This article was updated on the 10th of August 2023 for clarity and to improve text readability.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your BLT sandwiches, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 63 of the most popular side dishes for BLT sandwches.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with BLT sandwiches are potato chips, tomato soup, coleslaw, onion rings, crispy cheese curds, sweet potato wedges, and deviled eggs. If you want healthier options, try zucchini fries, chopped spring salad, pickled jalapenos, or a crudites platter.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Snacks or appetizers
BLT sandwiches are a meal on their own, but they’re even better with some crunchy snacks on the side. You can never go wrong with a bag of chips, but I’ve found other tasty treats you can try if you want to switch things up.
Air fryer potato chips
Potato chips are a classic accompaniment to a good BLT sandwich. But if you have an air fryer and a mandolin, you can ditch the store-bought chips and make them at home instead.
It’s healthier this way because you need less oil, plus you get complete control over what you flavor your chips with.
Keep it simple with a dash of salt and pepper. Or go fancy and sprinkle some parmesan and parsley over your chips. The possibilities are endless!
Featured recipe
Crispy air fryer potato chips
Change the flavor
Chili lime baked potato chips
Skip the potato
Kale chips
Onion rings
Take your BLT sandwich up a notch by making some onion rings to go with it. They’ll add a nice, crunchy texture and a hint of sweetness.
Recipe creator Olivia uses a combination of gluten-free flour and cornstarch to make these golden treats safe for those with gluten sensitivities, but you won’t even notice the difference.
All you need is your favorite dipping sauce on the side to complete the meal. Ketchup is a classic, but if you have time I recommend whipping up a quick aioli.
Featured recipe
Gluten-free onion rings
Change the batter
Beer-battered onion rings
Make it easy
Onions strings
Tomato soup
Turn your simple BLT sandwich into the ultimate comfort meal by serving it with a piping hot bowl of homemade tomato soup.
It’s rich, velvety, and super delicious. The broth is so thick, you’d be tempted to dunk your sandwich in.
Pro tip: drizzle some cream over this homemade tomato soup to make it even more indulgent.
Featured recipe
Homemade tomato soup
Make it fresh
Pea soup
Go autumnal
Butternut squash soup
Fried pickles
BLTs are delicious, but they’re missing a tangy element like pickles. You could easily add some pickles to the sandwich, but where’s the fun in that?
Instead, I like to make these fried pickle spears to go alongside my BLT. They’re coated with a ranch-flavored panko coating, which gives them an extra tangy, herby boost and crispy crusts that make them extra satisfying to bite into.
Psst…don’t have panko? Crush saltines, potato chips, or even plain cornflakes as a substitute.
Featured recipe
Fried pickle spears
Go clean
Refrigerator dill pickles
Make it Southern
Fried green tomatoes
Crispy cheese curds
If you’re a cheese lover, you’ll love these crispy cheese curds. After all, who could say no to crunchy bites filled with warm, gooey cheese?
They’re a certified crowd-pleaser whether you serve them as an appetizer or alongside your BLT sandwich.
And the best part? You only need 25 minutes to get these cheese curds ready to serve.
Featured recipe
Air fryer cheese curds
A different cheese
Mozzarella sticks
Go fancy
Halloumi fries
Garlic parmesan sweet potato wedges
I love sweet potatoes in all forms, but my favorite style has to be wedges.
You get the best of both worlds – a light, crisp bite on the outside from the garlic parmesan coating contrasted with a tender, fluffy inside.
Psst… don’t forget to serve them with a dip! This recipe goes for a homemade ‘campfire sauce’, which brings a creamy, smoky twist to these savory-sweet spuds.
Featured recipe
Garlic parmesan sweet potato wedges
Make it fresh
Greek lemon potatoes
Make it unique
Mashed potato fries
Light options
These light sides are perfect for bulking up your BLT sandwich, without weighing you down right after the meal. And no, there are no boring old salads here!
Pickled jalapeños
Jazz up your plain BLT sandwich with these pickled jalapeños. And don’t worry if you’re not a fan of spicy food.
Pickling the jalapeños reduces their heat (although it won’t disappear) and infuses them with a subtle sweetness, so they’ll tickle your taste buds but won’t set them on fire.
Have them on the side or place them inside your sandwich. Either way, you’re guaranteed an elevated flavor experience with these quick-pickled jalapeños.
Featured recipe
10-minute pickled jalapeños
Skip the spice
Quick pickled red onions
Make it sweet
Candied jalapenos
Zucchini fries
Say goodbye to greasy fingers with these zucchini fries.
They’re a tasty low-carb alternative that still boasts a delectable crunch from the parmesan and panko coating. Plus, they’re made even healthier because they’re oven-baked instead of deep-fried.
Enjoy these lighter fries with a side of ketchup and your BLT sandwich for a satisfying meal.
Featured recipe
Oven-baked zucchini fries
Go red
Beet fries
Swap the veg
Eggplant fries
Spring salad
Keep your lunch meal light by making a spring salad to go with your BLT sandwich.
And don’t limit yourself to leafy greens– you can load the plate up with different vegetables to make it more nutritious and exciting. RecipeTin Eats uses fresh peas and asparagus with romaine lettuce leaves to celebrate the flavors of spring.
Everything is then tossed with a homemade lemon dressing that infuses the veggies with a bright, citrusy touch. YUM.
Featured recipe
Spring salad
Make it simple
Snap pea salad
Go for veg
Grilled asparagus
Crudites platter
This veggie platter is another excellent dish to pair with your BLT sandwich for a light lunch.
There’s no cooking involved, just some prep work for your veggies. It’s perfect for the summer, because who wants to heat up in the kitchen when the temperature’s almost at a hundred degrees?
This recipe also serves the veggies with dips like hummus and ranch, but you can also try other favorites like spinach artichoke or French onion dips.
Featured recipe
Crudites platter
Make it handy
Veggie cups
Make it different
Grilled veggie platter
Corn ribs
Bring out these trendy corn ribs with your BLT sandwiches, and you’re sure to be the talk of the party.
These ribs look like an elaborate dish, but they’re really not. They’re your regular corn on the cob that’s been chopped into quarters, seasoned, then cooked in the air fryer.
Once they’re cooked, you can pick the corn ribs up with your fingers and eat them like you would pork ribs (hence the name!).
Featured recipe
Corn ribs
Make it simple
Milk-boiled corn on the cob
Go for a salad
Corn salad
Orange citrus salad
Who says salads have to be boring? Trade in your bagged salad for this pretty bowl of fresh greens and citrus.
The fresh fruits add vibrant pops of color and a bright, zesty flavor that’s to die for.
Pair this with your BLT sandwich for a fresh and satisfying lunch.
Featured recipe
Orange citrus salad
Swap fruit
Watermelon salad
Make it winter-proof
Winter salad with berry vinaigrette
Picnic favorites
BLT sandwiches are quintessential picnic food, so it’s not surprising that we have a host of classic picnic favorites to help you complete the meal. My favorites are old-fashioned deviled eggs, but you can also try potato salads or slaws.
Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers
Get double the bacon goodness by pairing your BLT sandwich with these bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers. After all, there’s no such thing as too much bacon!
Each pepper is packed with a cream cheese filling perfect for balancing out the salty, smoky flavors from the bacon and your sandwich.
The trick with these poppers is to secure the bacon in place using toothpicks. It’s simple, but these mini wooden skewers prevent the bacon from shrinking and also make the poppers handier.
Featured recipe
Bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers
Make it crispy
Jalapeño popper bites
Make it simple
Blistered jalapeños
No mayo coleslaw
This healthy no mayo coleslaw will quickly become a staple at your picnics, barbecues, and summer parties.
The secret? Non-fat Greek yogurt. You get the same creamy, tangy slaw without the guilt of consuming a lot of calories from the usual mayo dressing.
Psst… if you’re in a rush, skip the prep work and opt for pre-shredded coleslaw mix – I go for the ones with purple cabbage for the pretty pops of color.
Featured recipe
No mayo coleslaw
Go classic
Creamy slaw
Go fusion
Asian slaw
Mac and cheese
For the days when a BLT sandwich isn’t enough to fill you up, whip up a pot of mac and cheese to go with it.
No other dish screams comfort like a bowl of gooey, cheesy pasta (apart from the tomato soup I suggested earlier). Plus, it’s a breeze to make. Everything comes together in one pot and the final dish can be ready in 20 minutes.
You can get as fancy with the add-ons as you want, but I usually skip them, especially when pairing this mac and cheese with a BLT.
Featured recipe
Stovetop macaroni and cheese
Bake it
Baked mac and cheese
Make it bite-sized
Mac and cheese cups
Deviled eggs
Complete the picnic spread with these delicious deviled eggs.
This recipe starts like your basic deviled eggs, but adding cayenne pepper and Sriracha to the filling gives it a pleasantly fiery kick.
Psst… not a fan of Sriracha? Use your favorite hot sauce instead (or one of these other sriracha substitutes). Tabasco is a great alternative.
And if you add too much Tabasco and your egg mixture thins out, I have a great guide on how to thicken deviled eggs here.
Featured recipe
Deviled eggs
Make it fun
Avocado deviled eggs
Deconstruct it
Deviled egg salad
French potato salad
This isn’t your ordinary potato salad. It uses a vinaigrette instead of a mayo-based dressing to jazz up the boiled spuds.
The result? A lighter potato salad packed with a more prominent zesty tang that’ll have your picnic guests coming back for more.
You can serve this salad warm or cold, but I prefer the latter. It’s superb on a warm sunny day alongside a hefty BLT sandwich.
Featured recipe
French-style potato salad
Go classic
Creamy potato salad
Go German
German potato salad
Broccoli cheddar balls
These broccoli cheddar balls are the ultimate way to sneak more veggies into your kid’s meal.
The finely chopped florets are mixed with shredded cheese, formed into balls, then coated with panko breadcrumbs to give them delightfully crunchy exteriors.
Even the most eagle-eyed kids will get distracted by how delicious these are that they won’t mind the broccoli pieces poking out.
Featured recipe
Broccoli cheese balls
Skip the cheese
Broccoli tots
Skip the veg
Potato cheese balls
International influences
BLT sandwiches are an all-American favorite, but their simplicity makes it easy to jazz them up with dishes from other cuisines. Try a rich tomato chutney or kimchi to add a bit of a fiery twist to your sandwich. Or you can go with a side of shrimp tempura for a tasty Japanese twist.
Tomato chutney
Upgrade your BLT with some tomato chutney.
There are loads of different ways to make tomato chutney, but one thing they all tend to have in common is a fiery kick from the chilis.
There’s also a hint of sweetness from the sultanas and the muscovado sugar, although it’s still guaranteed to make you sweat because of the chili seeds. You can leave them out while making this chutney if you want to make the spice level more manageable.
Featured recipe
Mixed tomato chutney
A little twist
Tomato and ginger chutney
Go tropical
Pineapple chutney
Shrimp tempura
Give your BLT sandwich a surf-and-turf twist by adding some shrimp tempura on the side.
The key with this Japanese classic is to use ice-cold water and eggs straight from the fridge. These ensure the batter won’t absorb too much oil and make your shrimp greasy.
And to make the tempura shrimp even tastier, I like serving it with a side of citrusy ponzu sauce.
Featured recipe
Shrimp tempura
Skip the seafood
Veggie tempura
Make a starter
Shrimp cocktail
Kimari (Korean rolls)
Feeling adventurous? Why not make some kimari to go with your BLT sandwich?
Kimari is a popular street food in South Korea, made of crispy fried seaweed rolls filled with seasoned glass noodles. They’re kind of like egg rolls, so they make excellent finger food.
Pro-tip: make gochujang mayo to serve with these treats.
Featured recipe
Kimari (Korean seaweed rolls)
Go traditional
Classic egg rolls
Make it fun
Southwest egg rolls

What To Serve With BLT Sandwiches [63 Ideas]
Ingredients
- 1 portion potato chips
- 1 portion jalapeno poppers
- 1 portion zucchini fries
- 1 portion crispy cheese curds
- 1 portion tomato soup
- 1 portion no-mayo coleslaw
- … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your BLT sandwiches according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: air fryer potato chips, tomato soup, onion rings, no mayo coleslaw, bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers, tomato chutney, shrimp tempura, pickled jalapeños, kimari (korean rolls), mac and cheese, garlic parmesan sweet potato wedges, zucchini fries, spring salad, veggie and hummus platter, broccoli cheddar balls, deviled eggs, fried pickles, french potato salad, corn ribs, orange citrus salad, and crispy cheese curds.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.