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These Candied Bacon BLT Sliders take classic BLTs to a new level. Slider buns are toasted with garlic butter and then piled high with mayonnaise, crisp iceberg lettuce, tomato, and candied brown sugar bacon. Quick, easy, and perfect for a light lunch or sharing at parties and cookouts!
Behind This BLT Sliders Recipe
I love a good classic BLT sandwich. But I wanted to make them a bit, well…fancier. These candied bacon BLT sliders are what I landed up and oh my goodness, they are so good!
The combination of sweet and savory flavors, enhanced by a hint of spice from the candied bacon, pairs perfectly with a thick layer of cool mayonnaise, crisp lettuce, and flavorful tomatoes. This is a BLT sandwich that is not only memorable but also impressive enough to serve to guests.
The candied bacon, which I talk about more below, is the real game changer here. Yet it’s no harder to make than regular fried bacon! The brown sugar and spices bake into the bacon, caramelizing into a glossy candy coating that perfectly contrasts the salty, smoky flavor. The result is tender, chewy, and crisp bacon slices.
If you love BLTs and sliders as much as me, be sure to check out my honey mustard BLT chicken sliders and blackened BLT salmon sliders!
Tips from My Kitchen
- Use iceberg lettuce. Crisp iceberg lettuce is superior to any other lettuce when it comes to BLT sandwiches. It adds structure and a crisp, refreshing crunch.
- Season the tomatoes. I like to season the tomatoes directly with salt and pepper, which further enhances their flavor.
- Toast the slider buns. Toasting the slider buns in garlic butter, inside out, adds flavor and a unique grilled cheese-esque texture.
- Don’t skimp on the mayo. A thick coating of mayonnaise is the key to making the best BLT sliders (and any BLT sandwich for that matter). You don’t want to skimp on the mayo.
- Candied bacon hardens as it cools. The bacon will not look completely hardened in the oven, but you still want to pull it out when the edges start to turn dark brown. It will harden and get crisp and chewy as it cools on the plate.
What is Candied Bacon?
Sometimes referred to as millionaire bacon, candied bacon consists of rubbing thick, center-cut bacon with a mixture of dark brown sugar and other spices (like a kick of heat and smoked paprika). It’s then baked on a wire baking rack to allow the fat to drip off.
The result is a glossy, candy-coated bacon that’s both chewy and crispy at the same time. The sweet and smoky flavor is so delicious you won’t be able to stop eating it. Use it on these candied bacon BLT sliders, serve it for breakfast, or enjoy it as a snack. You can even make candied bacon crackers!
Key Ingredients
These sliders are made with your basic BLT ingredients, plus a few extras to candy the bacon. Be sure to check out the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Bacon – Thick, center-cut bacon is ideal. I always look for bacon with an even amount of marbling. Be sure to avoid packs with excessive fat.
- Brown sugar – Dark brown sugar will yield a strong flavor.
- Seasonings – Smoked paprika, fresh cracked pepper, and cayenne or red pepper flakes are combined with the sugar to make the seasoning for the candied bacon.
- Slider buns – I chose King’s Hawaiian sweet slider buns, but you can use brioche or whichever you prefer.
- Garlic butter – Softened butter is combined with freshly minced garlic and a hint of fresh parsley.
- Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce is the only way to go, in my opinion. It’s crisp and adds lots of texture to these BLT sliders.
- Tomatoes – Roma tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes, if available in season. We’ll sprinkle them with salt and pepper for extra flavor.
- Mayonnaise – I chose Hellmann’s for this recipe, but southern varieties work as well. It’s up to your preference.
How to Make Candied Bacon BLT Sliders
These sliders are quick and easy to make. The bacon needs to bake for about 20 minutes but that’s all hands-off time. The printable instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Season the bacon. Preheat the oven to 400F. Combine the brown sugar and seasonings in a bowl. Place the bacon on a baking sheet with a wire rack and foil. Sprinkle the mixture evenly on both sides.
- Cook the bacon. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping in the last 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate. It will get crispier as it cools.
- Make the garlic butter. Heat the butter, garlic, and parsley in the microwave for 20 seconds until softened.
- Toast the buns. Spread the mixture on the inside of the buns. Toast in a skillet over low heat until golden brown. Flip and toast the other side for a minute.
- Assemble. Slice the candied bacon in thirds. Add mayo to the bottom but then top with lettuce and a tomato slice. Sprinkle salt and pepper on the tomato. Top with three pieces of bacon. Finish with the top slider buns inside out and more mayo on the underside.
What To Serve With BLT Sliders
What to serve with these sliders really depends on when you serve them! For a light lunch, enjoy one or two sliders with some chips for a quick summer meal.
At potlucks, these pair nicely with sides like potato salad and dill pickle pasta salad.
For a casual game day, I like to serve them with other finger foods, dips, and appetizers, like refried bean dip and Philly cheesesteak dip.
Looking for More Sandwich Sliders?
Honey Mustard BLT Chicken Sliders
Alabama White Blackened Chicken Sliders
Raising Cane’s Chicken Sliders
Hawaiian Roll Cheeseburger Sliders
Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Cowboy Butter Steak Sliders
I hope you enjoy these candied bacon BLT sliders. Be sure to comment below with any questions or feedback!
If you make these or any other recipes, don’t forget to tag me on IG @BadBatchBaking to be featured on my story. Seeing your recreations makes my day!
Candied Bacon BLT Sliders
Ingredients
- 9 count sweet slider buns Kings Hawaiian or brioche
- 1 pound thick-cut center-cut bacon
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons parsley minced
- 1/4 head iceburg lettuce cut into slider-sized portions
- 2-3 roma tomatoes sliced thick
- mayonnaise about 1 tablespoon per slider
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, smoked paprika, cayenne or red pepper flakes, and 1 tsp of freshly cracked pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
- Lay the bacon on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack with foil or parchment paper on the pan below to catch the drippings. Liberally sprinkle the brown sugar mixture on both sides of the bacon, rubbing it in.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping the bacon in the last 10 minutes or so. You’ll know the bacon is done when it starts to turn dark brown on the edges. Remove bacon slices from the wire rack and place on a plate to rest. It will get crispier as it cools.
- In a small bowl, add butter, garlic, and parsley. Heat in the microwave for 20 seconds or until softened and partially melted.
- Spread the butter mixture on the insides of both buns. Toast in a large skillet over low heat until it’s golden brown. Flip and toast the opposite sides for about 1 minute, or until they are slightly browned.
- To assemble the sliders, slice the bacon slices in thirds. Add mayonnaise to the bottom slider buns. Add lettuce onto each slider, followed by one tomato slice. Sprinkle salt and pepper directly on the tomatoes.
- Top with three slices of bacon (one strip per slider). Place the top slider buns on inside-out with the toasted side exposed. Spread more mayo on the underside of the top slider buns and place them on top. Slice and serve.
Toasty and delicious! Love the candied bacon crackers and I knew we would love these. Making them again for the 4th
Unbelievably delicious!! If you’ve ever had an Arby’s brown sugar bacon sandwich on Kings Hawaiian bread – it tastes exactly like those only 10x better!!! So glad I found this.