I put a spin on the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich by serving it on a fresh bagel with homemade avocado cream cheese spread. My BLT Bagel Sandwich is packed with flavor, ready in under 15 minutes if your bacon is cooked ahead of time, and perfect for breakfast or lunch.
The inspiration for the avocado cream cheese spread came from a sandwich shop where I worked as a teenager. I jazzed up their original recipe by adding green onions and pairing the spread with bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
- No mayonnaise: The avocado cream cheese replaces mayonnaise with the same creamy texture and richness, plus extra flavor from fresh lemon and green onions.
- Precooked bacon: My recipe calls for precooked or leftover bacon so you can whip it up quickly.
- Serves one: The recipe makes one generous sandwich, but it's easy to scale up if needed.
If you love a good bagel sandwich, try my baked ham and cheese bagel sandwich next!
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Key Ingredient Notes
- Bagel: I've made this recipe with both plain and sesame seed bagels, and I much prefer the flavor and texture of the sesame seeds.
- Bacon: Thick-cut bacon is my first choice because it adds a hearty, meaty bite to the sandwich. Cook it to your preferred crispness and drain the fat before adding it to the sandwich.
- Lettuce: Green leaf lettuce is my favorite for its tender texture and mild flavor. Romaine is another good option if you prefer a little more crunch. Pat the lettuce dry after washing so excess moisture doesn't make the bagel soggy.
- Tomato: Choose a ripe but slightly firm tomato that holds its shape when sliced. Cut it into thin slices so it layers easily on the bagel.
- Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese for a richer flavor.
- Avocado: Use a ripe avocado that will mash easily into the cream cheese. An underripe avocado won't mix well.
- Lemon juice and green onions: Freshly squeezed lemon juice brightens the avocado cream cheese and helps slow browning, while fresh green onions add a mild onion flavor.
*See the recipe card below for a detailed list of ingredients.
If you love making restaurant-worthy sandwiches at home, try my caprese chicken sandwich next! It's made with fresh chicken breast, fresh basil, pesto-mayo, and served on a ciabatta roll.
Substitutions and Variations
- Veggies - If you can't find fresh green onions, you can substitute fresh chives or dried chives. Try swapping out the green leaf lettuce for arugula, spinach, romaine lettuce, or iceberg lettuce.
- Add a fried egg: To make this BLT sandwich even more like a breakfast sandwich, add a fried egg between the bacon, lettuce, and tomato layers.
Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos
- Make the avocado and cream cheese spread. If your cream cheese isn't soft enough to mix, microwave it for about 30 seconds.
- Mix the avocado, lemon juice, diced green onions, salt, and pepper into the softened cream cheese.
- Spread it generously onto both cut sides of the bagel.
- Add a layer of green leaf lettuce.
- Top the lettuce with sliced tomatoes.
- Add the cooked bacon.
- I like to break it into large pieces so it fits neatly on the bagel.
- Add the top half of the bagel and serve immediately.
Recipe tips
- Cook the bacon ahead of time. I like to cook bacon in the oven on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Arrange the bacon in a single layer and bake at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until it reaches your desired crispness. Transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool.
- Use a ripe avocado. A ripe avocado mashes easily into the cream cheese, creating a smooth, creamy spread.
- Adjust the cream cheese spread to your taste. Taste the avocado cream cheese before assembling the sandwich. You might want to add a little extra salt and pepper.
For another sandwich that takes a classic combination up a notch, try my Mediterranean chicken salad pitas! It's a creamy chicken salad recipe with capers, feta cheese, and kalamata olives.
Storing Leftovers
- Store leftovers tightly wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
- This sandwich is best eaten fresh because the lettuce and tomato will get soggy as the sandwich sits.
FAQs
Yes, you can prepare it a few hours in advance and refrigerate it in an airtight container until you're ready to use it. Press plastic wrap directly against the surface to help limit browning from air exposure. The lemon juice will help slow browning, but the avocado may still darken over time.
Sesame seed bagels are a great choice because of their mild, nutty flavor. Plain, everything, or other savory flavors also work well.
This is totally up to you! The recipe is written for an un-toasted bagel, but if you like the crunchy texture of toasted, then feel free to do so.
More Sandwich Recipes
If you tried this BLT Bagel recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
BLT Bagel Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese full-fat
- ½ large avocado
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 4 tablespoons fresh green onion diced
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 large sesame seed bagel
- 3 slices cooked bacon
- 2-3 large large lettuce leaves
- 1 large tomato sliced
Instructions
- Soften the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds.
- Add the avocado, lemon juice, green onion, salt, and pepper to the softened cream cheese and mix them together.
- Slice the bagel in half. Spread 2-4 tablespoons of the avocado cream cheese onto the cut sides of the bagel.
- Layer the bacon, lettuce, and sliced tomato onto the bottom half of the bagel. Top the bottom half of the bagel with the top half.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- The nutrition information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
- Use a ripe avocado so it mixes easily into the cream cheese.
- Cook the bacon ahead of time or use leftover bacon.
Katie says