Traditional Southern Tomato Pie (Classic Cheesy Summer Tomato Pie)

Traditional Southern Tomato Pie is a classic savory pie made with fresh summer tomatoes, cheese, mayonnaise, basil, and a flaky pie crust baked until golden and bubbly. This old-fashioned Southern recipe is rich, creamy, and packed with fresh tomato flavor.

The combination of juicy tomatoes, sharp cheese, and buttery crust creates the perfect balance of savory comfort food and fresh summer flavor. It’s especially popular during tomato season when garden tomatoes are at their best.

Serve this cheesy tomato pie as a light lunch, brunch dish, side dish, or easy summer dinner with salad or grilled meat. It’s pure Southern comfort food!

What Is Southern Tomato Pie?

Southern tomato pie is a savory pie popular in the Southern United States made with layers of fresh tomatoes, cheese, herbs, and a creamy mayonnaise-based topping baked inside a pie crust. It’s traditionally served during the summer when tomatoes are in peak season.

You can make a homemade pie crust. I have two recipes for you: Never-Fail Pie Crust and Coconut Oil Pie Crust. Both are wonderful when you use these pie crust tips!

You can also simply purchase a ready-made pie crust, as I did.

How to Keep Tomato Pie from Getting Soggy

Avoiding a soggy pie crust in your classic Southern tomato pie is easy with these steps.

Salt and drain the tomatoes. Tomatoes contain a lot of water. Salting them helps pull out excess moisture before baking. (Be conscious of adding any more salt to your tomato pie.)

Pat tomatoes dry. After draining, blot the tomatoes with paper towels to remove any remaining liquid.

Blind bake the crust. Pre-baking the pie crust helps keep the bottom crust crisp.

Let the pie cool slightly before slicing. Tomato pie firms up as it rests.

Best Tomatoes for Tomato Pie

Fresh, ripe summer tomatoes work best for tomato pie. Roma tomatoes are often preferred because they contain less water, but heirloom and vine-ripened tomatoes also provide excellent flavor.

Enjoy more Southern tomato pie recipes, like this Tomato Cheese Tart.

Tomato Pie Ingredients

The full recipe for southern tomato pie with ingredient amounts and instructions is at the bottom of this post. You can save a tree and save the recipe to your personal and private recipe box right here on Call Me PMc. This way you’ll never misplace it.

• large tomatoes, peeled and sliced
• pie shell, deep-dish
• mozzarella grated
• cheddar cheese, grated
• sour cream
• mayonnaise
• salt and pepper
• basil leaves

Why Is Mayonnaise Used in Tomato Pie?

Mayonnaise combines with cheese to create the creamy, rich topping that traditional Southern tomato pie is known for. The mayo helps bind the cheese mixture while adding flavor and texture during baking.

Southern Tomato Pie Recipe Method

I have found through trial and error that this pie slices much better if you peel the tomatoes and dice (instead of slice) the tomatoes.

Tips for the Best Southern Tomato Pie

Use fresh basil

Fresh basil adds classic summer flavor.

Don’t skip pre-baking the crust

This prevents soggy pie.

Use freshly shredded cheese

Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly.

Allow the pie to rest before slicing

Resting helps the filling set properly.

What to Serve with summer Southern Tomato Pie

Any of these recipes pairs nicely with tomato pie:

• Bowtie Pesto Pasta Salad
• grilled chicken
• grilled steak
• sweet tea
• fresh fruit
• corn on the cob
• cucumber salad

Frequently Asked Questions

Savory Southern delight: Tomato Pie has layers of ripe tomatoes, mayo, cheese, herbs, and is baked to golden perfection. A taste of tradition! Enjoy!