BLT Salad Bites: Mini Lettuce Wraps with Crispy Bacon and Tomato

I love lettuce wraps, especially as party appetizers. These BLT Salad Bites are a mini BLT salad tucked into baby lettuce leaves — crispy, flavorful, and perfect for passing around at gatherings.

I started turning favorite salads and sandwiches into lettuce wraps back in graduate school and still make them often. They’re an easy, clever way to serve familiar flavors in bite-sized form, and guests always appreciate a light, low-carb option.

BLT Salad Bites (Ingredients at a Glance)

• Mini lettuce leaves (Little Gem, Sweet Gem, smaller romaine leaves, or endive)
• Shaved Parmesan cheese
• Bacon (cooked and crumbled)
• Shredded romaine lettuce (optional, for body)
• Cherry or grape tomatoes (or other small tomato varieties)
• Green onions (or chives)
• Mayonnaise
• Ranch dressing
• Salt & black pepper

BLT Salad Bites

These BLT Salad Bites are extremely simple to assemble, which is one reason they’re such a reliable party choice. Below are a few notes on ingredients and small tips to make the assembly quicker and more consistent.

Mini lettuce leaves: Choose small, sturdy leaves in the produce section — Little Gem, Sweet Gem, baby romaine leaves, or endive work well. These create a natural cup that’s easy to hold and eat.

Bacon: I like to crisp bacon in the oven, then crumble it for topping. If you’re short on time, store-bought bacon bits work too.

Tomatoes: Use small cherry or grape tomatoes. If your tomatoes are larger than marble size, slice them so each bite is easy to eat.

Romaine lettuce: Shredded romaine tossed with a light dressing adds volume and stability to the bites. You can leave it out if you prefer a simpler, lighter option.

Mayo & ranch: Toss shredded romaine with a mix of mayonnaise and ranch dressing (I use about a 1:2 ratio of mayo to ranch) so the lettuce is lightly coated. Swap in your favorite dressing if desired.

Shaved Parmesan: A thin slice or small shavings of Parmesan add a savory finish. Grated or shredded Parmesan is fine as well, or omit for a dairy-free version.

Green onion: Finely diced green onion adds a mild oniony bite; chives work as an alternative.

Finishing: Sprinkle each bite with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving.

Putting these together is mostly assembly: arrange washed lettuce leaves on a platter, spoon a small amount of the dressed shredded romaine into each leaf, then top with crumbled bacon, tomato pieces, shaved Parmesan, and diced green onion. Finish with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Can you make BLT Salad Bites in advance?

Yes. Prep everything up to 24 hours ahead, leaving bacon and tomato slices separate to maintain crispness. Store components tightly covered in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve, quickly assemble the bites so the lettuce stays crisp and the bacon remains crunchy.

BLT Salad Bites are a great addition to backyard gatherings from summer through fall. They work for birthdays, baby showers, game day parties, or any event where you want a flavorful, low-carb finger food.

Recipe