BLT Sandwiches With Basil Aioli and Everything Bagel Spread

BLT sandwiches gets a serious upgrade with bright basil aioli and tangy everything bagel spread. Crisp bacon, ripe tomatoes, and fresh lettuce make it the kind of sandwich that earns repeat status every summer.

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Jump to:

• Pull Up A Chair & Let's Chat!
• What You'll Need For The BLT & Two Easy Spreads
• Swaps & Flavor-Boosting Variations
• Tips & Tricks
• BLT Sandwiches Recipe
• Storage
• You Asked, I Answered
• You'll Also Love
• Who’s Stirring the Pot?

Pull Up A Chair & Let's Chat!

A BLT sandwich already has everything going for it—crispy bacon, ripe tomatoes, fresh lettuce, and toasted bread—but the two sauces are what make this one memorable.

The everything bagel spread is creamy, tangy, and loaded with that savory flavor everybody loves. The basil aioli brings brightness, fresh basil, lemon, and just enough garlic to make the whole sandwich feel like summer. Use one, use both, but together they take a classic BLT and turn it into something worth talking about.

Why It Works

• Two sauces, two layers of flavor: The everything bagel spread brings tang and richness while the basil aioli adds freshness and brightness.
• Crispy bacon matters: Well-cooked bacon gives the sandwich structure and that unmistakable salty crunch.
• Ripe tomatoes do the heavy lifting: Good tomatoes are what make a BLT worth waiting for in the first place.
• Toasted bread keeps everything balanced: It adds texture and helps the spreads stay where they belong.
• Simple ingredients, big payoff: Nothing complicated here—just a few strong parts working exactly the way they should.

What You'll Need For The BLT & Two Easy Spreads

• For the BLT: Thick-cut bacon, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and sturdy toasted bread are the backbone here—simple ingredients that really need to shine.
• For the Basil Aioli: Fresh basil, mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper blend into a bright, herby sauce that tastes like summer.
• For the Everything Bagel Spread: Mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and everything bagel seasoning make a creamy, tangy spread with plenty of savory flavor.

Swaps & Flavor-Boosting Variations

This BLT is easy to tweak depending on what you have on hand or how far you want to take the sandwich situation.

• Make it a BLTA sandwich: Add ripe avocado for a creamy layer that fits perfectly with both the basil aioli and everything bagel spread.
• Swap the protein: Turkey, ham, or roasted chicken all work if you want to shift this into club sandwich territory.
• Add cheese: Sharp cheddar, colby jack, or provolone melt beautifully into all that bacon and tomato.
• Use one spread or both: A good mayonnaise works, but the basil aioli and everything bagel spread are what make this BLT stand out.
• Add pickled crunch: Quick-pickled red onions bring brightness and balance to rich bacon.
• Make it spicy: Pickled jalapeños, crushed red pepper, or a drizzle of sriracha all work here.
• Change the bread: Sourdough, thick white bread, multigrain, or toasted everything bagels all hold up well.

Tips & Tricks

This sandwich is simple, but a few small moves make it noticeably better.

• Lightly toast the bread: It gives the sandwich structure and helps everything hold up better.
• Use plenty of spread: A generous layer of sauce adds flavor and helps protect the bread from tomato juices.
• Season the tomatoes: A little kosher salt and black pepper wake up the flavor immediately.
• Build it in layers: Bread, sauce, lettuce, tomato, bacon, more sauce, then the top slice keeps everything where it belongs when you take a bite.
• Let the tomatoes sit briefly: A minute or two after seasoning helps draw off excess moisture before they hit the sandwich.

Storage

BLTs are best built fresh, but both spreads can be made ahead and kept ready in the fridge.

• Store the sauces separately: Keep the basil aioli and everything bagel spread in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Wait to assemble: Bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce are best layered right before serving so the bread stays fresh.
• Keep cooked bacon chilled: Cooked bacon holds well in the fridge and can be crisped quickly before building sandwiches.

You Asked, I Answered

You'll Also Love

• BLT Egg Sliders: Everything you love about a BLT packed into soft little sliders with an extra brunch-friendly twist.
• Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches: Crispy, hearty, and exactly the kind of sandwich that earns repeat status.
• Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Sauce: Bold, tender, and layered with big flavor from the very first bite.
• French Dip Sliders: Buttery, melty, and built for dipping straight into savory au jus.
• Italian Beef Recipe for Sandwiches: Fall-apart tender, loaded with flavor, and always worth the nap afterward.
• Pulled Pork Sliders: Saucy, easy, and made for feeding a crowd without much fuss.

Who’s Stirring the Pot?

Hi, I’m Ruth—recipe developer, comfort-food creator, and the voice behind Rufus For Real. I specialize in cozy, doable, flavor-packed meals for real-life kitchens, and I’m a firm believer that breakfast, dinner, and everything in between should be simple, satisfying, and impossible to mess up.

You’ll find me sharing even more comfort-food goodness, kitchen tips, and behind-the-scenes chaos over on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube (@rufusforreal everywhere).

If you love approachable recipes with a whole lot of personality, pull up a chair—there’s always room at this table.

Happy Cooking!

-Ruth aka Rufus