BLT Stuffed Avocado

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my stuffed avocado recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Avocados – I prefer Hass avocados, but other types are just fine. Medium to large ones work best, because very small ones don’t have much room for filling.
• Bacon – Crisp bacon is key here, because it gives the filling the best BLT texture. I cook it in a skillet for this recipe, but you can also meal prep larger batches of bacon in the oven or microwave bacon.
• Tomatoes – I like grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes here, because they’re sweet and not too watery. If you use a larger tomato, make sure you seed it first, so the stuffed avocado filling doesn’t get runny.
• Romaine Lettuce – Romaine gives the most classic BLT crunch, but feel free to substitute a different lettuce or really any greens. If you use softer greens, I recommmend adding a little diced red onion for some crunch.
• Lime Juice – This brightens the rich avocado and helps slow browning. Lemon juice works, too.
• Garlic Powder – I recommend garlic powder over fresh garlic here, because it blends into the mashed avocado more evenly.
• Sea Salt, & Black Pepper – Salt lightly at first, because the bacon adds salt, too.

For stuffed avocado recipes with other fillings, see my variations below!

How To Make Stuffed Avocado

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Cook the bacon. Place the bacon in a cold skillet and cook over medium-low heat, flipping now and then, until crisp. Starting cold helps render the fat slowly, so the bacon gets crunchy instead of scorching on the edges.
2. Prep the avocados. Halve the avocados, remove each pit, and scoop most of the flesh into a bowl.

3. Mash with lime juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. I like to leave it a little chunky, which makes for a better texture.
4. Fold in the BLT ingredients. Stir in the tomatoes, romaine, and chopped bacon just until coated. I fold gently here, so the lettuce stays crisp and the tomatoes don’t release too much juice.
5. Stuff and serve. Spoon the filling back into the avocado halves, mounding it a little on top. Serve the stuffed avocado right away, while it’s still bright green and the bacon is crisp. I like a little extra fresh cracked pepper on top!

10 More Stuffed Avocado Recipes

The BLT version above is the one I make most, but I see stuffed avocado as more of a formula than a strict recipe. Before I get to the 10 other fillings I love, I want to share the guidelines I use to make almost any filling work (in addition to my tips above!):

• The best stuffed avocado recipes have a little balance – Creamy avocado, a filling with enough protein or texture to feel satisfying, something crisp or juicy, a little acid so it doesn’t taste flat, and a salty finish.
• Keep the pieces small – Dice or chop the filling ingredients small enough that you get avocado and filling in the same bite. Big pieces tend to fall out of the shell.
• Watch cold vs. warm fillings – Cold fillings are the easiest, but warm fillings work, too. Just let them cool for a few minutes first, so they don’t make the avocado too soft.

Here are my favorite filling ideas:

1. Crab – Fill the avocado halves with cold crab dip or crab salad, then top with chives. I like this one chilled, so try to make the dip or salad in advance.
2. Shrimp – Use chopped cooked shrimp, diced tomatoes, bell peppers, chives, and a drizzle of spicy mayo. Both grilled shrimp and sauteed shrimp work well.
3. Egg – Make my baked avocado eggs for breakfast, or spoon egg salad into avocado halves for lunch. A little hot sauce on top cuts the richness nicely.
4. Caprese – This version has diced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. For exact amounts, search “Caprese stuffed avocado” in the Wholesome Yum app on iPhone or Android.
5. Chicken – Spoon in my classic chicken salad, avocado chicken salad, or Mediterranean chicken salad. For a warm version, use diced cooked chicken and vegetables, add cheese, and bake just until the cheese melts.
6. Tuna – My avocado tuna salad is a natural fit, but tuna egg salad or regular tuna salad works, too. I like extra lime juice with tuna because it keeps the filling from tasting heavy.
7. Taco – I loved this version so much that it’s on the cover of my Easy Keto Cookbook! You’ll find my exact version there, but feel free to make my taco meat recipe and just load it up with your favorite toppings.
8. Slaw – Add creamy coleslaw or cilantro lime slaw to the avocado halves. For a heartier meal, mix in my pulled pork.
9. Mediterranean – Mix chicken or shrimp with diced tomatoes, chickpeas, bell peppers, cucumbers, olives, feta, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
10. Salsa – Spoon in a chunky salsa, or try pineapple salsa for a sweet-savory filling. I like salsa fillings best when they are thick and chunky, so they do not run out of the avocado shell.