These BLT salad skewers are everything you love about a BLT sandwich. You get smoky bacon, juicy tomato, crisp romaine, all threaded onto a stick and ready to grab off a platter: no plates, no forks, no bread required.
These BLT salad skewers take about 20 minutes to pull together and disappear from the table faster than you can make them. The genius of this recipe is in the format. Skewers turn a simple salad into finger food, which means no one has to commit to a full plate.
That also makes them perfect for potlucks and cookouts where people are grazing rather than sitting down for a meal. Each skewer layers crunchy romaine, a cherry tomato, and a folded piece of crispy bacon, then gets a drizzle of creamy dressing right before serving.
There is no complicated technique and no special equipment beyond a pack of bamboo skewers. You can assemble them ahead of time and dress them at the last minute, which makes your life at the party a lot easier. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser that actually earns the name, this is it.
Today I’ll show you the simple steps for making this simple appetizer, including all my best tips. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or want to jazz up lunch, these skewers are pure bacon-lettuce-tomato goodness in every bite.
Looking for more summer appetizers? Try my recipes for greek salad skewers, peach caprese skewers, or tortellini salad skewers.
Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Cocktail tomatoes: I like using cocktail tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes because they’re slightly larger, and this is a tomato-focused appetizer. If you can’t find cocktail tomatoes at your store, cherry or grape tomatoes work just fine. Just pick the biggest ones in the container.
- Romaine lettuce
- Bacon: Cook your bacon until it’s crispy but not brittle. You want it to hold together when you slice it into pieces.
- Cheddar cheese
- Ranch dressing: Store-bought ranch is perfectly fine here. But if you’re feeling ambitious, homemade ranch takes these skewers to the next level.
How to Make BLT Skewers
- Cut the cooled bacon into pieces about an inch long. Dice your cheddar into bite-sized cubes, roughly half an inch on each side.
- Grab a 6-inch skewer and slide on a cocktail tomato first. Follow it with a piece of bacon.
- Take a piece of romaine lettuce and fold it once or twice to compact it. Thread it onto the skewer after the bacon.
- Add another piece of bacon to the skewer, then top everything off with a cube of cheddar cheese.
- Keep assembling skewers using the same order until you’ve used up all your ingredients.
- Place your finished skewers on a serving tray or platter. Set out a small bowl of ranch dressing on the side for drizzling or dipping.
Serving Ideas
BLT skewers are basically party magic in bite-sized form. These little guys work for practically any occasion, whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, throwing together a last-minute appetizer spread, or prepping finger foods for a game day gathering.
Arrange them on a platter with a small bowl of ranch dressing nestled in the center. Your guests can grab a skewer and dip as they go, which means less mess on their hands and more time for mingling. You can also set them up on a bed of fresh greens or even on a wooden board for a more rustic vibe.
These skewers also shine at potlucks. Pack them in a shallow container, bring the ranch in a separate jar, and you’ve got a contribution that people will actually finish. There’s something about a handheld appetizer that makes people feel like they’re eating something fancy.
Want to dress them up even more? Serve them alongside other charcuterie-style items like olives, crackers, or cubed cheese. The BLT skewers anchor the spread and give people that savory, protein-packed option they’re craving.
How to Store
These aren’t the kind of appetizer you make a day in advance and forget about. The lettuce will wilt, which makes the whole vibe fall apart.
I suggest you make them no more than 2 to 3 hours before serving. If you’re prepping for an afternoon party, assemble them in the morning and cover them loosely with plastic wrap. Keep them in the refrigerator until it’s time to set them out.
If you’ve got leftovers, store the components separately rather than keeping the assembled skewers together. Pop the cooked bacon in an airtight container, cube any remaining cheese and refrigerate it, and keep the lettuce in a produce bag. They’ll keep for 2 to 3 days this way, and you can always reassemble them if needed.
Additionally, the longer they sit out, the more the lettuce softens and loses that fresh crunch that makes these skewers so good. Room temperature is fine for serving, but get them out of the fridge close to when your guests arrive.
Tips & Tricks
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Cook the bacon until it’s crispy but not burnt. You want it to hold up when someone bites into their skewer. I usually bake mine in the oven at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, which gives me perfectly crispy bacon without the stovetop splatter all over my kitchen.
- You can prep everything the night before. Cook your bacon, cube your cheese, wash your tomatoes, and tear your lettuce, then store everything in separate containers in the fridge. When it’s party time, you can assemble them in about 10 minutes flat.
- Fold the lettuce into a small square or triangle before threading it on. This keeps it compact and makes the skewers much easier to eat.
- While I call for cheddar in this recipe, you can absolutely swap it out. Mozzarella pearls work beautifully and don’t require any cutting. Pepper jack adds a nice kick.
- Use 6-inch bamboo skewers for these. The shorter length makes them easy to handle at parties, and they fit nicely on serving platters. You can find them at any grocery store in the paper goods aisle.
- Instead of serving ranch in a bowl for dipping, try putting it in a squeeze bottle. Your guests can drizzle it right over their skewers without worrying about double-dipping.
Reader Questions
For an appetizer spread with other options, plan on 2-3 skewers per person. If these are your main appetizer, bump it up to 4-5.
Romaine is my go-to because it’s sturdy and doesn’t wilt quickly. Butter lettuce works if you’re serving it immediately, though it’s more delicate. I’d avoid iceberg because it doesn’t have much flavor.
Ranch is classic, but blue cheese dressing, honey mustard, or a balsamic glaze works fine too. Caesar dressing is another good option that pairs well with romaine lettuce.
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BLT Skewers
Ingredients
- 20 cocktail tomatoes
- 20 leaves romaine lettuce
- 10 slices bacon cooked
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese cubed
- Ranch dressing for serving
Instructions
- Cut the bacon into pieces about an inch long. Dice the cheddar into cubes.
- Take a 6-inch skewer and thread a tomato onto it, followed by a piece of bacon. Then fold a piece of lettuce and add it to the skewer. Add another piece of bacon and finish with a cube of cheddar cheese.20 cocktail tomatoes, 20 leaves romaine lettuce, 10 slices bacon, 8 ounces cheddar cheese
- Continue to make skewers until you run out of ingredients.
- Serve on a tray with ranch dressing for drizzling.Ranch dressing
Notes
- Cook the bacon until it’s crispy but not burnt. You want it to hold up when someone bites into their skewer. I usually bake mine in the oven at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, which gives me perfectly crispy bacon without the stovetop splatter all over my kitchen.
- You can prep everything the night before. Cook your bacon, cube your cheese, wash your tomatoes, and tear your lettuce, then store everything in separate containers in the fridge. When it’s party time, you can assemble them in about 10 minutes flat.
- Fold the lettuce into a small square or triangle before threading it on. This keeps it compact and makes the skewers much easier to eat.
- While I call for cheddar in this recipe, you can absolutely swap it out. Mozzarella pearls work beautifully and don’t require any cutting. Pepper jack adds a nice kick.
- Use 6-inch bamboo skewers for these. The shorter length makes them easy to handle at parties, and they fit nicely on serving platters. You can find them at any grocery store in the paper goods aisle.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
