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Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese

This Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese takes your grilled cheese to the next level. Perfectly toasted and loaded with mozzarella and fried green tomatoes.

As we near the end of summer, don’t be too disheartened if you’ve still got green tomatoes on your tomato plants. You can still make great use out of them!

You’ve probably heard of Fried Green Tomatoes. The are, after all, a southern classic (and also the title of a fantastic movie). But have you ever tried to put a Fried Green Tomato on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich?

Fried green tomato grilled cheese stacked

It is heavenly. The cheese is melty and gooey but the tomato crispy and tart. Not to mention the crunchy buttery bread. It really is sandwich bliss and the perfect way to kick up your grilled cheese sandwich.

The inside of a fried green tomato grilled cheese.

Just like any grilled cheese, these are pretty easy to make. You do have to make the fried green tomatoes first, but that doesn’t take too much effort. I’ll show you how, but first let’s talk a little bit about the ingredients you’ll need.

Ingredients needed:

GREEN TOMATOES: Simply unripened red tomatoes. You want them to be firm. The more firm, the more they hold up to cooking without breaking apart.

Halved green tomato on a wooden cutting board

DES TIP: Despite their appearance as little green tomatoes, Tomatillos are not the same thing as green tomatoes.

FLOUR, EGG/MILK WASH & PANKO/CORNMEAL: This is what you’ll use to coat the tomatoes. You’ll set up with an assembly line starting with the flour and ending with the panko/cornmeal mixture. The flour gives the egg wash something to stick while the egg gives the panko/cornmeal something to stick to.

Green tomato in flour in blue bowl.

OIL: You’ll use this for frying the green tomatoes. If you really want to keep things traditional, use leftover bacon grease.

BREAD: I love sourdough with my grilled cheeses. But you can use any bread that you like. A crusty french bread would work great too!

BUTTER: To butter the bread so it gets perfectly toasted in the pan.

MOZZARELLA: Mozzarella and tomatoes are the perfect pair and this sandwich is no different. If you want to spice things up try a combo of pepper jack and mozzarella.

How do you make fried green tomato grilled cheese:

STEP #1: Slice the tomatoes into 4 equal slices. Season with salt and pepper.

STEP #2; Dredge the tomato slices in flour, then dip in egg/milk wash and then press into panko/cornmeal combo.

Assembly of fried green tomatoes: Photo 1 green tomato in flour, photo 2, green tomato dipped in egg/milk photo 3: green tomato dipped in cornmeal/panko mixture.

STEP #3: Fry tomatoes in oil until golden brown on both sides, about 2 – 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

Green tomatoes frying in a cast iron skillet.

STEP #4: Assemble the sandwiches. Butter one side of two pieces of bread bread, place cheese on the non buttered side, top with two fried green tomatoes, more cheese and the other slice of bread with the buttered side facing out.

Assembling a fried green tomato grilled cheese. Two green tomatoes on top of mozzarella on bread.

STEP #5: Cook the sandwiches until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown, about 2 – 3 minutes per side.

Two fried green tomato sandwiches stacked on top of each other on a white plate with a green tomato in the background.

This is one of my absolute favorite go-to sandwiches in the summer. Served with a side of jojo potatoes, it doesn’t get much better!

If you loved this fried green tomato grilled cheese, you’ll love these other green tomato recipes:

Fried Green Tomatoes with Dipping Sauce

BLT with Fried Green Tomatoes 

Green Tomato Relish

Green Tomato and Vidalia Onion Gratin from Food Network

A fan of grilled cheese sandwiches? I’ve got you covered!

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Grilled Cheese with Tomato

Pot Roast Sourdough Grilled Cheese

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2011. It was updated with new photos, step by step photos and nutrition information in 2020.

Two fried green tomato grilled cheese sandwiches stacked on each other on a white plate with a green tomato in the background.

Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese

This Fried Green Tomato Grilled Cheese takes your grilled cheese to the next level. Perfectly toasted and loaded with mozzarella and fried green tomatoes.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Southern
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 881 kcal

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 2 – 3 medium to large green tomatoes sliced ¼ inch thick
  • Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2 large eggs beaten
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • Oil for frying
  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 8 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 ounces mozzarella cheese sliced

Instructions
 

  • Season the green tomatoes liberally with salt and pepper on both sides.
  • Set up an assembly line with the flour, eggs and panko. Dip a tomato into the flour, then into the egg and then press into the panko until well coated. Set aside and repeat until all tomatoes are coated.
  • Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Drop a couple of panko crumbs into the oil and once they sizzle the oil is hot enough. Fry the tomatoes in batches until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and sprinkle with kosher salt. Repeat until all tomatoes are fried.
  • To assemble one sandwich: butter one side of 2 slices of bread, place mozzarella on the bread, place two tomatoes on top followed by another slice of mozzarella and the other slice of bread.
  • Place sandwich in non-stick pan over medium heat and cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, 2 – 3 minutes on each side. Serve immediately.

Notes

Nutrition facts for estimation purposes only.

Nutrition

Calories: 881kcalCarbohydrates: 95.3gProtein: 27.2gFat: 44.5gSaturated Fat: 11.8gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 1028mgFiber: 6.1gSugar: 6.2g
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Keywords: entree, Food, Fried Green Tomatoes, grilled cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, Recipe, sandwich, Vegetarian

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




  • Reply
    Kim Varner
    March 26, 2024 at 11:54 am

    It doesn’t say where to use the corn meal

    • Reply
      Deseree
      March 26, 2024 at 6:50 pm

      Thank you for catching that! I’ll update the recipe now. You will add the cornmeal to the panko.

  • Reply
    Katy
    December 8, 2018 at 4:05 am

    Oh my this so yummy, thank you for the recipe.

    • Reply
      Deseree
      December 8, 2018 at 10:57 pm

      So great to hear Katy! You’re welcome!

  • Reply
    Shanon
    February 26, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    Love grilled cheese! Love green fried tomatoes! This sounds absolutely divine! Only suggestion I might have is to add a few other seasonings to the salt and pepper like basil, garlic, & onion and to grill both sides of the bread before putting the cheese and tomato on it, makes it super good! you could even do these open faced with a small salmon fillet for a well rounded meal.

  • Reply
    Louise
    August 22, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    This was the best sandwich I have eaten in a long time! I was hungry for my “green fried tomato fix”…and this couldn’t have been any better! Thanks for your recipes – I am new to your website but not any longer!

  • Reply
    Dan
    August 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm

    i am so adventurous with food and always love to try new things and after seeing this recipe i’ve realized i’ve never had a fried green tomato!!! what is wrong with me?!?!? lol. I am now going to have my first one using this recipe. looks yummy. loveee tomoatoes!

  • Reply
    TiffanyS
    August 12, 2011 at 10:22 am

    I found your blog through pinterest!! And i am so glad I did:) This is the recipe i will be trying first! Being from the south green tomatoes are a way of life so I am so super excited to try it this weekend!

  • Reply
    Kristy
    August 12, 2011 at 6:24 am

    This looks fabulous! I want one right now! :)

  • Reply
    90210 Farmgirl
    August 11, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    What a great idea to put the fried tomatoes in between a grilled cheese sandwich! They are good on veggie, salmon, tuna, or just plain burgers, too. I make them with cornmeal for a Southern twist.

    Enjoy last bits of sweet summer!

  • Reply
    Jenn's Food Journey
    August 11, 2011 at 6:11 pm

    So my boyfriend walked by as I was reading your post and he immediately said “Oh my goodness, you need to make that!!” When I told him it was your recipe he said.. “so, if you get pregnant will you be cooking things like that?” (I talk about your blog a lot, so he knew you were pregnant!) LOL I told him thanks to you I don’t need to be pregnant, I can just get the yummy ideas from you :) lol

    I adore fried green tomatoes..but I never thought about putting them on my grilled cheese!! Pure genius!

  • Reply
    StephenC
    August 11, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    I lust after fried green tomatoes. It’s a little early for us here in DC, but in a few weeks there will be FGT coming out the wazoo.

  • Des

    Hey! I'm Des!

    Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.

    Read more »

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