The Ultimate Vegan BLT

How to make the ultimate vegan BLT sandwich – combining vegan bacon, lettuce, and tomato with mayo for all the satisfying flavor with zero animal products. It’s quick, simple, super adaptable, and perfect for a light lunch!

Quick and Super Satisfying Vegan BLT Sandwich

A classic BLT, named after the initials of its key ingredients, combines salty bacon with crisp lettuce and juicy tomato with mayonnaise in (optionally toasted) bread for a simple sandwich that’s super satisfying but definitely not vegan-friendly. Luckily, in this era of plentiful vegan alternatives, it’s easy to turn into a tasty vegan sandwich.

Made with just 5 ingredients (plus salt and pepper), this easy vegan sandwich recipe pairs the lettuce and tomato with your choice of vegan bacon (I love a tempeh BLT, aka ‘TLT’) and vegan mayonnaise for a super simple, plant-based easy vegan BLT.

It’s fresh, crunchy, smoky, savory, delicious, and a crowd-pleasing vegan sandwich that’s easy to throw together and customize in several ways. Enjoy the tempeh sandwich alone or pair it with a side salad and/or potato chips for a quick, simple, and satisfying meal any time of the day.

The Ingredients

• Bread: You can technically use any bread you like, but I recommend a rustic loaf like sourdough or another high-quality bread. Use white, brown, whole grain, or gluten-free bread.
• Vegan bacon: Once again, this is very versatile – you can pick up a packet of tempeh bacon (like I did) or other store-bought bacon alternatives or make your own tofu bacon, carrot bacon, eggplant bacon, rice paper bacon, etc.
• Lettuce: It’s best to use crisp lettuce like Romaine lettuce or Iceberg lettuce, though softer leaves like butter or spinach work in a pinch.
• Tomato: Use a large slicing tomato rather than smaller ones. If you can get your hands on them, beefsteak tomatoes or other in-season, summery tomatoes (when possible) are a great option. Alternatively, experiment using super sweet, concentrated tomato confit or roasted tomatoes.
• Vegan mayo: Use store-bought or homemade vegan mayonnaise. Alternatively, try garlic aioli or hummus.
• Salt & black pepper: To season the tomato slices for extra flavor (optional).

What Else Could I Add?

• Mustard: Regular yellow mustard or Dijon would work. I mix a little directly into the vegan mayonnaise for some tangy depth and subtle heat.
• Flavored vegan mayo: Another way to add flavor is to add about 4 tablespoons of pesto, sriracha, or chipotle to the vegan mayonnaise.
• Avocado BLT: Add a rich, creamy element (plus healthy fats and antioxidants) with avocado slices, or replace the vegan mayo with mashed avocado.
• Red Onion: Thin slices of white or red onion will add extra crunch and flavor that pairs well with the remaining ingredients in the vegan BLT sandwich.
• Pickles: Sliced sandwich pickles add a wonderful sweet and sour tang.
• Vegan cheese: E.g., vegan cheddar, cream cheese, smoked edam, etc.
• Micro-greens: Instead of or alongside lettuce for extra fresh flavor.
• Potato chips: For extra crunch – don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

You can also use this recipe to make BLT wraps in a tortilla or BLT pita sandwiches.

How to Make a Vegan BLT

• 1) First, rinse and drain/ pat the lettuce and tomato dry.
• 2) Then, (optionally) toast the bread and set it aside while you prepare the vegan bacon according to its recipe/package instructions.

• 3) Meanwhile, slice the tomato (I like mine around ¼- inch, but make them ½-inch If preferred), then sprinkle them with salt & pepper.

• 4) To assemble the vegan BLT, first spread vegan mayo across all four bread slices. Then divide the 6 lettuce leaves between two slices of bread and top each with three strips of vegan bacon and the tomato slices. Add the top layer of bread, then use a serrated/sharp knife to slice the sandwich in half. Enjoy!

Pro Recipe Tips

• Don’t overly toast the bread: While it’s not technically necessary to toast the bread (but it is highly recommended), if you do, make sure not to overly toast the bread. Lightly toasted bread will make a sturdier sandwich and add crunch without hurting the roof of your mouth.
• To save time: Prepare a big batch of vegan bacon and refrigerate or freeze it for every time you have a vegan BLT craving.
• Experiment with ingredients: Try out different breads, types of vegan bacon, and other ‘add-ins’ to find your perfect combination.

Storage Instructions

Make ahead: If you plan on making vegan bacon, this can be done in advance and then reheated or enjoyed cold in the sandwich. You could also prepare the other fresh components (rinse and dried lettuce and sliced tomato) and store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Store: Once assembled, it’s best to consume the vegan bacon sandwich immediately, especially if you haven’t toasted the bread. However, technically, they can be wrapped in plastic wrap or foil and stored in the refrigerator for up to a day before becoming overly soggy.

More Vegan Sandwiches and Wraps

• Vegan Smashed Chickpea Salad [Sandwiches, Wraps, Dip]
• Vegan Tea Sandwiches
• Buffalo Chickpea Wraps
• Easy Vegan Hummus Wraps

If you try this easy vegan BLT sandwich recipe, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments below. I’d also really appreciate a recipe card rating!