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Tomato Pie is brimming with fresh, flavor-packed summer tomatoes, basil, mouthwatering cheeses, with a crisp garlic breadcrumb topping. Even tomato-haters love it!

This recipe is my all-time summer favorite recipe; bar none.

I know you’ll love this recipe too!

I set my sights on it at summer’s start. Almost counting the days until garden tomatoes are perfect to make the tomato pie recipe.

Tomatoes seem to have a polarizing effect; you love them or you don’t, very little middle ground.

I’ve made this tomato pie for many over the years, and it has caused even ‘tomato haters’ to swoon. Seriously.

What is Tomato Pie?

Tomato Pie is a savory pie with a traditional pie crust filled with a mix of fresh tomatoes for filling.

The tomatoes are tossed with fresh basil, breadcrumbs, two types of cheese and garlic.

When baked the tomato pie recipe retains a nice texture of fresh tomatoes and the flavor is irresistible.

This recipe demonstrates that it only takes a few wholesome ingredients combined in the right way to have a fantastic dish.

This is Not the Same as Southern Tomato Pie!

If you search for tomato pie recipes online you’ll find a popular southern version that includes mayonnaise and cheddar cheese.

It makes a more dense pie of a different sort.

This tomato pie recipe has only a handful of wholesome ingredients.

And using less fatty types of cheese keeps the tomato pie fresh and not soggy.

Ingredients in Tomato Pie

Recipes don’t need to be complicated or have loads of ingredients to be fantastic.

This recipe is a great example. The ingredients combine for a mouthwatering result you’ll love!

Prepared Pie Crust recipe for an 8-inch to 9-inch pie crust
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic cloves
fresh Basil Leaves
ripe Tomatoes
Yellow Cherry Tomatoes
Red Cherry Tomatoes
fine Breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free)
grated fresh Mozzarella cheese
grated Pecorino or Asiago cheese

The pie crust can be a favorite from-scratch homemade pie crust or a store purchased pie crust. Regular or gluten-free pie shells work!

My Favorite Pie Crust recipe

Butter Pie Crust is always my favorite pie crust to use.

It’s easy to make, very flexible and makes a flaky delicious crust everytime.

What Does Tomato Pie Taste Like?

First, when the Tomato Pie is cooking, the house fills with the buttery smell of pie crust and cooking garlic. Is there any better smell in a kitchen?

When taking a bite, the tomatoes are firm yet cooked.

There is a wonderful crunch from the bread crumbs.

The flavor of Pecorino cheese, garlic, and the buttery taste of the crust make this irresistible.

Though it’s best served right after cooking, it does stand up the next day.

It does not get watery or sloppy in the crust as one might expect.

How to Make Tomato Pie – Step by Step

For detailed printable instructions please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Pre-bake the pie crust (also known as ‘blind baking’ (it will be lightly browned) and set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine the fresh tomato slices, halved yellow cherry tomatoes and halved red cherry tomatoes.
In a separate small mixing bowl, combine the salt, pepper, minced garlic and fresh basil. Add to the tomatoes. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
In another bowl combine the grated mozzarella cheese, pecorino (or asiago) cheese; toss with breadcrumbs.
Sprinkle some of the breadcrumb/cheese mixture in the pre-baked crust, followed by a layer of the tomatoes.
Repeat the layering, ending with a sprinkling of the breadcrumb mixture.
Bake the pie for 20-30 minutes and serve warm immediately.

Get more information about blind baking here (how to do it, about pie weights, pie pans, pie plates, etc.)

TIME SAVING TIP

Use a prepared crust! All you’ll need to do is bake it, not make it!

Why This Pie Is Never Soggy

In the years I’ve been making this tomato pie recipe it has never been soggy. I believe there are some specific reasons why:

Pre-baking the crust allows the crust to be crisper before adding the tomatoes
Sprinkling some of the breadcrumbs and cheese on the crust before adding the tomatoes may absorb excess liquid
The tomatoes are spooned into the crust with a slotted spoon which drains some liquids before the tomato pie is constructed
The tomatoes are either slices (medium tomatoes) or halved (cherry tomatoes) which releases less juice than chopped tomatoes

Does Tomato Pie Need to be Refrigerated?

Tomato Pie is best eaten right after it is cooked, either hot or cooled to room temperature.

To Store Leftovers

Tightly seal any leftover pie with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

Reheat chilled tomato pie in a low temperature oven or the microwave.

Can Tomato Pie be Frozen?

I don’t recommend freezing the tomato pie. It is best freshly made.

I have never frozen a tomato pie myself.

Though it probably could be frozen I believe the tomatoes would lose their wonderful texture. The crunch of the breadcrumb mixture would also be lost.

Generally freezing dairy products can create unpredictable results when thawing.

My advice? Eat your fill during the summer and you too will be waiting to make it again next summer!

The Origin of this Recipe

I discovered this dish about ten years ago in one of my favorite cookbooks. Fresh From The Garden Cookbook by Ann Lovejoy.

Admittedly it was the tiny size of the cookbook that first drew my attention. However after flipping through it, the seasonal recipes that I really loved.

Ann hails from the Pacific Northwest which is the equivalent of foodie Nirvana in my opinion.

Every aspect of the foodscape is available locally there. Wonderful local produce, seafood, meats and fantastic growing opportunities in one’s garden.

Fresh Savory Tomato Pie: A Favorite Summer Recipe