I love lettuce wraps, and I especially enjoy serving them as party appetizers. These BLT Salad Bites are essentially a miniature BLT salad tucked into a small lettuce leaf — crisp, flavorful, and easy to eat.
I first converted favorite dishes into lettuce wraps back in graduate school, and I still use the idea often. Lettuce wraps are a clever, low-effort way to present familiar flavors in bite-sized form, and they’re always a hit at gatherings.
I particularly like making these as mini lettuce wraps — see tips below on choosing and prepping small leaves to make the bites perfectly appetizer-friendly.
BLT Salad Bites (Ingredients at a Glance)
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Mini Lettuce Leaves (Little Gem, Sweet Gem, etc)
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Shaved Parmesan Cheese
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Bacon
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Shredded Romaine Lettuce (optional)
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Cherry Tomatoes
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Green Onions
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Mayonnaise
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Ranch Dressing
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Salt & Black Pepper
BLT Salad Bites
These BLT Salad Bites are a simple, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Below are ingredient notes and small tips to help you assemble them quickly and present them beautifully.
MINI LETTUCE LEAVES: Choose smaller lettuces such as little gem, sweet gem, green gem, or small romaine leaves. Endive also works well as a sturdy, bite-sized vessel.
BACON: I crisp my bacon in the oven for even cooking, but use whatever method you prefer. Cook until crisp, then crumble. Shortcut: use pre-made bacon bits if you’re short on time.
TOMATOES: Small cherry, grape, or bite-sized tomatoes are best. If your tomatoes are larger than marble size, chop them so they’re easy to eat in a single bite.
ROMAINE LETTUCE: Toss shredded romaine with the dressing and spoon a small amount into each leaf for added texture and to make each bite a little more substantial. This is optional but helpful for structure.
MAYONNAISE & RANCH DRESSING: I use a 1:2 ratio of mayo to ranch to lightly coat the shredded romaine. Feel free to swap in your preferred dressing — blue cheese, honey mustard, or plain mayo all work.
SHAVED PARMESAN: A thin slice of parmesan adds a salty, savory finish. Grated or shredded parmesan can be used instead, or omit cheese for a dairy-free version.
GREEN ONION: Diced green onion adds a fresh bite. Substitute chives if preferred.
SALT & PEPPER: Finish each bite with a light sprinkle of sea salt and coarse black pepper to bring the flavors together.
The assembly is the main step: arrange washed lettuce leaves on a platter, add a spoonful of dressed shredded romaine (if using), then top with crumbled bacon, tomatoes, shaved parmesan, green onions, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Serve on a large tray for easy grazing.
Can you make BLT Salad Bites in advance?
Yes. Prep most components up to 24 hours ahead, keeping them refrigerated. Store the lettuce and shredded romaine tossed in dressing separately from the bacon and tomatoes. Add the crispy bacon and tomatoes right before serving to keep the bites fresh and crunchy.
These BLT Salad Bites are perfect for backyard gatherings from summer through fall. They make a light, flavorful option for birthdays, baby showers, game day spreads, or whenever you want a low-carb, finger-food appetizer that feels indulgent but fresh.
More Party Appetizers to Try:
- BLT Deviled Eggs (another tasty BLT-inspired bite)
- Olive Dip with Cream Cheese
- Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball
- Chilled Marinated Shrimp Appetizer
BLT Salad Bites
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Ingredients
- 1-2 heads Sweet Gem lettuce (about 12-14 leaves)
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 3 leaves romaine lettuce (shredded)
- 6 slices bacon (cooked crispy)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup green onion (diced)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
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Wash lettuce leaves and pat dry. Arrange the leaves on a serving platter.
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Whisk together mayonnaise and ranch dressing in a small bowl.
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Toss shredded romaine with the dressing to coat, then distribute a small amount into each leaf if using.
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Top each lettuce leaf with crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes (slice larger ones), shaved parmesan, diced green onion, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Carbohydrates: 5g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 10g