Lobster BLT Sandwich with Crispy Bacon and Lemon Aioli

Last Updated April 27th, 2023 at 09:22 pm by Lisa

A BLT Lobster Sandwich with tender lobster meat, thick applewood-smoked bacon, golden grilled sourdough, and an easy dill‑caper aioli. This savory sandwich won 1st Place Blue Ribbon at the Orange County Fair during a live cooking competition.

The combination of crunchy bacon, sweet lobster, crisp lettuce, and juicy heirloom tomato makes this more than a typical lobster roll—think of it as the ultimate BLT. Your mouth will be watering by the time you finish assembling it.

A sliced open BLT sandwich loaded with succulent lobster, bacon, lettuce and tomato stacked on a board.

How To Make A BLT Lobster Sandwich

  1. Butter the sourdough: Heat a heavy skillet or cast iron pan. Spread soft butter on the bread and place the slices butter-side down in the pan.
  2. Grill the bread: Toast until golden and crispy, flip once to briefly warm the other side, then remove from the pan and turn off the heat.
  3. Spread the dill‑caper aioli: Apply the aioli to each slice, leaving the browned, buttered sides as the outside of the sandwich.
  4. Layer with looseleaf lettuce (Romaine or Iceberg work well).
  5. Add 2–3 slices of ripe heirloom tomato.
  6. Add 2–3 strips of thick, crispy applewood-smoked bacon.
  7. Top with about ½ cup cooked, chopped lobster meat (bite-sized pieces).
  8. Place the top slice of bread on the sandwich, slice, and serve immediately.
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Easy, Fast, 4‑Minute Dill‑Caper Aioli Recipe

Traditional French aioli is an emulsified garlic sauce made by hand, typically using a mortar and pestle and olive oil. It takes time and effort, so this quick version gives you great flavor in about four minutes.

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped capers (pickled caper buds)
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh dill
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra‑virgin olive oil
  • Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper

Whisk the mayonnaise with lemon juice, capers, dill, and garlic in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil in a steady stream until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper and refrigerate until ready to use.

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Cooked Lobster Tips

Plan on about one small lobster tail per sandwich, or roughly ½ cup of chopped cooked meat. Small lobster tails commonly sold in markets weigh about 5–6 ounces with the shell on. You can also use frozen tails that have been thawed, or order from a trusted seafood supplier.

Below are straightforward steps for boiling and extracting lobster meat.

How To Boil Lobster Tails

  1. Buy smaller tails for sandwiches if available; larger tails can be used for other preparations.
  2. Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Add lobster tails and boil, uncovered, on high for 8–10 minutes for small tails, adjusting time for larger pieces. The shells should turn bright red and the meat should no longer be translucent.
  3. Expect the water to foam; lay a wooden spoon across the pot rim if the foam rises too high.
  4. After cooking, cool the tails on a plate for about 15 minutes before handling. Use a towel to hold the tail and kitchen or seafood scissors to cut down the center of the top shell.
  5. Cut down the center of the underside of the shell if needed and proceed to remove the meat.
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How To Remove Lobster Meat From The Shell

  1. After cutting the shell, crack it open carefully while holding the tail in a towel.
  2. Pull out the lobster meat and slide your thumb under the tail section to push the meat free.
  3. Remove and discard any grey “sand vein” or digestive tract that runs along the tail and check for shell fragments.
  4. Chop the lobster into bite-sized pieces so the sandwich is easy to eat.
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Romantic Lobster Dinner Recipe

If you’re planning a celebration or a romantic dinner, baked lobster ravioli with a lemon‑butter sauce is a lovely option to serve alongside or instead of this sandwich. The bright lemon butter complements lobster beautifully.

Lobster Ravioli With Lemon Butter Sauce

A baked lobster ravioli with lemon butter makes an elegant make‑ahead option for special dinners and holidays.
A white plate filled with heart shaped lobster ravioli garnished with parsley.
Cooked lobster meat on a cutting board ready to use in a recipe.
Assembly of a lobster BLT sandwich with bread, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and lobster meat.

How to Make Crispy Bacon for a BLT

How do you get crisp bacon?

Stovetop method: Heat a skillet and cook bacon about 10 minutes, flipping as needed. Pros: quick and familiar. Cons: more splatter to clean—use a splatter screen to reduce mess and protect from hot grease.

Oven method: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place bacon on a wire rack over a foil-lined sheet pan and bake 15–20 minutes until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Pros: can cook large batches evenly. Cons: you’ll need to clean the pan and rack.

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Lobster Sandwich Swaps, Adds, & Variations

  • Keep it simple with toasted white bread and swap cooked diced chicken for lobster, seasoned with mayo, paprika, and onion.
  • Use turkey bacon instead of pork bacon for a lighter option.
  • Add sliced cheddar or ripe avocado for extra creaminess.
  • Top with a fried egg for a breakfast-style BLT.
  • Fresh basil pairs nicely with lobster or chicken salad versions.
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Blue Ribbon Lobster Sandwich Recipe

In 2018 I entered a live on‑stage cooking competition at the OC Fair in Orange County, California. The contest required bacon as a key ingredient, so I developed this Ultimate Lobster BLT with dill‑caper aioli and practiced it until confident.

Cooking onstage for a panel of local chefs and a lively audience was both nerve‑wracking and exhilarating. The judges appreciated the California‑inspired flavors, and it was an unforgettable thrill to win my first blue ribbon at the fair.

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More Sandwich Recipes

If you enjoy hearty sandwiches, try roast beef with creamy horseradish sauce, slow‑cooker pulled pork topped with coleslaw and pickles, pulled pork sliders with Swiss and ham, or pressed Italian sandwiches for picnics. These options are great for gatherings, make‑ahead meals, and casual dinners.

  • Thick sliced roast beef on baguettes with lettuce, horseradish sauce, and shaved parmesan.
    Roast Beef Sandwiches
  • Red white check paper lined basked holding a pulled pork sandwich topped with coleslaw.
    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • Three pulled pork sandwiches on Hawaiian buns with pickles, cheese and ham on a cutting board.
    Pulled Pork Sliders
  • Picnic sandwiches on a red and white check table with sliced sandwiches.
    Picnic Food: Pressed Italian Sandwiches

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A sliced open BLT sandwich loaded with succulent lobster, bacon, lettuce and tomato stacked on a board.

BLT Lobster Sandwich Recipe

A BLT Lobster Sandwich with succulent lobster, thick applewood-smoked bacon, grilled sourdough, and dill‑caper aioli — winner of a Blue Ribbon at the Orange County Fair.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 644 kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield

Equipment

Seafood scissors (helpful for cutting shells)

Ingredients

Dill‑Caper Aioli

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon chopped capers
  • 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh dill
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 tablespoons extra‑virgin olive oil
  • Pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper

Lobster Sandwich

  • 2 tablespoons soft butter
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 tablespoons dill‑caper aioli
  • 4 looseleaf lettuce pieces
  • 4 slices heirloom tomato
  • 6 pieces cooked applewood smoked bacon
  • 1 cup cooked lobster meat (about 2 small 5.5 oz tails)

Instructions

Cook the crispy bacon (choose one method)

  • Stovetop: Heat a large skillet and cook bacon about 10 minutes until crispy.
  • Oven: Preheat to 400°F. Place bacon on a rack over a foil‑lined sheet pan and bake 15–20 minutes until crispy; drain on paper towels.

Make the dill‑aioli spread

  • Whisk mayonnaise with lemon juice, capers, dill, and garlic. Slowly whisk in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and chill until ready to use.

Prepare the lobster meat

  • Boil lobster tails in a pot of boiling water for 8–10 minutes for small tails, adjusting for size. Remove and cool 15 minutes.
  • Use kitchen or seafood scissors to cut the shell open, remove the meat, discard the sand vein and any shell fragments, and chop into bite-sized pieces.

Assemble the lobster BLT

  • Heat a heavy skillet. Butter the sourdough and grill butter-side down until golden; flip once to warm the other side and remove from heat.
  • Spread aioli on each slice, layer lettuce, tomato, bacon, and lobster. Top with the other slice of bread, slice in half, and serve.

Notes

Lobster tails

Use one small lobster tail per sandwich. Small tails commonly weigh around 5–6 ounces with the shell on; once removed and chopped, each yields about ½ cup of meat.

Nutrition

Calories: 644 kcal | Carbohydrates: 38 g