Stuffed Tomatoes Appetizer Or Entree

These are a great meal and absolutely packed with flavor. Perfect served alongside a fresh salad and some crust bread.

Stuffed tomatoes are a complete meal in themselves (although a nice side of garlic bread never hurts)!

What is in Stuffed Tomatoes?

We love to fill these stuffed tomatoes with rice and either ground beef or sausage. Sausage has more flavor so it’s usually my first choice.

The filling is similar to that of stuffed peppers – only baked into a tomato! We reserve the insides of the tomato and chop them up to cook along with the filling for extra flavor.

Ingredients and Variations

MEAT This recipe is made with ground sausage, but feel free to use hamburger or even ground turkey! If subbing out the sausage, be sure to bump up the seasonings a bit as the sausage has spices and salt.

SEASONING This version uses Italian seasoning, but feel free to season with fajita, Cajun seasoning, or even taco seasoning, and add cheddar cheese and jalapenos for a Tex-Mex treat!

FILLING Cooked rice is added to the filling but you can use any kind of cooked grain from quinoa to barley. Stuffed tomatoes are a great way to use up leftovers, too! Stir in leftover roasted veggies or extra cheeses!

How to Make Stuffed Tomatoes

Hollow out tomatoes and set upside down to drain while you prepare the filling. A small spoon or even a melon baller makes this task easy.
Brown sausage with onion. Add seasoning, the insides of the tomatoes, wine, and tomato paste. Simmer until thickened.
Stir in rice, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese and cook until heated through.
Scoop filling into tomatoes. Top with cheese, and bake until the tops are golden brown and cheese is melted.

Leftovers

Leftover stuffed tomatoes taste even better the next day when all the flavors have had a chance to blend even more! Keep leftovers in a covered container and they’ll last in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
To reheat, simply place them in the microwave until heated through. Readjust the seasonings, add extra toppings if desired, and serve!

Stuffed Everything!

Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells – freezer friendly
Mexican Stuffed Peppers – ready in under an hour
Easy Stuffed Manicotti – with a cheesy filling
Classic Stuffed Shells Recipe – easy comfort food
Stuffed Pepper Casserole – a one-pot meal

Did your family enjoy this Stuffed Tomatoes recipe? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!

Tomato Tips

Ensure the tomatoes are ripe yet firm (we love beefsteak tomatoes).
Scrape out the insides (a melon baller works well for this) but leave as much of the shell intact as possible.
Fill the tomatoes but don’t overstuff. Excess filling can be baked in the pan next to the tomatoes if desired.
Do not overcook the tomatoes or they will split.
Choose tomatoes that are of the same size so they bake at the same rate.