Stuffed Cherry Tomato BLT Cups
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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
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.
I made these about a year ago to bring to a potluck and they were delicious and VERY popular. I still get a mention about them from friends once in a while. I prepared it exactly as written. I’m going to make them again for a holiday party next week, and here are the minor changes I will make: I’ll substitute the cherry tomatoes with Campari tomatoes (larger than a cherry tomato), use a more substantial lettuce/green than arugula (probably a baby lettuce TBD), and I’ll add a homemade crouton in the center/top. The reason for the larger tomato is to make the prep and serving more manageable. As previous reviewers noted, the tomatoes are delicate and it’s cumbersome to hollow them all out without damaging them, and then they roll around uncontained all over the plate when you’re setting them out. The more substantial lettuce and the crouton are for the larger size tomato – so it won’t be too much sauce inside (plus the baby arugula in the recipe is too inconsequential to add anything but a a little green decor). It’s a great-tasting recipe. I took off one star primarily because it’s represented as a 20-minute recipe, but it takes much longer than that.
I love the idea of adding a crouton for a larger tomato! Quick tip … if you hollow them out from the bottom side you can sit them on the stem side so they don’t roll around.
These tasted good, all were eaten but were lots of work and time trying to clean out each cherry tomato despite using a thinner pointed tool and still left jagged edges. On top of that, they rolled over on the serving plate before I served them so were not pretty anymore going face down ;( Maybe I should have crowded them together in a bowl vs. flat plate? I had to upright therm but it was too late to make the bacon & arugula stand up again and look decent. There has to be an easier way to make these??
I love your recipes and your photography is awesome! It looks so delicious.
This looks delicious! I’ll be adding it to my Eid menu, for sure! And I think it’s a sign that I have all of the ingredients in my kitchen right now. My husband and I might get an appetizer before dinner tonight!
Thank you!
I’m getting ready to make this yummy treat got all the ingredients and as I read the instructions it calls for mayo although doesn’t see mayo in the ingredients section.
It’s the first ingredient in the chipotle mayo section. 🙂
I made these as an appetizer at a baby shower and everyone truly enjoyed them. They were simple and gone before the mother to be even opened up the gifts. Great recipe!
That’s so great to hear! Hooray!
Hahaha that’s so awesome! So happy to hear everyone loved them!
How soon can you make these before your party?
Once assembled, they’re good for a few hours. You can make the mayo, cook the bacon, and hollow out the tomatoes a day ahead to save you last minute work. 🙂
Hah right here waiting for you!!
Hi Kristen,I love tomatoes like these. It should be yummy, Just a question, Can I use pork instead of bacon? Thanks very much.
Cooked ground pork would work, too. I would season it with plenty of salt and pepper. 🙂
Thank you so much!!