Description

A quick, crunchy, and creamy chopped salad that combines the classic flavors of a BLT with toasted bagel chunks, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and a tangy ranch-mayo dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

1 large plain or sesame bagel (day-old or slightly stale preferred), cut into 1-inch cubes
4–6 slices thick-cut bacon
2 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, diced
2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sour cream
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Cut the bagel into 1-inch cubes. If fresh, toast in a toaster or oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes until golden and crisp. Let cool completely.
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, flipping every minute until crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and crumble into small pieces on a paper towel.
Wash and chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and finely dice the red onion.
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper until smooth.
In a large bowl, combine the toasted bagel cubes, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, crumbled bacon, and diced cheddar cheese.
Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and gently toss until evenly coated. Serve immediately.

Notes

Use day-old or stale bagels for better toasting and crunch. Keep ingredients cold until serving. Do not store the mixed salad as the bagel will become soggy; store components separately for up to 2 days. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bagels. For a dairy-free version, swap cheese and sour cream for vegan alternatives.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Category: Lunch
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 large bowl
Calories: 650
Sugar: 5
Sodium: 900
Fat: 45
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 35
Fiber: 3
Protein: 25

Keywords: BLT salad, chopped bagel salad, quick lunch, 5-minute recipe, bacon lettuce tomato, bagel salad, easy lunch ideas