This Crispy Fried Green Tomatoes recipe is seriously my jam every summer. I consider fried green tomatoes a Southern delicacy. Each slice is coated in a seasoned cornmeal and panko breadcrumb mix, then fried up just right until golden brown and delish. I am going to show you how to make fried green tomatoes that are perfect for adding to a fresh BLT or even served plain with a simple dipping sauce! Check out my video tutorial below too!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Ya girl loves anything fried. I can’t get enough of that addictive crunchy texture. That’s why Fried Green Tomatoes is at the top of my list for one of the best Southern appetizers ever made!
Fried Green Tomatoes Video Tutorial
Ingredients to Make Fried Green Tomatoes
- Green tomatoes: You want a full-sized tomato with no blemishes that is firm but not hard to the touch. Give it a little squeeze to check it. And if it is smaller, its probably not developed yet. I prefer my tomatoes completely green y’all, but it’s ok if it has a lil’ hint of yellow.
- All-purpose flour: This soaks up the tomato moistness to make sure the breading sticks.
- Eggs: The stickiness helps the breading mix stick to the outside.
- Panko bread crumbs: Not always used in traditional recipes but I love these Japanese-style breadcrumbs because it provides more texture and crunch y’all.
- Yellow cornmeal: Cornmeal is a Southern ingredient staple. It improves the flavor and the crunch.
- Cooking oil: I mostly use vegetable or canola oil for cooking the fried tomatoes. They have a neutral flavor and high smoke point making them great for frying.
- Spices: These punch up that flavor.
How to Make Fried Green Tomatoes
Step 1: Preparing the Tomatoes and Breading
- Start by seasoning the green tomato slices with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Combine the cornmeal, panko crumbs and spices in a small shallow bowl and whisk together. Add the flour and whisked eggs to two separate small shallow bowls.
PRO TIP: Use wide, shallow bowls so that’s easier to dip the tomatoes into each ingredient.
Step 2: Dredging the Tomatoes
- Dip each seasoned tomato slice into the flour to coat both sides. Then dip each into the egg mixture and finally into the breadcrumb mixture making sure to cover both sides of the tomato slice.
- Place each finished slice on your baking sheet and continue the dredging process until all the slices are coated.
PRO TIP: Set up your breading station using three different small bowls for each component of the breading. Use one hand for dipping into the dry components and the other hand for the liquid. That way you don’t get sticky fingers.
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step 3: Fry the Tomatoes
- Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Before adding to the pan, make sure your tomato slices are room temperature and not right out of the fridge so the heat can stay high. Fry the tomato slices on both sides until golden brown and drain on paper towels.
- Transfer to a platter and serve the tomatoes warm.
Southern Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 3 fresh green tomatoes cut into 1/4 inch slices and room temperature
- Seasoned salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon of hot sauce OR water
- ½ cup yellow cornmeal
- ½ cup panko crumbs or plain bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder optional
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder optional
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper optional
- a pinch of cayenne optional
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Liberally season green tomato slices with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Add flour and eggs to two separate small shallow bowls.
- Combine cornmeal, panko crumbs, and spices into another small shallow bowl and whisk together.
- Begin by dipping each seasoned tomato slice into flour coating on both sides.
- Next add floured tomato slice to eggs coating on both sides.
- Lastly dip into crumb mixture and set aside finished slice on baking sheet.
- Repeat dredging process, starting with flour, until all slices are coated.
- Heat oil in a frying pan over medium high heat to 350°F to 375°F ( 175°C to 190°C).
- Add dredged tomato slices to the pan and be careful not to overcrowd it. Fry tomato slices on both sides until golden brown and drain on paper towels or on a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- Serve warm. If you aren't serving immediately, add the tomatoes to a preheated oven around 250 to stay crisp and delish.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Tips
- Selecting Tomatoes: Choose firm, green tomatoes for this recipe. Give it a little squeeze. If it gives too much, it’s way too soft to use. Overripe or red tomatoes will be too soft and won’t hold up to the frying process.
- Slice Thickness: I like to aim for about 1/4-inch thickness when slicing the tomatoes. They will cook evenly and have a great balance of coating and tomato in every bite.
- Seasoning: Don’t forget to season those tomatoes up before you start dredging. The salt and pepper will help bring out the natural flavor of the tomatoes.
- Double Dredge: For an extra crunchy coating on your fried green tomato, consider double-dredging your tomato slices. After the first coat of flour, egg, and breadcrumb mixture, repeat the process for a second coat of just the crumbs. That crunch will be out of this world!
- Maintain Oil Temperature: Keep the oil at the right temperature of about medium-high heat (between 350°F to 375°F – 175°C to 190°C) for frying. If it’s too hot, the tomatoes will burn on the outside before they’re cooked on the inside. If it’s too cool, they’ll absorb too much oil and become greasy y;all.
- Drain Excess Oil: After frying, be sure to drain your fried green tomatoes on a paper towel-lined plate. This helps remove excess oil and keeps the coating crispy. You can also use a wire rack to keep the bottoms still crisp.
How to Store & Reheat Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
Store any leftovers in the fridge in a single layer in an airtight container or bag. If you gotta stack them, add a piece of parchment paper between the layers so you can keep those babies stick free and crispy.
Reheat the tomatoes by laying them out in a single layer on a baking tray and heat in the oven at 400° F for 8-10 minutes or until completely warmed up. Flip them over halfway through cooking to crispy up all sides. Personally, I also love using my air fryer for heating leftovers. They cook a bit faster, no need to flip and they get sooo crunchy y’all.
Whipping up the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe at home couldn’t be easier y’all. They’re a fun way to use those green tomatoes and add a lil something something special to a meal. So get your hands a bit messy, have a blast frying up, and enjoy every bite of your homemade fried green tomatoes!
More Fried Vegetable Recipes
- Fried Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Fried Green Tomatoes
- Fried Okra
- Fried Pickles
- Fried Oyster Mushrooms
- Buffalo Fried Cauliflower
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
pinterest 
facebook 
twitter 
email
Tonight was the second time i’ve used this recipe and they were just as great as i remembered. Definitely my new go-to fried green tomatoes recipe for yhe future. Thanks!
Yay! So happy to hear that!
Excellent seasoning and they turned out perfectly. I love the pro tip to dredge the tomato in flour before the egg. I’ve been doing it wrong! these were delicious Served with peach salsa and sour cream. thanks!
(not sure why it’s all caps. don’t mean to yell 🙂
Yum!!
I have never made Green fried tomatoes before but saw some tomatoes still on the vine that were not going to wrippen before our first frost. these were delicious!!
my husband loved the crunchy crust.
So happy to hear they turned out well for you!
Do you have a dip to dunk these in?? I absolutely love fried green tomatoes!!!
Absolutely! Try the remoulade here. It is delish: https://grandbaby-cakes.com/remoulade-sauce/
I am a tomato lover, but this is the first timei have tried to prepare fried green tomatoes! I followed your recipe to the t and they came out perfect!! I am eating them with honey mustard sauce! Thanks for the recipe, so easy to follow!
You’re so welcome, Deloris! Glad they turned out well for you!
These were delicious and i Appreciate the simplicity of the recipe! (They tasted far from simple).
Thanks so much, doll!