Name: Tomato Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 9" pie crust; 1 lb tomatoes (chopped); 1/2 medium onion (chopped); 1/4 cup basil (fresh, chopped); 1 cup sharp cheddar (shredded); 1 cup mozzarella (shredded); 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp hot sauce; 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste); 1/2 tsp pepper (or to taste)

Hands up if you’re ready to slice into a fresh, cheesy Tomato Pie! This gift to the savory pie world is about to be a top contender on your list of dinnertime favorites if it isn’t already up there. Made with fresh tomatoes, plenty of cheese, all baked in a buttery pie crust, I promise you won’t be able to stop at one slice.

overhead shot of a tomato pie fresh out of the oven with a slice missing

If you haven’t yet heard of tomato pie, I’m sure the name may have caught you off guard. Tomato… Pie? Stop that train of thought and just trust me, here. You’re going to want to try this recipe. The mixture of acidic tomatoes, fresh basil, ooey-gooey cheesy goodness; it’s everything you could dream of all in one bite. Even kids will lick their plates clean!

I mean, just look at those ingredients. What are you thinking of? Let me guess! Pizza! That’s right, this recipe is so similar to pizza, you’re going to have an “ooo” and “ahhh” moment that you thought “tomato pie” could ever steer you wrong. You can even use ingredients fresh from your garden to make this recipe even more special.

Ingredients

Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!

Pie crust – Homemade or store-bought.
Tomatoes – Any type you like best. Even cherry/grape tomatoes.
Onion – White, yellow, Spanish, shallot, red or green.
Basil – Freshly sliced.
Cheese – Both sharp cheddar (substitute Monterey Jack, gouda, red Leicester) and mozzarella (substitute provolone).
Mayonnaise – Or sour cream/greek yogurt.
Garlic powder – You can include other seasonings like smoked paprika, herbs, or blends like chili powder to change the flavor.
Hot sauce – Any type you like.
Salt & pepper – Season to taste.

detailed process shots showing how to make a tomato pie

How to make tomato pie

Prep: Preheat the oven to 450F. Prepare a 9″ pie dish with the pie crust.
Prep tomatoes: Salt the tomatoes and set them aside to drain on a paper towel or kitchen towel lined plate for about 10 minutes. Carefully squeeze as much excess moisture out of the tomatoes with paper towel or the kitchen towel.
Layer: the tomatoes, onion, and basil into the pie shell.
Cheese mixture: Mix the cheeses, mayonnaise, garlic powder, hot sauce, salt, and pepper together. Spread this mixture over the tomatoes.
Bake: for 25-30 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Let the pie cool down fully before slicing and serving.

sideview shot of a tomato pie in a pie dish with a slice taken out

How to serve

Think of your tomato pie like any other savory pie or a quiche. This vegetarian dinner is hearty and filling on its own! If I plan on offering a side dish for this type of recipe, I’ll make a simple, light salad to go on the side. Let your pie be the shining star of the show!

Hunting for some salad ideas? Try these:

Leftovers

I usually keep the leftover pie in the pie dish, and wrap it well with plastic wrap to store in the fridge. You can also transfer the slices to an airtight container. It will last 4-5 days.

This pie is best enjoyed cold, so you can eat the sliced straight out of the fridge. If you’re looking for some meltiness in the cheese, feel free to microwave it for 10-20 seconds at a time until heated to your preference. You can also reheat in the oven. I suggest covering the pie dish with foil, and baking at 350F for 5-10 minutes.

side view shot of a slice of tomato pie on a white plate with a fork on the plate

Freezing

Let the pie cool down to room temperature. Transfer it to the freezer, uncovered, and freeze for 20-30 minutes.
Cover the pie dish well with both plastic wrap and foil. Place it back into the freezer, and it will last up to 6 months.

The reason for this two-step freezing process is to mitigate the separation of the cheese layer and prevent it, as much as possible, from creating an odd texture once thawed. Keep in mind both mayo and tomatoes don’t love the freezer, so it will be a bit different texture frozen vs freshly baked.

You can thaw the tomato pie overnight in the fridge, or pop it into the oven straight from the freezer. Preheat the oven to 350F, cover the pie dish with foil, and bake for 20-25 minutes.

side view shot of a half eaten slice of tomato pie on a white plate with a fork on the plate

Looking for more savory pies? Try these:

Comments

Becky says

September 2, 2020 at 10:14 am

Jo, tomato pie doesn’t get any better than this – thanks for a truly great recipe. I especially liked the use of sharp Cheddar, and the chopped tomatoes makes slicing the pie so much nicer – I used Romas. I also used about 1/4 cup chopped green onions and added 6 slices of cooked, drained, and chopped bacon, then sprinkled the top with about 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese. A deep 9-inch pie plate lined with a rich buttery crust was perfect. Everyone asked for the recipe!

Reply
- jo says
  
  September 2, 2020 at 12:20 pm
  
  I’m so glad you liked it, Becky!
  
  Reply
Susan says

August 25, 2020 at 4:27 pm

I’ve been making tomato pies for 30 years. I’ve always dropped the whole tomatoes into boiling water for 10 seconds then into an ice bath and then peeled them. Wouldn’t the peel get in the way.in this recipe?

Reply
- jo says
  
  August 25, 2020 at 4:42 pm
  
  Not at all, the tomatoes are chopped quite small, you won’t even feel the skin.
  
  Reply
- Linda says
  
  August 26, 2020 at 7:25 am
  
  I made this recipe and found I couldn’t fit all the tomatoes and onions in a regular 9” pie crust. I was curious if you used a deep dish 9” pie crust instead.
  
  Reply
  - jo says
    
    August 26, 2020 at 10:21 am
    
    No, it wasn’t a deep dish as you can see in the pictures and video. Make sure you weigh the tomatoes before actually chopping them and squeezing out all the liquid.
Denise Ellingson says

August 24, 2020 at 9:38 am

I love tomato pie made with fresh tomatoes from the farmers’ market. I have not used your recipe but it looks to be very similar. I slice my tomatoes and peel and seed them and salt and pepper them and drain them on paper towels for at least half an hour – it is amazing how much liquid comes out. I have also found that green onions work better for me – one time I did not have them and used regular onions and it was amazing how much more liquid they created in the pie and it did make a difference in how soggy the crust ended up – even though I had prefaced the crust for 10 minutes. Thanks for this and all your recipes. I get them every day and love them!

Reply
Patricia says

August 24, 2020 at 8:49 am

I would add one step to this recipe, having made many tomato pies previously. I would brush mayo on the entire inside of the piecrust before adding the wet ingredients, hoping it would prevent the crust from getting soggy. I’m gonna try it, and will be back to let you know if it worked. It sounds delicious.

Reply