There’s No Going Back
Bacon, lettuce, and tomato (BLT) sandwiches are now a regular on my dinner rotation. For years, the method I used to cook bacon was in a skillet on the top of the stove.
Who wants to deal with all the mess the spitting grease creates? You are guaranteed to have a huge clean up even if a mesh splatter screen is used because at some point it will have to be removed to get bacon out of the pan and put more in.
There is a better way. Get prepared for a mess free oven bacon BLT sandwich with oven bacon… there’s no going back!
What You Need to Make Mess Free Oven Bacon BLT Sandwich
- Bacon – I prefer a smoked or applewood flavored bacon. Find what suits you. The key to success is the thickness of the bacon. We don’t want wimpy strips shriveling up to nothingness in the process. Grab a thick cut bacon.
- Lettuce – Let’s keep going right through the abbreviation. There are a ton of amazing lettuce options… please just don’t use iceberg. The lettuce in the photo is from my garden (don’t be impressed, I’m a neglectful gardener and at least in the soil and climate I have, lettuce seems easy to grow).
- Tomato – The key is a deep red, tasty looking tomato. In my book, if a red tomato is out of season, or out of my budget, I skip it. A flavorless tomato isn’t pulling its weight. Don’t waste your dime on it.
- Bread – Thick and soft is the key. I like to use a soft white bread, something that will stick to your teeth (you know what I’m talking about). The bread shown below is a buttermilk, a little less sticky but so good and still soft.
- Mayo – I personally prefer the more subdued flavor of mayonnaise over its “zippy” counterpart. If you like the miracle spread, go for it. It’s delicious too!
How to Make Mess Free Oven Bacon
Ok. To truly make this mess free oven bacon, you’ll need a baking sheet with sides and a good foil to line it. Using foil will catch all the grease and make clean up a breeze. First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. I like to use this higher temperature to reduce the cook time… the trade off to a mess free oven bacon BLT sandwich, is a little longer to cook.
Times will vary depending on your bacon and oven. I cooked approximately 10 slices on a sheet (1 lb. of bacon) for 15-18 minutes, flipped and cooked for a few minutes more.
Tips:
- Use the middle rack
- Likewise, I’ve also prepared this with a completely full pan – slices as shown, then pieces across the top to fill all open real estate. Just don’t overlap the meat. Filling the baking sheet will likely require more cooking time.
- If you don’t fill the sheet with slices, it may take less time to cook. I’ve followed this process over and over and it works, but it is flexible and not a science. For example, a flip to cook the second side isn’t always needed… or you may want to extend the baking time to get a crispier cook.
Place cooked bacon on a paper towel to absorb the excess grease.
Mess Free As Promised
After the bacon is done cooking and the grease has cooled, simply fold up the foil and toss. You don’t have to use foil, but if you go this route, I recommend letting the grease cool completely so that is solidifies (more of a paste, but definitely not liquid). This can be easily scraped off into the trash using a spatula. Or go really old school and save the dripping to use for cooking scrambled eggs… yes, that’s what I said, bacon fat fried eggs. So good.
How to Make a Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich
While you are effortlessly preparing your mess free oven bacon, pull together your sandwich accessories. Some might say the hero of the mess free oven bacon BLT sandwich is the bacon. I disagree. I like the name BLT because honestly all three elements are equal players on the tasty team. And really, bread and mayonnaise are just as critical. They each deserve a letter, but then we’d need a vowel.
BLTBM… nope, that’s not going to work.
Bacon, Bacon, Bacon
At this point, you should have mouthwatering oven baked bacon, no mess on the stove top and you are ready to assemble your mess free oven bacon BLT sandwich. In whatever order you like: bread with mayo (perhaps on both slices), thick sliced tomatoes, lettuce and a generous layer of bacon. Enjoy!
Tips, Tricks, & FAQs
- Pick your pork: All bacon is not created equal. Be sure to examine the bacon package or slices at the butcher before purchasing. Look for strips that have a balance of meat and fat. Fat is what makes the bacon so delicious, but I don’t want my baked bacon to be mostly fat.
- Tomatoes: When making a sandwich, you need a big, thick slab of tomato. Find a good greenhouse or Beefsteak tomato. Romas are about as small in diameter as I would go, or the tomatoes are just falling out.
- Greens: Other lettuce options I would recommend are Boston Bibb which is buttery and velvety. I believe what I have is a bistro blend, Romaine will work as would red or green leaf. I would avoid spinach or other small leaf lettuce that will fall out of the sandwich.
- How to Slice Bread and Tomatoes: If you get a whole loaf of bread, use a serrated knife which cut through without smashing the bread. A serrated knife is also the perfect tool to slice tomatoes.
Mess Free Oven Bacon BLT Sandwich
Equipment
- baking sheet with sides
- foil
- paper towels
- oven
- cutting board
- serrated knife
Ingredients
- 1 lb. thick cut bacon
- 1 large red tomato, thick sliced
- 1 head lettuce: your favorite, some suggestions – Boston Bibb, bistro, mesclun mix or other
- 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 slices bread: whatever you like, but soft is recommended: white, buttermilk, potato, Texas toast
Instructions
Mess Free Oven Baked Bacon
- Preheat. Preheat oven to 425. Place a rack in the middle position.
- Foil. Line baking sheet with foil, covering the sides.
- Bacon. Place strips of bacon on the baking sheet. Slices can touch but should not overlap.1 lb. thick cut bacon
- Bake. Place the baking sheet of bacon in the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Time will vary based on oven, thickness of the bacon, and fat content. Bacon should no longer be pink and should become more firm when fully cooked. If you prefer more crispy bacon, cook longer. **While the bacon cooks, skip down to 'Sandwich Prep'**
- Flip. If needed, flip the bacon, and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until bacon is to desired doneness. The second side should take less time because at this point it will be swimming in a pool of grease which will aid in the cooking process.
- Drain. Once bacon is cooked, remove the cooking sheet from the oven. Place bacon strips on a paper towel lined plate and allow the excess grease to be absorbed.
Sandwich Prep
- Veggies. While the bacon cooks, wash the produce. On a cutting board, using a serrated knife, thick slice the tomato.1 head lettuce: your favorite, some suggestions – Boston Bibb, bistro, mesclun mix or other, 1 large red tomato, thick sliced
- Mayo and Bread. Apply mayo to at least one slice of bread per sandwich (I like mayo on both slices).2 Tablespoons mayonnaise, 4 slices bread: whatever you like, but soft is recommended: white, buttermilk, potato, Texas toast
- Tomatoes. Layer tomato slices and lettuce on the bread.
Sandwich Assembly
- Assembly. After the bacon has cooled enough to handle, place slices on each sandwich. Top with the other slice of bread.I like to go heavy on the bacon. This recipe calls for 1 lb. of bacon which provided about 10 slices of bacon, 4-5 pieces per sandwich.
- Enjoy! Serve immediately.
