A long time ago, I stumbled upon the deliciousness that is tomato pie with bacon and onions. The framework for this recipe can be credited to Paula Deen, but it has been played with enough to call it my own.
I first posted this recipe back in 2013, and now I’m editing this once again in 2021. This means I’ve been making this recipe for over ten years. While this simple recipe has not changed much in that time, I have learned heirloom tomato varieties are lightyears ahead of what you can get in most supermarkets. So, if you can get out to a farmers market, be lucky enough to belong to a CSA, or have some growing in your yard, give those a try.
I know it’s tempting, what with the bacon and basil, but just sit tight and wait. It will be worth it.
If you are worried about a soggy crust, you have three options to try to alleviate that issue:
- Blind bake or pre-bake the bottom crust- but know that you will absolutely have to protect the edge of your pie during the real baking, and I hate putzing around with foil like that
- Instead of draining the seeded tomato slices in a colander, you can do so on a clean flour sack towel it doesn’t have to be that particular one behind the link. You just don’t want to end up with linty tomatoes. Bleh.
- Suck it up and deal with it because it’s delicious, even when soggy.
Double Crust Tomato, Onion, and Bacon Pie Recipe Ingredients
- 1 recipe pie crust (9″ pie) – feel free to cheat and use refrigerated pie crust if you’re in a hurry, and sometimes I am…truth be told, I usually am lately
- 4 very ripe tomatoes
- 1/2 medium onion
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 3 slices of bacon cooked and chopped or crumbled
- 3 TBSP cream cheese, softened You can also use laughing cow
- 3 TBSP mayonnaise* preferably Duke’s
- 1 small handful of fresh basil, cut into thin strips (4ish large leaves or 1 generous tsp dried) salt/pepper to taste
*It absolutely must be mayonnaise, not low-fat and for the love of all that is holy, not Miracle Whip
Tomato Pie Recipe Instructions
Core each tomato. This is simply a matter of removing the hard area around the stem.
If your tomato has large sections with lots of seeds, use this process:
Cut each tomato in half through the equator. Use your finger to scoop the seeds out and into the trash or sink.
If your tomatoes are a variety with lots of flesh and minimal seeds, you can skip removing the seeds/pulp and simply slice and drain. Your pie might be more watery than if you don’t remove the seeds, but not tragically so.
Then slice each tomato. Place the sliced tomatoes in a colander over a large bowl or the sink, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Allow this to sit while preparing the other ingredients.
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Slice the onion very thinly. No, thinner. No, thinner still, we want the Calista Flockhart of onions.
In a bowl, combine the cheese, bacon, 3 TBSP cream cheese and 3TBSP mayo.
Mix thoroughly.
Carefully lay the bottom pie crust on a 9″ pie plate.
Arrange half of your tomatoes, then sprinkle with half the sliced onion and 1/2 of your basil.
Repeat the first layer with the remaining tomatoes, onion, and basil.
Top with cheese mixture.
Add the second crust, seal the edges, and cut slits in the top.
Bake for 45 minutes, checking after 30.
You will need to use the foil trick from the pie crust recipe to protect the edges of the crust, to prevent them from getting too dark.
Allow the pie to cool for 10 minutes (at least) on a wire rack. If you want your pie slices to look pretty, you will need to wait longer for the cheese to cool so it can firm back up.
As for me and my house? We like the cheese runny.
Enjoy.
Tomato Pie with Bacon and Onions
A summertime savory pie with basil, onion, cheese that captures the best flavors of your ripest tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe tomatoes
- pie crust for a nine inch pie ( 1 box )
- 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 3/4 cup 3/4 cup Monterey jack cheese shredded
- 3 TBSP mayonnaise, preferably Duke's
- 3 TBSP cream cheese, softened
- 1 small handful basil, cut into small strips (chiffonade) or 1 generous tsp dried
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Core each tomato. This is simply a matter of removing the hard area around the stem.
- Cut each tomato in half through the equator. Use your finger to scoop the seeds out and into the trash or sink. If your tomatoes are a variety with lots of flesh and minimal seeds, you can skip removing the seeds/pulp. (See pictures in the explanation above)
- Slice each tomato. Place the sliced tomatoes in a colander over a large bowl or the sink, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Allow this to sit while preparing the other ingredients.
- Slice the onion very thinly.
- In a bowl combine the cheese, bacon, 3 TBSP cream cheese and 3TBSP mayo.
- Carefully lay the bottom pie crust on a 9" pie plate.
- Arrange half of your tomatoes, then sprinkle with half the sliced onion and 1/2 of your basil.
- Repeat the first layer with the remaining tomatoes, onion, and basil.
- Top with cheese mixture.
- Add the second crust, seal the edges, and cut slits in the top.
- Bake for 45 minutes, checking after 30. You will need to cover the edges of the pie with foil to prevent over-browning
- Allow the pie to cool for 10 minutes (at least) on a wire rack. If you want your pie slices to look pretty, you will need to wait longer for the cheese to cool so it can firm back up
Notes
- Blind bake or pre-bake the bottom crust- Â but know that you will absolutely have to protect the edge of your pie during the actual bake.
- Instead of draining the seeded tomato slices in a colander, or you can do so on a clean flour sack towel or on a rack.
***Submitted to Mouthwatering Mondays***
Want to make some more savory pies? Try these delicious recipes!
I gots ta try this. I think I made something like it years (and years) ago, and I remember it was very good, but I lost the recipe.
I don’t know if it is being pregnant or the fact that I was starving when I made this pie, but I swear it was summer on a plate.
If you make your own pie crust, it’s frugal, too.
Huh.. This looks pretty tasty..
YUM! YUM! YUM!!!
Is it supposed to be 3/4 cup cheese twice?
Whoops I fixed it, it was supposed to be 3/4 cup cheddar and 3/4 cup monterey jack.
Good eye!
OK, don’t freak out on me, but could I use canned tomatoes, and if so, how many cans/cups of tomatoes would I need? But I promise, I’ll look for some good garden tomatoes to use.
I made this tonight. Yum!
Questions:
–I have leftovers. What’s the best way to store it?
–My pie was really, really juicy at the bottom. There’s a lot of liquid in the bottom of the pie pan. Did I do something wrong? The onion I used had been in the freezer, so I wonder if I didn’t let it thaw long enough….
–Is there an easy way to modify this recipe to include ground beef?
You have to sqeeze out all the juices
I have used about 3 cans of tomatoes added a little brown sugar and let them cook down to get rid of the excess liquid and it was awsomely delicious.
I am pie crust retarded!! Help me!
And I want to use lard &/or butter for it, it’s supposed to make the best crust! but my last attempt was just Bad.
I loved this pie — but does anyone have a recipe that calls for a cornbread topping.
My stepmom’s kids (they’re very country) have been safeguarding this recipe n taunting us ‘city-folk’ with it. Imagine when they show up to find one already waiting! Thanx for the ‘secret weapon’!
Fresh basil does wonders for this pie. There used to be a restaurant in Charleston called the Park Circle Grille that served this. Unfortunately, they have closed down. I got the recipe from the owners before they shut their doors. Very similiar to this one. It’s so good!! Makes me want one now! 🙂
Definitely takes me back to my childhood in Georgia….but you definitely need to double or triple the bacon!!
Very tasty, I like it.
Greetings Ruud , The Netherlands
nice recipe 😉
it’s been quite some time since this post, but I thought I’d throw this in the mix anyway as it’s delicious AND frugal–Bacon Salt. Yep. Sprinkle a little (to taste) over the slices of tomatoes & onions, and I use fresh basil as it’s growing outside in my container gardens. I love the taste of bacon, but hate cooking it and cleaning up after it. Bacon salt is a great alternative and good on many other things as well, like fresh steamed spring asparagus (drools)
here’s the link to the site:
http://www.baconsalt.com
This looks amazing Heather! Wow!
WOW – this sounds so good! My parents (who love tomatoes as much as I do) are coming this weekend, so I think I’ll make this for brunch! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Paula Deen???? Where did you get that? I don’t think so. Tomato Pie is an old, old recipe as old as the South.
CAN YOU FREEZE THIS PIE?
I wouldn't freeze this pie.
I made the tomatoe pie Saturday for a party it was gone within 30 minutes. The taste was great
so I printed this recipe when you first posted it two years ago, and never got around to trying it–a lot because I never had good tomatoes.
yesterday we had some home-grown tomatoes and I finally got ambitious–even attempted my own pie crust for the first time in my life. and…
HOLY YUM.
that’s all. now I’m drooling and I might just have to go get a leftover piece.
Stono Market is a vegetable market and restaraunt on Jones Island near Charleston, SC. They have a fantastic tomato pie. They serve a lunch of delicious, fresh, southern vegetables. It is a vegetable market, so don't go for the atmosphere!
Yes, I have to agree that when I think of pie, I think of savory. Steak, chicken, pork, even vegetable. This pie looks really delicious, and I think I'll have to have a go at this one.
I just made this pie and it is wonderful (even with store bought tomotoes in winter)! Yummm!!
This pie did not come from Paula Dean. My GrandMother used to may a simular pie back in the 1960's here in Tennessee.
I should have been more clear, I meant this particular version began with Paula Dean's recipe.
Tomato Pie seems to have a long and varied pedigree; Laurie Colwin has it in "More Home Cooking" with a biscuit crust and the option of using canned tomatoes off season.
Tomatoe pie has italian-american roots related to Sicilian pizza. The earliest documented was in Trenton New Jersey 1910. It does seem paula Dean has her own version which is fine.
I'm just coming back this summer, because it is tomato (pie) season, to say (again) that I love you forever for introducing me to this pie. it *really is* smack your granny good. just don't tell my granny I said that.
I have some lovely tomatoes coming on in the garden. I'll definitely be making this! Thanks.
I just made this tonight (I have a current over-abundance of tomatoes.). It was too juicy (and therefore soggy), but very yummy! And it was quick to put together as I cheated using pre-made pastry.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'd never heard of tomato pie before.
Vivienne (Australia)
I'm sorry yours was soggy. I occasionally, if the tomatoes are exceptionally juicy, set them on a floursack towel after seeding, slicing, and salting. This soaks up some of the extra juice.
Thank you for letting me know how yours turned out.
Make SURE you drain the tomatoes in a collander before adding them to your pie crust, and if needed dab them with paper towels. No more soggy pie!
"we want the Calista Flockhart of onions."
Heather, you made me laugh out loud. 🙂
My recent post Reason Number Eighteen Catrillion that My Kids are Completely Awesome
This sure looks good! I wonder if it needs some feta cheese 🙂
cherry tomatoes work great.
I’m going to have your Cousin Kevin make this for me!