The only thing better than a BLT is a BLT that you just made yourself, exactly the way you like it. You know, the one with mayo on just one side. And a sprinkle of sea salt on the tomato to draw out its heirloom-y goodness. And six strips of bacon instead of just three because, well, why not? A D.I.Y. BLT lunch—with its spread of farmstand tomatoes, crisp, tangled bacon, and glistening, just-washed lettuce—allows us all to indulge our inner sandwich-making obsessive. But it’s okay, because we’re being obsessive together. Let’s be real: Making a bunch of sandwiches for a crowd is a pain. A crowd making a bunch of sandwiches? Now that’s a party. —Adam Rapoport
Ultimate BLT
Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise
Sriracha Mayonnaise
Cold Brew Plum Iced Tea
Like all sane people, we appreciate the simplicity of thick-cut bacon. If you're cooking more than 6 slices at a time, crisping bacon in the oven is the obvious move for a large party: The strips cook evenly, don't curl up in a weird way, and you can crowd a bunch together if need be. Budget about 3 strips of bacon per guest. If you're feeling a little wild, gussy it up with our spicy and sweet riffs for chile-rubbed bacon and maple-mustard bacon.
Red romaine adds nice color, but any crisp lettuce that holds its shape, like Boston or Little Gem, will do. Want to stick with iceberg? We won't judge.
Hit the farmers' market for heirlooms or beefsteaks at their peak, a.k.a. the reason for making BLTs in the first place. Bonus points if they're still warm from the sun. You might be tempted to slice and season the tomatoes ahead of time to streamline the sandwich assembly. Don't. Once the tomatoes are sliced, all that sun-soaked juiciness will leach right out, and salt will only draw out more moisture. To keep the star of the show pristine, cut tomatoes just before serving, and encourage guests to generously sprinkle them with flaky sea salt and black pepper after the tomato is on the bread.
For a group's worth of toast, turn to the broiler. Place slices of white bread on a rimmed baking sheet and toast on both sides, checking often, until golden.
Unadulterated Hellmann's is flawless. Or zhoosh it up with herbs for a Lemon-Herb Mayonnaise or Sriracha to take things to the next level.
It's your party; you can add pickles, cole slaw, or potato salad to the spread if you want to. But really, the only side this lunch needs is a few bags of potato chips.
Lemon verbena-scented cold brew tea sweetened with plum syrup makes this spread a party. Slightly bruised or wrinkled stone fruit is ideal for making the infused syrup; try it with peaches and nectarines, too.