Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

Name: Baked Parmesan Tomatoes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 6 medium tomatoes (See Note 1); 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (See Note 2); 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (See Note 3); 2 cloves garlic - minced; 2 tsp dried oregano; 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (See Note 4); sea salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste; fresh basil leaves - to garnish

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These delicious Baked Parmesan Tomatoes make a great side dish. Flavoursome tomatoes are filled with breadcrumbs, herbs, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Baked until golden, this easy dish is a great addition to many meals.

Overhead shot of six baked tomatoes sitting on a plate, garnished with some basil.

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Ingredients in this recipe:
Step by Step Instructions:
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Baked Parmesan Tomatoes

Why we love this recipe:

This is a very simple recipe to prepare using easy to find ingredients. Ripe, flavoursome tomatoes are filled with a delicious, seasoned breadcrumb mixture and baked. The tomato is soft and the breadcrumb topping is golden and deliciously crispy. The aroma when they are baking is seriously enticing.

These Baked Parmesan Tomatoes are so delicious as:

a tasty side-dish to steak, roast chicken or fish;
an addition to a green salad – ideal for a light lunch;
part of brunch – serve with a poached egg!

Ingredients in this recipe:

Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.

Tomatoes – look for ripe, but still slightly firm. Very ripe tomatoes will not hold their shape when cooked. Aim for the tomatoes to be a similar size to ensure even cooking. My preference is for vine-ripened tomatoes.

Panko breadcrumbs – a Japanese-style breadcrumb. The method of processing produces flakes rather than crumbs. The flakes are larger than regular crumbs, with a light and airy texture that becomes crispy when cooked. You could use gluten-free breadcrumbs if required.

Parmesan Cheese – I love the flavour of Grana Padano in this dish. For the best flavour, freshly grate your cheese.

Garlic and Dried Oregano – season the breadcrumb filling.

Olive Oil – my choice is for extra virgin olive oil. Use the best quality olive oil that you have.

Fresh Basil – to garnish the finished dish.

Sea Salt and Black Pepper – season the dish to your liking. I use sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper.

Step by Step Instructions:

Four steps to make this recipe in a photo collage - preparing the tomatoes, allowing the excess moisture to drain, mixing the crumb filling and filling the tomatoes.

Start by preheating your oven and prepare your baking tray.

Cut the tomatoes in half horizontally. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and discard them.
On a plate lined with some paper towel, put the tomatoes cut side down to drain excess moisture.
In a small bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except for the fresh basil.
Place your tomato halves on a baking tray and fill each tomato with the breadcrumb mixture. Baked until golden and garnish with fresh basil when serving.

Tips for Success and FAQs:

For a great presentation, serve the Baked Parmesan Tomatoes on a large, white platter with some basil sprinkled on top.

As a delicious, make-ahead appetiser, fill hollowed-out cherry tomatoes with the flavoursome crumb mixture and bake until golden.

What are the best tomatoes to use for this recipe?

The tomatoes are the star of this dish so it is essential that they be of good quality. Home-grown tomatoes, picked ripe from the vine, would, of course, be ideal. However, most of us will get our tomatoes from a greengrocer or supermarket. My preference is for tomatoes on the vine; they are generally of better quality with superior flavour. The tomatoes need to be perfectly ripe but still firm. Very ripe tomatoes will be too soft and will collapse when baking.

How far in advance can the Baked Parmesan Tomatoes be prepared?

The tomatoes can be baked and reheated prior to serving if required. (Bake for five minutes less and then reheat until warmed through.) Alternatively, you could prepare the tomatoes and breadcrumb mixture up to 8 hours earlier and then assemble and bake as needed.

Cooked tomato, on plate, with a piece taken out of it, and a fork on the side.

More delicious recipes for you to try:

Here are some more of our favourite recipes which feature tomatoes:

Not only do these crispy Baked Parmesan Tomatoes taste fantastic, but this is also an extremely easy recipe to make. And should there be any leftovers, the tomatoes will reheat perfectly. Please let me know in the comments below if you try the recipe.

Alex xx

This post was originally published in August 2019. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe remains the same.