These little BLT cups are everything I love about a classic BLT sandwich, served as bite-sized appetizers. I used to serve them at my underground restaurant, and everybody raved about them. They are made with hollowed cherry tomatoes, stuffed with arugula, crispy bacon, and a homemade spicy chipotle mayo. They’re ideal for parties and ready in just 20 minutes!
These bite-sized BLT cups are one of my favorite appetizers to put out when I want something fresh, flavorful, and a little fun. Juicy cherry tomatoes make the perfect tiny vessel for layering peppery arugula, crispy bacon bits, and a dollop of smoky chipotle mayonnaise.
They’re quick to assemble and always disappear fast. And if you happen to have extra chipotle mayo left over, it makes an incredible spread for burgers and sandwiches all week long — a happy little bonus I fully plan for every time I make these.
Key ingredients needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these little BLT appetizer cups with a homemade chipotle mayo.
Here’s everything you need for the BLT cups :
- Bacon : we use regular slices of bacon bacon instead of thick-cut as it works better in the small cups.
- Cherry tomatoes : choose larger round cherry tomatoes so they’re easier to hollow out and fill.
- Arugula : arugula is peppery and flavorful but you can also use spinach or lettuce if you prefer.
How to pipe the chipotle mayo
To make your life a lot simpler (and less messy), put the chipotle mayo into a pastry bag fitted with a smallish tip and then pipe it into the tomatoes. You can also use a sandwich bag and just snip the corner off. Or you can spoon it in.
Make-ahead tips
You can assemble these a few hours in advance and then leave them on a serving platter in your fridge. They taste best when served at room temperature. If you want to prep these ahead of time, you can cook the bacon and make the mayonnaise 2-3 days ahead.
BLT Cups Recipe
- Pin
Ingredients
Mini BLT Cups
- ▢ 5 strips bacon
- ▢ 24 cherry tomatoes
- ▢ 24 pieces baby arugula
Chipotle Mayo
- ▢ 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ▢ 2 teaspoons adobo sauce (see notes)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ▢ ½ teaspoon soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke (see notes)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large pan over medium-high heat until crispy. Let the bacon cool slightly. When it is cool enough to handle, break 24 small pieces for the topping and crumble the rest. 5 strips bacon
- While the bacon is cooking, hollow out the cherry tomatoes and make the mayo. Cut off the bottoms (they will sit on their tops) and carefully scoop/ shake out the insides with a small spoon. 24 cherry tomatoes
- Whisk all the mayo ingredients together in a small bowl. Transfer the mayo to a small pastry bag. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke
- Tuck a piece of arugula into each cherry tomato. Spoon a little of the crumbled bacon inside then fill with the chipotle mayo and top with a piece of bacon. 24 pieces baby arugula
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal !
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BLT Cups Recipe
Ingredients
Mini BLT Cups
- 5 strips bacon
- 24 cherry tomatoes
- 24 pieces baby arugula
Chipotle Mayo
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons adobo sauce , see notes
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ teaspoon soy sauce , gluten-free if needed
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke , see notes
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large pan over medium-high heat until crispy. Let the bacon cool slightly. When it is cool enough to handle, break 24 small pieces for the topping and crumble the rest. 5 strips bacon
- While the bacon is cooking, hollow out the cherry tomatoes and make the mayo. Cut off the bottoms (they will sit on their tops) and carefully scoop/ shake out the insides with a small spoon. 24 cherry tomatoes
- Whisk all the mayo ingredients together in a small bowl. Transfer the mayo to a small pastry bag. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke
- Tuck a piece of arugula into each cherry tomato. Spoon a little of the crumbled bacon inside then fill with the chipotle mayo and top with a piece of bacon. 24 pieces baby arugula
Notes
https://www.theendlessmeal.com/mini-blt-cups/
These little BLT cups are everything I love about a classic BLT sandwich, served as bite-sized appetizers. I used to serve them at my underground restaurant, and everybody raved about them. They are made with hollowed cherry tomatoes, stuffed with arugula, crispy bacon, and a homemade spicy chipotle mayo. They’re ideal for parties and ready in just 20 minutes!
These bite-sized BLT cups are one of my favorite appetizers to put out when I want something fresh, flavorful, and a little fun. Juicy cherry tomatoes make the perfect tiny vessel for layering peppery arugula, crispy bacon bits, and a dollop of smoky chipotle mayonnaise.
They’re quick to assemble and always disappear fast. And if you happen to have extra chipotle mayo left over, it makes an incredible spread for burgers and sandwiches all week long — a happy little bonus I fully plan for every time I make these.
Key ingredients needed
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these little BLT appetizer cups with a homemade chipotle mayo.
Here’s everything you need for the BLT cups :
- Bacon : we use regular slices of bacon bacon instead of thick-cut as it works better in the small cups.
- Cherry tomatoes : choose larger round cherry tomatoes so they’re easier to hollow out and fill.
- Arugula : arugula is peppery and flavorful but you can also use spinach or lettuce if you prefer.
How to pipe the chipotle mayo
To make your life a lot simpler (and less messy), put the chipotle mayo into a pastry bag fitted with a smallish tip and then pipe it into the tomatoes. You can also use a sandwich bag and just snip the corner off. Or you can spoon it in.
Make-ahead tips
You can assemble these a few hours in advance and then leave them on a serving platter in your fridge. They taste best when served at room temperature. If you want to prep these ahead of time, you can cook the bacon and make the mayonnaise 2-3 days ahead.
BLT Cups Recipe
- Pin
Ingredients
Mini BLT Cups
- ▢ 5 strips bacon
- ▢ 24 cherry tomatoes
- ▢ 24 pieces baby arugula
Chipotle Mayo
- ▢ 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ▢ 2 teaspoons adobo sauce (see notes)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- ▢ ½ teaspoon soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ▢ Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke (see notes)
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large pan over medium-high heat until crispy. Let the bacon cool slightly. When it is cool enough to handle, break 24 small pieces for the topping and crumble the rest. 5 strips bacon
- While the bacon is cooking, hollow out the cherry tomatoes and make the mayo. Cut off the bottoms (they will sit on their tops) and carefully scoop/ shake out the insides with a small spoon. 24 cherry tomatoes
- Whisk all the mayo ingredients together in a small bowl. Transfer the mayo to a small pastry bag. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice, ½ teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, Optional: 2-3 drops liquid smoke
- Tuck a piece of arugula into each cherry tomato. Spoon a little of the crumbled bacon inside then fill with the chipotle mayo and top with a piece of bacon. 24 pieces baby arugula
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here .
Did you make this?
We love to see what you made! Tag @theendlessmeal or hashtag #theendlessmeal !
