BLTs are a sandwich favorite, loved for their smoky, juicy taste and texture. Here's how to make them taste just as delicious without the bacon.

It's hard to find someone in the US who doesn't love bacon. In 2020, more than 268 million Americans ate the processed meat, and in 2025, the ham and bacon market is valued at over $9 billion. Safe to say, it's a national favorite. Whether served with eggs, stacked on pancakes, or layered into a classic BLT, bacon is a staple in many kitchens.

Jump to the recipes

But while the taste is beloved, not everyone enjoys the idea of eating processed meat. Bacon is a product of industrialized factory farming, and research links processed meat consumption to higher risks of chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Fortunately, you can still enjoy all the smoky, savory goodness of bacon -- without the bacon.

Below, discover five deliciously meaty, smoky, and satisfying ways to make a BLT using only plant-based ingredients.

BLT stands for bacon, lettuce, and tomato, which are the three main ingredients in this classic sandwich. It's usually served on toasted bread with mayonnaise, but it can be served in many different formats (baguettes and bagels are also popular BLT choices).

Minimalist Baker

It's hard to know exactly when the BLT was invented, but it first appeared in print in the early 1900s, according to Sandwich Magazine. Experts believe it likely descended from club sandwiches, which are a similar combination of ingredients but are often made with chicken or turkey, too.

"Tracing it back doesn't really lead to any solid information but the best thing I've come up with is we have to look to train service, where the club sandwich got really popular," Michele Jordan, who wrote The BLT Cookbook, told Sandwich. "It seems to me that the BLT became a version of the club sandwich."

One of the easiest ways to replace bacon in a BLT is with vegan bacon. For the best products on the market, you can find our guide to the best vegan bacon brands here. But you can also opt for whole food ingredients, too, like shiitake mushrooms, tofu, and even eggplant slices. They taste just as juicy and delicious when combined with ingredients like paprika and maple syrup. For more, check out some of our favorite vegan BLT recipes below.

These BLT recipes get their signature smoky flavor from plant-based ingredients.

In this simple yet tasty recipe from the Eat More Plants cookbook, shiitake mushrooms are cooked in a mix of tamari, maple syrup, garlic, paprika, oil, and salt until they are juicy, crispy, and deliciously smoky. After that, they are piled into bread with plenty of mayonnaise, tomato, and lettuce.

Get the recipe

Clare Winfield

Homemade gochujang mayonnaise adds a spicy kick to this juicy BLT recipe, which features crispy smoked tempeh in place of bacon. Alongside the staple ingredients (lettuce and tomato), this version of the classic also includes pickled chilies, watercress, and soy sauce.

Get the recipe

Bosh!

Tofu is one of the best ways to add a meaty bite to your BLT without bacon. It has a naturally tender texture, and will easily absorb all of the smoky flavors of paprika and maple syrup. "We say it's a 'sharing' sandwich, but you don't have to share if you don't want to," notes Bosh! "We won't judge. This is an absolutely scrumptious vegan lunch idea, we know you are going to love it."

Get the recipe

Minimalist Baker

Eggplant is another incredibly versatile plant-based ingredient. When sliced thinly and fried in a skillet, it gets a pleasantly bacon-like crispy texture. Fancy skipping the mayonnaise? This recipe from Minimalist Baker suggests swapping in some creamy hummus instead.

Get the recipe

Thee Burger Dude

For extra crispy vegan bacon, you can't go wrong with rice paper. It's delicious when fried with umami-boosting ingredients, like liquid smoke, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, and maple syrup. "I enjoy the taste as much as I did pig-based bacon," says recipe creator Brian Watson of Thee Burger Dude. "In fact, I like to eat this the same way I ate old-timey bacon, mostly as part of a vegan BLT sandwich, or crumbled up onto a salad or baked potato."

Get the recipe