BLT — Elevated Thick Bacon
Crispy, flat-cooked thick-cut bacon elevates the classic BLT to new heights. A symphony of textures and flavors in every bite.
20 min active, one pan
BLT — Elevated Thick Bacon
Crispy, flat-cooked thick-cut bacon elevates the classic BLT to new heights. A symphony of textures and flavors in every bite.
20 min active, one pan
Key move
Cook thick-cut bacon flat on a sheet pan in a hot oven for perfectly crispy, evenly rendered bacon.
Cook mode keeps your place
Larger text, ingredients in reach, and saved step progress while you cook.
The Setup
- Sheet Pan13x18 inch
- Oven
- Toaster
The Mise en Place
5Your prep station before cooking begins
The Protein (0/1)
Other (0/4)
Bacon is not crispy.
Increase baking time by a few minutes, or raise the oven temperature slightly.
Bacon is burning.
Reduce oven temperature and check bacon more frequently.
Chef's Notes
For perfectly crisp bacon, lay strips on a wire rack set inside a baking sheet. This allows fat to drip away.
Score the bacon fat cap lightly before roasting. This helps render fat evenly and prevents curling.
Serve with a side of lightly dressed arugula for a peppery contrast to the rich bacon.
Roast bacon up to 2 days ahead. Store cooled bacon in an airtight container in the fridge.
The Method
PREHEAT
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Inaccurate temperature: Avoid opening the door during preheat; use an oven thermometer if your oven is prone to temperature swings.
Oven is preheated to 400°F (200°C)
ARRANGE
Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on a sheet pan.
Uneven cooking: Overlapping slices will steam rather than crisp, leading to chewy, under-rendered fat.
Bacon slices are arranged in a single layer on the sheet pan, not overlapping
BAKE
Time-sensitiveBake for 15-20 minutes, or until bacon is crispy and golden brown.
Carryover cooking: Bacon continues to crisp as it cools; pull it slightly before it reaches your desired texture.
Bacon is crispy and golden brown
REMOVE
Remove bacon from oven and let cool slightly on the sheet pan.
Grease splatter: Hot rendered fat can splash when moving the pan; use oven mitts and keep the pan level.
Bacon has been removed from the oven and is cooling slightly on the sheet pan
TOAST
Toast bread (8 slices) slices to your liking.
Burn risk: Bread can go from toasted to charred very quickly. Keep a close watch as the edges darken.
Bread slices are toasted to desired crispness
ASSEMBLE
Spread mayonnaise (½ cups) on toasted bread (8 slices) slices. Layer with lettuce (1 head), tomato slices, and crispy bacon.
Soggy bread: Placing hot bacon directly onto lettuce wilts the greens and softens the bread; ensure bacon is cooled slightly first.
Sandwich is assembled with mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and bacon
SERVE
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Soggy bread: Assemble immediately before eating to prevent the tomato juices from softening the toasted bread.
Sandwich is ready to be served
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