Tomato Pie

This Tomato Pie is a flavorful twist on the classic Southern Tomato Pie recipe. You’ll love the flavors of the buttery pie crust combined with caramelized Vidalia onions, fresh herbs, crispy bacon, and fresh garden tomatoes, all topped with lots of melty cheese!

What’s your favorite kind of pie? I want to make Derby Pie and Sugar Cream Pie– add those to all the dishes on my “to cook” list. But lately, I have been craving a savory pie – not your traditional Chicken Pot Pie or Shepherd’s Pie, but one using some summer produce like fresh tomatoes!

Can you believe I had never had this classic Southern dish? Tomato Pies are a staple, like sweet tea and grits. I got the urge to make my own for the first time while reading a Southern cookbook. But of course, I decided to add my own twist with caramelized onions, bacon, and lots of cheese. I think this could take a blue ribbon at a state fair if you get my drift. 

You might want a couch nearby after you have a slice, though – we are talking total food coma – but it’s oh-so worth it!

What is Tomato Pie?

A Southern Tomato Pie is also called Kentucky Tomato Pie or Alabama Tomato Pie. Everyone wants to fight about where it originated from, I guess! No matter what you call it, the pie is basically the same—a flaky crust filled with vine-ripened tomatoes and covered with a white sauce generally made from mayonnaise and grated cheese.

Of course, there are variations; some people use chopped tomatoes or add different ingredients like we’ll do today. Some even add a crumb topping for added texture. Generally, it is sliced and served just like a pie, only as a main dish or side dish instead of dessert.

Ingredients for Tomato, Onion, and Bacon Pie

Hopefully, you have many of these ingredients on hand. Gather together the following things:

• Vine-ripened tomatoes
• Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
• Butter
• Olive Oil
• Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese, not grated in the bottle
• Shredded Cheddar cheese
• Fresh herbs (I used parsley, basil, and oregano)
• Mayonnaise
• Crushed Ritz Crackers
• Ground black pepper
• 1 prepared pie crust (you can use a homemade pie crust or a store-bought crust)

What are the best tomatoes for Tomato Pie?

The most important thing is to use fresh, flavorful tomatoes. Shop your local farmer’s market or grocery store for summer heirloom tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or Beefsteak tomatoes. Or use whatever is growing in your garden!

How to Make This Recipe for Tomato Pie

1. Thinly slice your tomatoes and layer them between paper towels on a plate to drain. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using store-bought pie dough, allow it to come to room temperature before rolling into the pie plate.
2. Place the pie crust in a pie plate and using a fork, prick holes about an inch apart in the bottom of the crust. Bake for 18-20 minutes until set and golden brown. When it’s done, remove the pie crust from the oven and let it cool slightly.
3. Meanwhile, in a skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add the olive oil, followed by the onions. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove the onions from the skillet and roughly chop.
5. In a large bowl, mix together the onions, bacon, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, basil, 2 tablespoons of parsley, oregano, and pepper.
6. Starting with tomatoes, place half of the tomato slices in a single layer on the baked pie crust, slicing as necessary to not leave any empty spaces.
7. Spread half of the cheese and onion mayo mixture over the tomatoes. Repeat with another layer of tomatoes followed by the rest of the mayonnaise mixture.
8. Melt the remaining two tablespoons of butter in a medium bowl and combine with Ritz crackers, the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and the remaining tablespoon of parsley. Scatter topping evenly over the top of the pie.
9. Bake for 15 minutes. Let it cool slightly on a wire rack, then serve!

Tips for the Perfect Tomato, Onion, and Bacon Pie

There are a few things you can do to make sure this simple recipe turns out perfectly:

• Slice your juicy tomatoes thinly and let them drain on a few layers of paper towels before using them in the pie. There’s nothing worse than soggy pie dough, and this will help minimize the moisture in the pie filling.
• Bake the pie crust before filling it. Prepare your pie plate with cooking spray, weigh it down with pie weights to keep it from bubbling up, and bake the pie crust for about 20 minutes. This is a great way to keep the bottom of the pie crust from getting soggy.
• Place your filled pie crust on a baking sheet to catch any liquid that might boil over. This helps keep your oven clean!

FAQs

How do I keep my pie crust from shrinking when I bake it?

​It’s so disheartening when you make a beautiful pie shell, only to have it shrink in the oven! Here are some tips to keep that from happening:

• ​Wrap your pastry crust in parchment paper or plastic wrap and chill it for 30 minutes before rolling it out.  (For a store-bought pie shell, you can skip this step)
• Roll the pastry out with gentle, even strokes. Don’t push too hard!
• Make sure the pie crust is large enough for your pan! You should have at least a 1-inch overhang on all sides.
• Anchor the dough to the pan by pressing it firmly into the pan’s surface.
• Chill the shaped crust again before filling and baking to relax the gluten you’ve been working!

How do I store leftover Tomato Pie?

This pie is best served on the same day you make it since the liquid from the ingredients will soak into the crust and you’ll eventually be left with a soggy tomato pie! If you have some leftovers after serving, cover them tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. Or store individual slices in an airtight container.

Can you freeze Tomato Pie?

This pie does not freeze well. Tomatoes get mushy when thawed, and the cheese mixture will break when reheated. Try this Caramelized Onion and Bacon Quiche for a savory pie you can make ahead and freeze! 

What goes well with this Tomato, Onion, and Bacon Pie?

This pie makes a wonderful light lunch with a green salad. Or serve it as a side dish to these BBQ Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs, Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken or this Parmesan Tilapia.

More delicious pie recipes:

Savory Pies

• Seafood Pot Pie
• Mushroom and Beef Pot Pie
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Sweet Potato and Turkey Shepherd’s Pie

Sweet Pies

• Apple Pie
• Cherry Hand Pies
• Mixed Berry Pie Bars

This post was originally published June 23, 2016. It has been updated in format and with pictures on July 25, 2024.