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    Home > Recipes > Appetizers

    Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes

    Published: Aug 15, 2019 · Modified: Aug 15, 2020 by Whitney Reist · This post may contain affiliate links |

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This recipe for fried green tomatoes is my healthier take on a traditional Southern favorite - but fried in the oven! They are so yummy, crispy, and flavorful that you honestly won't know that they were only baked when you taste them.

    Oven-fried green tomatoes stacked on a slate platter with a bowl of hot sauce aioli on the side.
    Jump to:
    • About the recipe
    • Video
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Modifications
    • Similar recipes:
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    About the recipe

    Today we are taking a trip down memory lane to the South and a dish from my heritage: fried green tomatoes! These crispy little delights, along with the movie, are one of my favorite elements of Southern culture that have been part of my life since I was a little kid.

    Fried green tomatoes are pretty much the premier Southern appetizer in the summertime when green tomatoes are abundant and you just don't want to wait for them to turn red!

    A white ceramic bowl filled with fresh green tomatoes and a bowl of Panko bread crumbs on the side.

    Green tomatoes are tangy, crunchy, and hold up perfectly to a crisp cornmeal breading and a dip in the deep fryer. Many a Southern menu will have them served alongside a pulled pork bbq dinner, as a burger topping, on pimento cheese sandwiches, or alongside fried chicken.

    Truth be told, it's not the healthiest dish. But today the tomatoes are getting a healthy-ish makeover by getting baked to crisp perfection in the oven instead of deep-fried. And you know what? They are so tasty that you can't even tell they weren't fried. Let's make some!

    Video

    Ingredients

    • Green tomatoes
    • Panko breadcrumbs
    • Coarse yellow cornmeal
    • All-purpose flour
    • Cajun seasoning - Tony Chachere's and Slap Ya Mama are my favorites!
    • Buttermilk
    • Egg
    Sliced fresh green tomatoes on a olive wood cutting board.

    Instructions

    Step 1 - Slice the tomatoes - tomatoes are easier to slice when you use a serrated or bread knife. You will want to carefully slice the ends off of the tomato and slice each into about 4 rounds, depending on the size of your tomatoes. Avoid making slices that are greater than ½'' thick or thinner than ¼'' thick for optimal even cooking.

    Step 2: Prepare the dry and wet elements of the breading - you will need to shallow bowls or dishes to mix the dry coating and wet coating for the breading mixture.

    Step 3: Dip the tomatoes - now for the fun, and kind of messy, part! You can use a fork to dip the tomatoes in the wet buttermilk mixture and then in the dry breadcrumb mixture, but I just use my hands.

    Step 4: Bake the tomatoes - the tomatoes will crisp the best if you can bake them on a wire rack nestled inside your baking sheet. The elevation that the rack provides allows air to circulate under the tomatoes and get nice and crisp on both sides. You can just bake on parchment paper though, for less mess.

    A hand dipping a sliced green tomato in a cornmeal bread crumb mixture.

    Top tips

    What kind of tomatoes are used for fried green tomatoes?

    Some green tomatoes are actually unripe versions of red tomatoes, while other green tomatoes are bred to be green and stay green when fully ripened.

    You can use either kind for this recipe, but you want to choose tomatoes that are somewhat unripe and slightly firm to the touch. This helps them hold up to breading and baking, and the baking process will soften them to perfection.

    What do you eat with fried green tomatoes?

    Serve fried green tomatoes alongside pulled pork BBQ, on top of a burger, as an appetizer, on grilled or pimento cheese sandwiches, or with your favorite summer menu! Some suggestions you may enjoy include:

    • The BEST Homemade Grilled Hamburger
    • Sausage, Corn and Zucchini Kabobs
    • Peach BBQ Chicken Kabobs
    • Watermelon Flag Salad
    • Cubed Watermelon, Peach and Feta Salad
    • The Ultimate Build Your Own BLT Sandwich
    •  BLT Panzanella Salad

    How do I store and reheat fried green tomatoes?

    Leftover tomatoes and dip will keep in the fridge for 3 days. Layer the tomatoes between pieces of parchment paper and store in an airtight container.

    Reheat the tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until golden and crisp.

    Modifications

    • Make it gluten-free - you can easily substitute gluten-free panko crumbs and flour blend in this recipe. The cornmeal is naturally gluten-free, so just make sure the brand you buy reads that it is certified gluten-free to avoid contamination in processing.
    • Change up the seasoning profile - if you'd like to use something other than Cajun seasoning, I really enjoy Old Bay in this recipe, or a blend of garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
    • Play around with different dipping sauces - these tomatoes are delicious eaten on their own, but some equally delicious dips would be avocado ranch, pesto, or pimento cheese!
    • Use a buttermilk substitute by combining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar with 1 cup of milk and let it sit for 5 minutes before stirring and using.
    A slate platter lined with parchment paper and topped with fried green tomatoes and a bowl of hot sauce aioli on the side.

    Similar recipes:

    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Bell Pepper Nachos
    • Styling a Festive Charcuterie Board
    • Italian Marinated Mozzarella Pearls

    Are you ready to make these Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes? I’m so excited for you to try this recipe.

    Once you get the chance to make it, please let me know how it turns out for you! Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes! 

    I’d also love to feature your creation in my monthly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram or Twitter with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured!

    Recipe

    A slate platter lined with parchement paper and topped with oven-fried green tomatoes and a bowl of hot sauce aioli on the side.

    Oven-Fried Green Tomatoes

    This recipe for fried green tomatoes is my healthier take on a traditional Southern favorite - but fried in the oven! They are so yummy, crispy, and flavorful that you honestly won't know that they were only baked when you taste them!
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcayenne5 or tag #sweetcayenne!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings

    Ingredients

    For the tomatoes:

    • 3 medium green tomatoes, sliced into ¼-½’’ rounds (you should have about 12 pieces total)
    • 1 ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
    • ½ cup white flour
    • ⅓ cup cornmeal
    • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
    • ½ cup buttermilk
    • 1 large egg

    For the hot sauce aioli:

    • 3 tablespoons olive oil mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (I use Louisiana)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375*F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
    • In a shallow dish, stir together the breadcrumbs, flour, cornmeal, and Cajun seasoning. Set aside. In another shallow dish, whisk together buttermilk and egg.
    • Use a fork to dip both sides of each tomato in the egg mixture, followed by the dry breadcrumb mixture. Place each breaded tomato on the prepared wire rack on the baking sheet.
    • Spray the tops of the breaded tomatoes with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, flip the tomatoes over, and spray with cooking spray. Bake for an additional 12-15 minutes until the tomatoes are crisp and golden brown.
    • While the tomatoes bake, whisk together all ingredients for the aioli in a small bowl. Serve on the side for dipping with the hot green tomatoes.

    Notes

    Leftover tomatoes and dip will keep in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat the tomatoes on a baking sheet at 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
     
    Serving: 1g | Calories: 180kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7.2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 303mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 2.1g | Sugar: 3.4g | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Affiliate Disclosure

    Many of the links in my posts are affiliate links, which means I can get a small commission for any click or purchases made through the links. I am also an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Colleen says

      September 22, 2020 at 11:32 am

      I have been searching for green tomatoes in the grocery store, specifically to try this recipe. I finally found them and this recipe did not let me down. These are so delicious! I can't wait to make them again the next time I find tomatoes. Thanks for the recipe, Whitney!5 stars

      Reply
      • Whitney Reist says

        September 23, 2020 at 8:51 am

        Hi Colleen, thank you so much for trying this recipe! It's a favorite of mine and I am thrilled that you enjoyed it!

    2. Ryan says

      August 03, 2020 at 11:01 am

      These are amazing and loaded with flavor. Love that you can get a classic fried green tomato texture by baking them in the oven. One of my new favorite summer appetizers.5 stars

      Reply
      • Whitney Reist says

        August 03, 2020 at 11:01 am

        Thanks for trying the recipe, Ryan! I'm so glad you enjoyed these.

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