Avocado-Pesto BLT Bites

Beyond making sweets and desserts, creating flavor-packed, beautiful appetizers is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen. That’s why I’m excited to share these Avocado-Pesto BLT Bites with you!

For me, BLTs might be one of the best sandwiches out there. They taste even better this time of year because tomatoes are in season and bursting with sun-ripened flavor. With BLTs on my brain, I decided to take them to the next level by turning them into an appetizer and throwing an avocado-pesto into the mix.

If you’re looking for a tasty appetizer that’s fairly easy to put together and suitable for almost any occasion, this is it. Not only is the flavor combination on point, but it’s wrapped in bacon. What’s not to love?

To make these bites, I recommend starting with my recipe for Brown Sugar Bacon. (You can grab that recipe here.) I find it the best way to prepare bacon because it adds a bit of sweetness and keeps the bacon from getting overly crispy. The latter is especially important in this recipe because you need to wrap the bacon around the tomato when assembling the bites. Pan frying bacon is likely to make it too crisp.

With your bacon ready, combine the avocado, cream cheese, basil pesto, and a splash of lemon juice. This sauce adds flavor and pep to the bites. (It also makes them super trendy given that avocado is all the rage these days.)

With those things prepared, you’re ready to assemble.

Cut each bacon slice into three equal pieces. Then, with the avocado-pesto in a piping bag, pipe a line onto the bacon. Next, put on a few pieces of baby arugula. (You can use any green you like, but I prefer the pepperiness of arugula.) Finally, add a tomato and secure everything around the tomato with a toothpick.

Appetizer complete.

While assembling the bites takes a little time, it goes pretty quickly. Of course, the resulting goodness is worth it.

The bites speak for themselves in looks and flavor!

Makes 48

Here’s what you will need:
16 strips thick cut bacon, cooked*
½ medium avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons basil pesto
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 cups baby arugula
48 cherry tomatoes
Toothpicks

Begin by cutting each slice of cooked bacon into three equal pieces. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, use a fork to thoroughly mash together the avocado, cream cheese, pesto, and lemon juice. Put the mixture into a piping bag or plastic baggie. Cut off one corner of the baggie with scissors.

Assemble each bite by piping a line of the avocado-pesto mixture onto a strip of bacon. Top with 2 or 3 leaves of arugula and a cherry tomato. Secure the bacon and arugula around the tomato with a toothpick. Repeat for all of the bites.

*For best results, get my recipe for brown sugar bacon here. The bacon should be fully-cooked but not crispy.

I think any celebration would benefit from these cute little guys, don’t you?

Give them a try at your next gathering and let me know what you and your guests think. Enjoy!

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