, or cut it in half down the middle. Top bacon with lettuce. Then place tomato on top of lettuce. Eat immediately. Serve your BLT Bagel by itself, with a green salad, chips, or fresh fruit.
Substitutions/Tips
- Cook eggs, pancakes, chard/beet greens, or other veggies in leftover bacon grease.
- Use romaine, iceberg, green leaf, or red leaf lettuce in your BLT bagel recipe.
- I usually buy Neufchatel cheese instead of regular cream cheese. It has less fat than regular, and tastes exactly the same to me. It may also be marketed as ⅓ fat cream cheese.
- Everything, onion, plain, and cheese bagels are great for BLT Bagels.
- Other Add-Ins: hot sauce, sprouts, American cheese, etc.
FAQ
Some say iceberg lettuce is the only good lettuce for a BLT which I get because it's super crunchy and crispy! While iceberg is great, so is romaine lettuce and red leaf lettuce. Honestly, use what you have on hand.
Toasting your bagel to make a BLT or toasting your bread really is the best. It helps your bread/bagel not get soggy from the lettuce and tomato. Plus it adds a great crunch.
A BLT usually has mayonnaise on it, this BLT bagel sandwich has cream cheese on it as another condiment option.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Bacon: Chicken Bacon Sheetpan Dinner or Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches.
- Lettuce: Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing (just swap the spinach for this leftover lettuce) or Chicken Salad Pitas.
- Tomato: Cucumber & Tomato Salad, No-Mayo Potato Salad, or Pan Fried Salmon with Summer Salad
- Cream Cheese: Use in a veggie sandwich or add to whipped cream, like in this Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Whipped Cream, or in this Mushroom Chicken and Rice dish.
- Bacon Grease: Cook eggs, pancakes, chard/beet greens, or other veggies in your bacon grease.
Did you make this BLT Bagel? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
BLT Bagel
Equipment
- Toaster
- knife
- cutting board
- Large sautee pan
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon
- 1-2 thick slices tomato
- 1-2 leaves lettuce romaine or red leaf
- 1 oz cream cheese
- 1 bagel everything, onion, plain, or cheese bagels are best
Instructions
- Cook bacon by laying out 3 slices on a large sautee pan. Cook until bacon shrinks in size and looks darker in color, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip over and cook another 2-3 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispiness.
- Remove bacon and place on a plate with a paper towel to soak up excess grease. Set aside
- While bacon is cooking, slice 1-2 slices of tomato into about ¼ thick slices, wash 1-2 leaves of lettuce and set aside. Slice bagel in half and toast to your preference. Smear about 1 ounce of cream cheese on one or both bagel slices. Place 3 slices of bacon on bottom side of the bagel, breaking off bacon if it extends off the bagel, and place that piece back in the middle of the bagel.
- Fold lettuce over in half to better fit on bagel, or cut it in half down the middle. Top bacon with lettuce. Then place 1-2 slices of tomato on top of lettuce. Slice bagel down center and eat immediately. Serve with green salad or fresh fruit if desired.
Video
Notes
- Cook eggs, pancakes, chard/beet greens, or other veggies in your bacon grease.
- Use romaine, iceberg, green leaf, or red leaf lettuce in this recipe.
- I usually buy Neufchatel cheese instead of regular cream cheese. It has less fat than regular, and tastes just the same to me. It may also be marketed as ⅓ fat cream cheese.
- Everything, onion, plain, and cheese bagels are great in this recipe.
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Jill says
Now I need to go out and buy some bagels so I can make one of these!
Rebecca says
do it!!!
Anjali says
Love this twist on a traditional bagel sandwich! Super easy to make and great for lunch!
Rebecca says
oh ya it totally is!
Christian Guzman says
This was perfect for lunch today! I picked an heirloom tomato from the garden just this morning. I snipped off two big lettuce leaves from the indoor garden and so tasty on a toasty bagel. Yum!
Rebecca says
that's a dream of a homegrown lunch! YUM!
Anita says
I love a good BLT sandwich, so I immediately love it in a bagel form too. 🙂
Rebecca says
haha right?! bagels make them so much better!
Vicky says
Mouth watering recipe! This is amazing!
Rebecca says
totally! thanks