The perfect grab-and-go finger food for breakfast, brunch, or lunch, and since they freeze perfectly, great for any busy lifestyle.
Here is a delicious Southern Tomato Tart that can be the perfect appetizer, brunch, or on a buffet table when hosting a party.
The pie has a cheese filling with tomato basil, and are simply scrumptious.
Very easy to make with store-bought pie crust and a few pantry staples. If you're looking for a grab-and-go breakfast, make some mini tomato pies are the perfect choice
Southern cooks have long celebrated ripe tomatoes in everything from sandwiches to pies, and this cheesy tomato tart is one of the most delicious ways to showcase them.
Scroll down to the recipe card for this easy recipe to bake this pie in pie form, tarts, or mini muffin tins. Your family will love it.
Why You Will Love Southern Tomato Tarts
- Loaded with cheesy Southern comfort flavor
- Perfect for brunches, showers, luncheons, and holidays
- A great way to use fresh summer tomatoes
- Buttery crust pairs perfectly with juicy tomatoes
- Easy to customize with herbs, cheeses, and toppings
- Can be served warm, room temperature, or chilled
- Elegant presentation with minimal effort
- Great make-ahead appetizer for entertaining
- Delicious as a side dish or light main course
- Tastes like a Southern garden in every bite
Meat and Cheese Lovers Additions
- Sharp cheddar
- Gruyère
- Mozzarella
- Fontina
- Goat cheese
- Smoked gouda
- Pepper jack for a spicy kick
- Cream cheese for extra richness
- Feta for Mediterranean flavor
- cooked Italian sweet or hot sausage
- chopped pepperoni
- chopped capicola(hot ham)
- prosciutto or crispy bacon
Perfect Occasions to Serve This Recipe
- Mother’s Day brunch
- Easter brunch
- Summer garden parties
- Bridal showers
- Baby showers
- Church potlucks
- Weekend brunches
- Afternoon tea gatherings
- Southern holiday tables
- Light summer lunches
Tips
- Use a 12-cup muffin tin or a pie plate for deep dish
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor
- Hellmann's or another non-sweet mayonnaise is recommended
- For meat eaters, add any chopped cooked meats you like
- Topping with fresh basil and using mozzarella or provolone will make this even cheesier
- Don't forget to use oil spray on whatever pan you're using
- Refrigerate the tart dough before baking for a flakier crust
- Use Roma tomatoes if you want less moisture
- Freshly shred cheese instead of pre-packaged for smoother melting
- Don’t overload with toppings or the tart may become watery
- Bake on the lower oven rack to help crisp the bottom crust
- Store leftovers refrigerated and reheat in the oven instead of the microwave for the best texture
More Recipes To Try:
Zucchini Tomato Tart
Easter Rustica
Bacon and Egg Biscuits
Italian Style Poached Eggs
Spinach and Egg Breakfast
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Southern Tomato Tarts

Yield: 12
Prep time: 14 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 59 Min
This is a southern-style pie using tomato and mayo in a pie crust. Delicious any time of the day and a light meal.
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked (I prefer a deep dish with more crust) or an oil-sprayed 12-cup muffin tin
- 4-5 Roma or beefsteak tomatoes, vine ripe (or use grape tomatoes when making the mini version)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 1teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup butter cracker crumbs ritz or townhouse club
- 1 cup mayonnaise
Instructions
- Place sliced tomatoes on a double layer of paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
- Allow to rest10 minutes, and dry very well with more paper towels to absorb the water.
- Add by layering the tomatoes and basil in the pie shell, reserving some slices of tomato for the top of the pie.
- In a small bowl, stir together the mayo, garlic, cheeses, and black pepper.
- Place this mixture on top.
- Sprinkle the top with Ritz cracker crumbs and top with reserved tomato slices.
- Bake in a 350-degree preheated oven until golden brown and bubbly, 40-45 minutes.
- Note: for muffin-sized pie just spray the tin line the tin with pie crust and proceed to fill them the same way as the recipe is written. Baking time will vary between 25 and 30 minutes depending on the size of the muffin tin.
Notes
Tips
- preheat the oven
- use a 12-cup muffin tin or a pie plate for deep dish
- use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor
- Hellmann's or another nonsweet mayonnaise is recommended
- For meat eaters add any chopped cooked meats you like
- Topping with fresh basil and using mozzarella or provolone will make this even cheesier
- Don't forget to use oil spray on whatever pan you're using
- Avoid additional vegetables that are water-filled or this will be soggy limit them to around 1 cup of mixed
Meat Lovers Additions
- cooked Italian sweet or hot sausage
- chopped pepperoni
- chopped capicola(hot ham)
- prosciutto or crispy bacon
Nutrition Facts
Calories
230.62Fat (grams)
20.18Sat. Fat (grams)
5.41Carbs (grams)
7.38Fiber (grams)
1.65Net carbs
5.72Sugar (grams)
3.79Protein (grams)
5.81Sodium (milligrams)
364.1Cholesterol (grams)
24.63Pin this recipe
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