Next time you are looking for a quick and delicious side dish try this Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe, its amazing! These baked tomatoes stuffed with cheese will wow the room!
I can never get enough of summer tomatoes. I have a nice sized garden and I grow things in pots as well. Tomatoes are always one of my biggest bounties!
Once of the tomato recipes I enjoy making most (besides tomato jam, Roasted Caprese Salad and my favorite salsa recipe) are Stuffed Tomatoes. Tomatoes stuffed with cheese baked just until the cheese is warm and gooey and the tomatoes cooked. Mmm-mmm, honestly one of the best simple culinary treasures!
Table of Contents
Baked Tomatoes Ingredients
- Campari tomatoes
- Goat cheese or Boursin cheese
- Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
- Fresh parsley
- S&P
- Avocado or olive oil
Funny story: My brother Eddie had an intense dislike of tomatoes for the longest time...why do you ask?
Well, when he was about 18 months old he was outside sitting on a set of steps adjacent to the house happily eating a tomato from the garden...I mean he was REALLY chowing down away! His little hands were clutching that tomato so tight. He was unaware of anything else going on other then the task at hand. Eddie was smushing his pudgy little face right into that big red juicy tomato, gnawing away in a state of bliss. When suddenly, boom, boom, boom, boom.
Down, down went the tomato, bouncing on each step until finally it landed in a small pile of ants, busy at work.
What was a tomato obsessed toddler to do?
Yup you guessed it! Make his way down to his prized snack and once more, begin to eat the heck out of it! Ants or no ants!
How do I remember this so very clearly when I am only 18 months older than him?? My Dad has the whole thing on film! Haha! As a mother you know I (and so many of you) would have jumped into action to "save" my baby from a horrible fate like eating a pile of ants...nope not MY Dad!! LOL!
In the end no harm done of course, just a little extra protein for my baby brother that day.
I think the reason my brother stopped his relationship with tomatoes (including pasta sauce) was the fact we must have watched that film, I don't know, 100 times! Then one day...bam...he was back on the tomato train. Which I must say is a good thing because he makes some killer salsa!
Stuffed Tomatoes Variations
- Use plain Boursin cheese, or flavored. I enjoy garlic and herb flavor for this recipe best.
- Swap Boursin for goat cheese (flavored or add in some herbs yourself).
- Use a mozzarella and Parmesan combo for cheese for a different flavor.
- If gluten is a concern, use gluten free panko or breadcrumbs for this or toast some pine nuts or your favorite nut and use that for a topping. Having a little crunch is nice.
- Top cheese with pesto and then panko or top panko topping as it comes from the oven with a dollop of pesto, yum!
- If your panko is plain, add S&P and some fresh or dried herbs. To take topping to the next level, you can combine with a small amount of melted butter or bacon grease and a squeeze of lemon.
- This will work with just about any size tomato, yo just need to adjust the cook time.
Tips
- Look for firm tomatoes that look like they can easily sit upright. Squishy/overripe tomatoes may collapse when baked.
- Use a serrated knife to cut your tomatoes open.
- Do not aggressively spoon out the "guts" of the tomatoes, just remove the core and wed seeded area.
- Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes (depends on your tomatoes). If you want your topping browned, put your broiler on right at the end for a minute or so.
- Just don't over cook your tomatoes, you want them standing with some structure.
I hope you give this easy Stuffed Tomatoes Recipe a try and make them your own. Julia Child made a Tomato Provencale recipe that was similar to this however no cheese. She instead stuffed the tomatoes with a breadcrumb mixture. Similar to a stuffed artichoke I would imagine. Both sound delicious to me! Enjoy!! XO Colleen
Originally published August, 2010. Updated September 2024.
Recipe with tomatoes to try
Ingredients
- 4 Campari or small beefsteak tomatoes
- salt & pepper
- olive oil
- 6 ounces Boursin or goat cheese plain or flavored I prefer garlic and herb Boursin
- ¼ cup Panko Japanese breadcrumbs
- 1 TBS chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cut open each tomato by making a circle from the top and scoop out the "guts" with a small spoon.
- Flip tomatoes upside down on a paper towel for a few minutes.
- In a small bowl, combine the Panko, parsley, salt and pepper. If using seasoned panko, no need to add anything additional unless you want to add fresh herbs.
- Season the inside of the tomatoes with just a little salt & pepper.
- Brush a tiny bit of avocado or olive oil (or spray) in a small casserole dish.
- Fill each tomato with Boursin/goat cheese, pressing it down gently, leaving just a little room for the breading (up to you how much you want on your tomatoes).
- Using your fingers or a small pastry brush, rim each tomato with a bit of olive oil, then one by one invert each tomato into the mixture, coating the tops and rim. or spoon it onto the tomatoes, patting it down just a bit.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes or until tomatoes are done to your liking.
- For a crisper topping turn your broiler on for a minute just until the topping is golden.
- Let the tomatoes rest for a few minutes and then cut into them & enjoy!
Notes
Place a dab of pesto on each tomato and serve. Variations: Depending on your tastes, throw some garlic salt in place of salt into your Panko mix, or a bit of minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, cayenne pepper or basil in place of the parsley...whatever...take it anywhere you like.
But hold the ants!! These are great to bring as a side dish to a dinner you may be going to as they travel well - cook onsite.
You can also serve a couple atop a salad. Enjoy!!
Tracy says
These look delicious and so easy! Putting them on my list of things to make while tomatoes are still in season!
Sally says
Hi, these loook so pretty and tasty. A good canape or fingerfood, I'd say, thanks!
SMITH BITES says
Love these! Most of the time I see tomatoes stuffed w/rice, orzo or lentils, which I like but also appreciate the simplicity of these! I have a surplus of tomatoes these days and I also happen to have goat cheese in the fridge - perfect!
Tickled Red says
Yum!! I adore goat cheese and tomatoes. I feel so bad for your brother thought {lol}. Loved the story and the recipe 🙂
Mags says
Great story (and I have a brother named Ed too. Sounds like something he would do....LOL)
I love stuffed tomatoes and the goat cheese just puts them over the top!
Monica H says
Campari tomatoes are my favorite. They'r the perfect size but they pack so much flavor. And these look great.
Your poor brother- that's too funny though. ha!