Southern Tomato Pie is a truly magical culinary creation.
It is the quintessential summer dish.
Fresh ingredients straight from the farmer’s market put this incredible savory pie over the top for summertime favorites.
SOUTHERN TOMATO PIE IS EASY TO MAKE
Once you get back from the market with your beautiful fresh tomatoes and herbs, bringing this amazing dish together is not hard at all!
Watch us show you how to make this incredible Southern Tomato Pie!
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WORK WELL
Heirloom tomatoes have become very popular throughout much of the U.S. in recent years.
They are a little delicate, but the flavor is, in our opinion, unmatched.
Of course, if you don’t have access to heirloom tomatoes, just go with the juiciest ripe tomatoes at your local market. And you will be in great shape.
SALT HELPS TO REMOVE WATER
One problem lots of folks have with tomato pie is when baking, the tomatoes exude a lot of water and make the pie crust soggy on the bottom.
Nobody likes a soggy bottom, right? Well, we have a couple tricks to help with that problem.
First, place the sliced tomatoes on paper towels and then liberally sprinkle them with salt. The salt naturally brings out moisture from the tomatoes. The other trick is to roast the salted tomatoes for 40 minutes in the oven. This removes more water and concentrates the tomato flavor, which is a double win!
FRESH HERBS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR TOMATO PIE
“Summer fresh” is what Southern Tomato Pie brings to mind as soon as you take that first bite.
Of course the fresh tomatoes are key to that sensation, but also fresh herbs are very important, too.
Choose any of the following fresh herbs, along with fresh basil, and you’ll be on your way to the perfect Tomato Pie:
- Basil (this is a must)
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Tarragon
- Marjoram
The filling is a mixture of cooked bacon and sautéed white onion. Quality mayonnaise is a must. If you’re really feeling adventurous, how about making Homemade Mayonnaise! If using store-bough, Duke’s Mayonnaise is wonderful. But, any good quality mayo will always work just fine.
We love using a combination of wonderful melting cheeses. Sharp cheddar is traditionally used in Southern Tomato Pie, and it’s always our go-to cheese for the dish. But, we also love to add even more flavor by using delicious, creamy Fontina, too. But, you could also use Mozzarella, Monterrey Jack, or Swiss.
Mix the filling it all together with a wooden spoon and get ready to build the perfect tomato pie!
HOMEMADE PIE CRUST IS BEST
Of course, homemade is always best, and this tomato pie is just begging for Homemade Pie Crust. You can easily make the dough ahead of time. Store bought will produce a delicious tomato pie, too, but why not go the distance and make the pie crust from scratch?
After par-baking the pie crust, it’s time to layer the beautiful ingredients into the pie shell.
Start with a thin layer of the filling, then layer in the tomatoes, and then herbs, repeat, and top with the remaining filling and a little extra cheese. We love to top with three tomatoes and herbs.
SOUTHERN TOMATO PIE IS GOOD WARM OR ROOM TEMP
It’s very hard to resit digging into this amazing pie as soon as it comes out of the oven. The smell alone is enough to write home about.
But try and resist, if you slice into the pie too soon, the filling will spread. If you’re okay with that, then go for it. This Southern Pie is incredible hot, warm or room temperature.
Other awesome tomato recipes that you ought to try sometime:
- Ribeye Steak with Blistered Tomatoes and Bordelaise Sauce
- Grilled Oysters with Roasted Tomato Butter
- Classic Gazpacho
- Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
- Roasted Tomatoes
- Stuffed Summer Tomatoes
- Heirloom Tomato Salad
- Tomato, Cheddar and Bacon Pie
- Fried Green Tomatoes on Corn and Tomato Sauce
In the meantime…make this iconic Southern Tomato Pie!
Southern Tomato Pie
Video
Ingredients
PIE CRUST (MAKE AHEAD)
FOR THE TOMATO PIE
- 3 lbs fresh tomatoes sliced, we love a variety of heirlooms
- Kosher salt
- 4 slices bacon roughly chopped
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- ½ cup good quality mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 egg
- 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Fontina cheese shredded
- ½ cup fresh basil chopped
- ¼ cup fresh oregano chopped, Can also use: thyme, rosemary, tarragon, marjoram
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 425° F.
- Par-bake the pie crust: Place the pie dough in the pie dish. Now, line with parchment paper. Add weights, or 1 cup dried beans, or, 1 cup dried rice on top. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, layer one (or two, if needed) baking sheets with paper towels. Place the sliced tomaotes on the paper towels and sprinkle salt over the tops of the tomaotes.
- Remove the pie from the oven, and discard the parchment paper and weights. Let cool completely.
- Reduce the oven to 350° F.
- On a separate baking sheet with a rack, place all but 3 of the tomaotes and roast in the oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Hold the 3 tomatoes for topping the pie after assembling.
- Meanwhile, heat a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until just starting to crisp and grease is being rendered.
- Add the chopped onion and cook until transluscent, about 4 to 5 more minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside.
- Once the tomatoes are done roasting, remove from the oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes, still on the rack(s).
- Make the filling by mixing together in a medium bowl the mayonaisse, cooked bacon / onion mixture, Dijon mustard, egg, and both cheeses. Stir until completely combined.
- Add a thin layer of the filling to the par-baked pie crust. Use a knife to spread the filling.
- Next, using a spatula, carefully add a layer of the roasted tomatoes. Sprinkle freshly ground black pepper over the tomatoes.
- Now, sprinkle half the fresh basil and fresh oregano on top of the tomatoes.
- Repeat this layering of filling, tomatoes, pepper and herbs. Add one more layer of the filling on top. Sprinkle more shredded cheese to cover any gaps.
- Add the three remaining tomatoes on top and sprinkle on a little more of the herbs.
- Bake for 40 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned on top.
- Let rest for 1 hour (if served sooner, the filling will still be somewhat fluid). Serve warm or at room temperature.
Robert Bennett says
Hi ya’ll. We made this today. It is in the resting for an hour stage. It looks delicious. We can’t wait to try it. We made your shrimp and cheese grits, SOOO yummy. Will reply on tomato pie. Can’t wait. Thank you!!!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Robert! We are so so happy you made the tomato pie AND the shrimp and grits! Two of our all-time favorites. Please let us know how the pie turned out! And thank you so so much for the wonderful review. That means the world to us! Please stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Nanners says
An instant classic! I first made this after my partner brought home a case of tomatoes a friend had gifted/cursed him with. Since then, I’ve been making near industrial sized batches for family gatherings, including a lake trip where we could hear Loon calls as we ate! Thanks again for sharing!
Kris Longwell says
Hi there! You just made our day! Feasting on Tomato Pie while listening to Loons on the lake sounds like the PERFECT day!!! We are so so happy you are having such great success with the pie! Thank you a million times over for sharing and for the wonderful review! We can’t express enough how much that means to us! Please stay in touch!! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Cathy says
This was just amazing! Salting and slow roasting the tomatoes was a game changer. The fresh herbs and creamy cheeses with the mayo were scrumptious. I honestly think it was even better the next day! Thanks so much for the detailed video. Looking forward to making this every year during tomato season.
Kris Longwell says
Hi Cathy! Yay!!! We are so so happy you made the tomato pie and had such great success! We agree, it gets even better the next day! Thank you so very much for sharing with us and for the awesome review! That truly means the world to us! xoxo Kris & Wesley
Kelly says
This as an appetizer with small cherry tomatoes sliced on top of each bite sounds so cute.
Kris Longwell says
For sure! That would be awesome!! We’ll try that out for sure, and so should you!!! xoxo
Laura Casey says
Oh my, was this GOOD….. add it tonight after all my generous friends left bags of tomatoes at our door!
I used cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese in the filling, with a sprinkle of parmigiana cheese on top when it came out of the oven. YUM…..I believe the fresh herbs made all the difference, I used fresh basil, thyme, and tarragon and it was so tasty…..my husband went back for 2nds…..little is left, such a hit. Plan to make this for Sept. book club. Thank you for such a fine recipe!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Laura! Woo hoo!!! WOW!! You’ve got pretty amazing friends who will drop off bags of homegrown tomatoes at your doorstep! We are so so happy that you had such great success with the dish and that your hubby loved it, too!! Thank you so much for sharing and for the wonderful review! That honestly means so much to us! Please stay in touch! And have fun at the Sept. Book Club! Be sure to let us know what everyone thinks!!
Adel Forsythe says
My first time making tomato pie and it was so delicious! Fresh tomatoes and herbs from my garden was a crowd pleaser. Thanks!
Laura Anne says
Could you use sour cream instead of mayonnaise if your husband is a big baby about mayo and might see you using it?
Kris Longwell says
LOL!!! Sure! Or, you could use yogurt, too. He’ll be happy that you did! Please us know if you make the pie and what you (and your man) think of it!
Winston Welty says
Hi guys — Well another home run, served to universal acclaim, as usual with your recipes. But I do have a question. In the video you clearly specify 1 cup each of the fontina and cheddar in the filling. But the printed recipe only lists ½ cup of each. Which is correct? I wound up using about ¾ cup of the cheddar and ⅝ cup of the fontina, and it was delicious. For the final cheese topping I used a mixture of the two, instead of the straight fontina that you mention in the video.
As far as mayonnaise goes, there wasn’t enough left in my Duke’s jar, so I made up the balance with Sir Kensington’s avocado oil mayo. As you indicated, there was no fall off in flavor.
As always, thanks for the inspiration. Since this recipe is about 4 months old on YouTube, I’m hoping that you’re still checking the comments. Keep up the good work!
Fr, Winston
Kris Longwell says
Hi Fr, Winston!! We are so so happy you enjoyed our Southern Tomato Pie recipe! And THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving us the heads up about the quantity for cheese! This is one of those recipes that you really can’t go wrong with 1/2 cup of 1 cup. We probably went back and upped the cheese amount, because, you know…we do love our cheese!!! We think your quantity of 3/4 cup sounds perfect. Thanks again and it’s always wonderful to hear from you! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Elizabeth says
The egg I think is the secret to lightness. I’ve always made and loved tomato pie but yours was ambrosia to my senses! I’ll never go back to my old recipes.
Kris Longwell says
Yay!! We are so happy you had such great success with our tomato pie recipe and we absolutely love it, too. The egg definitely adds a nice lightness that is really yummy. Thanks so much for letting us know and for the wonderful review!! Stay in touch! All the best, Kris & Wesley
kevin mcdonald says
hi
I made this a few weeks ago to rave reviews by family and friends. I was thinking of doing this again as an appetizer. Could I make this in a 9×12 baking dish and then cut into small squares? Thoughts? Can’t wait to eat it again!
Kris Longwell says
Hi Kevin! That’s so great to hear! So glad you had success with the tomato pie…it’s really so delicious, right? Yes!! Serving as an appetizer in smaller square is brilliant! We just may do that, too!! Let us know how it turns out! Thanks again, Kris & Wesley
Debbie Hibbs says
Can this be made without the crust?
krislongwell says
Hi Debbie! You could certainly make this pie without the crust, but then it would be more like a casserole, which would still be delicious! The crust is what gives it the “pie” taste and experience, but sure! It would still be very yummy without the crust. Let us know if you try it and what you think! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Mary Kay Chilton says
I made this and it surpassed expectations! I’m a southern gal, but haven’t seen roasting the tomatoes before, which indeed deepened the flavors and it didn’t come out watery at all. I followed the recipe exactly except for bacon (didn’t have any on hand and wanted to get this recipe done!) It was amazing! Have been eating leftovers which are just as delicious. You’re right, let it firm up an hour or so – the perfect brunch star. Thank you for your recipes, bring more.
(BTW, I’m gluten free and have been able to adapt your recipes so far using GF subs)
krislongwell says
Hi Mary Kay!!! You have no idea how happy this makes us to hear!! We are thrilled you loved our tomato pie and that you had success with the recipe!! And aren’t the leftovers amazing? And so very glad you’ve been ablaze to adapt our recipes to GF…that’s just awesome. Thank you SO MUCH for letting us know and the great review. Means the world to us! Please stay in touch!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Mary Kay Chilton says
Made it again tonight, I can’t get enough! And it’s just me solo this week, so I’ll be eating it for lunch and dinner. I’m obsessed! XXOO
krislongwell says
FANTASTIC!! It really is sort of addictive, isn’t it! It’s so good warm or room temp!! So so so glad you love it as much as we do!!! xoxox
Wendy Howell says
Going to make your version tonight! Let you know tomorrow –
Have a great evening!
Wendy
krislongwell says
Awesome!!
Wendy Howell says
This dish is one of my summer favorites , I find it difficult not to make every week?! I have a hard time waiting for that first batch of tomatoes from the garden. But I do! Becuz store bought just doesn’t cut it! I have incorporated some roasted San Marzanos from the previous years bounty- with my fresh tomatoes- works wonderfully. However, I have never added bacon or yellow or white onion- I typically use a green onion, (scallion) and gives just enough accent to the dish. I may have to try your recipe?! Thank you!
krislongwell says
Hi Wendy! It really is a summertime classic, isn’t it! As soon as those beautiful tomatoes are at their peak, this is one of the first dishes we make. Roasted San Marzanos sound heavenly! Let us know if you try out version and what you think!! All the best, Kris & Wesley
Mario @ MC2 Creative Living says
Hey guys, Love you blog and this recipes looks yummy! I will make sure to make it for my husband as I’m sure he will love it, thanks for sharing!
krislongwell says
Thanks, Mario! This is one of our favorite recipes. Let us know how it turns out. Best, Kris & Weseley