This peachy take on Summer's favorite sandwich makes for the ultimate BLT sandwich recipe in my book - fresh peaches and peach jam make for an addictive combo with crispy lettuce, salty bacon, and juicy tomato!
About the recipe
Exactly how many BLTs do I eat every summer? Too many to count!
Next to all the ice cream I can get, BLT sandwiches are my FAVORITE summer food. I would eat one every day if I had to. And now that we've found a cute little farm stand tucked away one mile from our house - with an abundance of tomatoes, mind you - there is no stopping me now!
Depending on where you are from, you may be asking, what is a BLT? And I'd be delighted to tell you!
BLT stands for bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Here in the Southern U.S., we love to serve these ingredients sandwiched between two pieces of bread, typically accompanied by some version of a mayonnaise-like spread.
I'm not a mayo gal, so for me, the ultimate BLT sandwiches involves jam and thinly sliced pieces of stone fruit - with peaches being the ULTIMATE ultimate. There's something about the combination of juicy, sweet peaches and crispy, salty, peppery bacon that I find completely irresistible!
The type of bread I use for a BLT sandwich is variable, depending on the day and mood I'm in. A nice, crusty sourdough is timeless, a grainy, seed bread is always welcome. Lately, I've been into Hawaiian or Portugese sweet bread for my BLTs. Daring, I know! But OH so tasty. Let's make one!
Ingredients
What do you put on a BLT sandwich? Well, it's pretty simple: bacon, lettuce, and sliced tomato! But let's get into the nitty gritty:
- Bacon - thick-cut, peppered bacon is my favorite choice for a flavorful BLT.
- Lettuce - the best type of lettuce for a BLT is one with a big leaf that will lay flat on the sandwich. Any variety in the Bibb or butter lettuce family is lovely.
- Tomato - get the freshest, juiciest, most locally-grown tomato you can find.
- Peaches - thinly-sliced and just ripe. Nectarines will substitute well in a pinch.
- Peach jam - this is the spread for the sandwich, and I highly recommend my Old-Fashioned Peach Jam for this!
- Bread - you want a nice, sturdy bread that will hold up. I find that softer breads with higher levels of moisture do best when toasted for a BLT - hence the sourdough and Hawaiian being my favorite. Dry breads tend to crumble when used for BLTs.
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the bacon. The best way to cook bacon is on a sheet pan lined with foil. Bake it at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, drain some of the grease into a jar, then continue cooking for 8-10 minutes more or until crisp. Blot with a paper towel before serving.
Step 2: Toast your bread - however you like to toast.
Step 3: Layer the ingredients for your BLT like this: bread --> jam --> bacon--> lettuce --> tomato --> peach --> lettuce --> bacon --> jam --> bread. You want the juicy items to be in the center of the sandwich to keep from making the bread soggy.
Step 4: take a bite, eye-roll over how good it is, and savor the moment.
Top tips
Below are some of my best tips for making BLTs, as well as some answers to commonly asked questions about them!
Can I make a BLT ahead of time?
Unfortunately, you cannot make a BLT ahead of time, as it would get VERY soggy very quickly. You can prepare the bacon, slice the tomatoes and peaches, and prep the bread and lettuce ahead though, then assembly will be fast when you are ready.
What to serve with a BLT:
A BLT really does have all the elements of a complete meal and is so satisfying, there really isn't much of a need for sides. But if you pressed me, I'd suggest serving BLTs with any of the following items:
- Fresh Peach Lemonade
- Cold Brew Tea with Fresh Mint Simple Syrup
- Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes
- Purple Hull Pea and Pickled Okra Salad
- Cubed Watermelon, Peach, and Feta Salad
Similar recipes
If you love all things BLT like I do, be sure to check out my recipes for Beefshi BLT Roll, BLT Panzanella Salad, and BLT Naan Pizza!
Recipe
Peach BLT Sandwich
Ingredients
- 12 slices thick-cut pepperd bacon
- 8 slices of your favorite bread (Sourdough and Hawaiian are great choices)
- 8 tablespoons peach jam
- 8 large Boston, bibb, or butter lettuce leaves
- 12 slices ripe tomatoes, about 1/4 inch thick thinly sliced
- 12 slices ripe peach, (about 3 peaches for 12 round slices) thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Lay the bacon slices on the foil and bake the bacon for 12-15 minutes. Tilt the pan to drain the grease into a jar or conatiner, then cook 6-10 minutes more until crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels before serving.
- Once the bacon is done, toast the bread to your liking.
- Layer the ingredients for each BLT like this: bread --> jam --> bacon--> lettuce --> tomato --> peach --> lettuce --> bacon --> jam --> bread. You want the juicy items to be in the center of the sandwich to keep from making the bread soggy. Enjoy right away!
What makes the ultimate BLT sandwich for you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
Madison Mar | The Pretty Relaxed says
OMG. This looks SO delish! For me, it's all about that thick cut bacon. But your version with sliced peaches and jam sounds so fresh! I'm a sucker for a good sweet and salty combo. I definitely have to try this. Sharing this post!
Whitney Reist says
Thanks so much, Madison! 🙂
Whitney Reist says
Thanks Madison!