Southern Stewed Tomatoes

This is one of those old recipes you want to pull out when you're up to your ears in fresh tomatoes!

Don't want to scroll through the page to get to the recipe? Use the table of contents to click on the section you want.

Jump to:

• 🗝️ Key takeaways
• 🧾 Ingredients
• 📖 Variations
• 🔪 Instructions
• 🍅 How to peel tomatoes
• 🥫 Storage
• 💭 Things to know
• 👩‍🍳 FAQs
• 📚 Related recipes
• 📓 Meal plans in minutes
• 📞 The last word
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

🗝️ Key takeaways

• It's a great way to use all those summer vine-ripened tomatoes. You can freeze or can them for future use.
• Stewed tomatoes are a delicious side dish all year long. We love it for breakfast with just buttered toast to sop up the juices.
• Learn how to easily peel tomatoes in a hot water bath.

Skip the grocery store, this delicious Southern stewed tomatoes recipe uses common pantry staples. You probably already have what you need on hand.

It's one of those cravable, simple dishes—an old recipe that has stuck around because it's just so good. They're also a delicious base for scalloped tomatoes!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📖 Variations

• People always ask if you can swap canned tomatoes for fresh ones. Fresh, ripe tomatoes give the best flavor, but, if you must, you can use diced tomatoes from the store.
• Some families traditionally use bacon grease instead of butter. It adds a slightly smoky, fatty flavor. And, bonus: you can sprinkle the chopped bacon overtop the stewed tomatoes for serving!
• If you need to in a pinch, you can use canola oil or margarine. However, the greatest Southern recipes use butter—it's simply the best!
• Swap the red, yellow, and green pepper blend for one variety and a specific flavor. Green bell peppers are earthier, while red are sweeter.
• You can add sliced fresh okra, green beans, a celery stalk, or minced garlic to the simmering mixture to use up extra veggies or add more flavor.
• Use white or brown sugar—it doesn't make a noticeable difference.
• Before serving, stir in some stale bread cubes, or serve alongside fresh white bread—the perfect accompaniment for hot stewed tomatoes!
• For an herbal touch, simmer in some thyme or oregano, or garnish with fresh parsley or basil.
• Mix in some cooked, leftover white rice to make this Southern side dish stretch!

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. Drain the boiled tomatoes and dry them on a towel.
2. Remove the peels.
3. Slice the tomatoes into rounds, or dice them.
4. Simmer the pepper, onion, and tomato mixture in butter until tender.

🍅 How to peel tomatoes

Tomatoes, peaches, plums, and other thin-skinned produce are easy to peel when you use a hot water bath.

1. Wash tomatoes and drop them carefully in boiling water.
2. Set a timer for 1 minute.

3. Use a big slotted spoon or strainer to dip the tomatoes out of the hot water when the timer goes off.
4. Drop them in ice water.
5. Drain on paper towels. The skins will slip right off when the tomatoes cool.

🥫 Storage

One of the best things about stewed tomatoes is that they are so easy to store!

Refrigerate

Stewed tomatoes last refrigerated in an airtight container for three to five days. Microwave or heat on the stove until warm to your liking!

Freeze

If you want to make your yummy tomatoes last longer, store them in the freezer!

Add meal-sized portions to heavy-duty zip-top bags and freeze for up to three months. You can also freeze them in food-safe plastic freezer containers.

Canning

Stewed tomatoes are also pretty easy to can. I've done it before. There are great instructions for canning various types of tomato products on the Ball canning website

It gives you that summery, fresh tomato flavor all year long!

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Use a well-seasoned skillet or enameled Dutch oven when working with acidic tomatoes to avoid them picking up a metallic flavor. If you must use a large saucepan, avoid reactive materials, like aluminum and non-stainless steel.

• All tomato varieties work in stewed tomatoes. So, feel free to use whatever tomatoes you have growing in your garden!
• I like the big Beefsteak, Roma, and Plum tomatoes.
• Heirloom tomatoes are another great option.
• If your stewed tomatoes are a bit thin after cooking, try to let them reduce a bit longer so more liquid can evaporate.
• If they're still too runny after cooling down, whisk in a tiny bit of cornstarch, bring the mixture back up to a simmer, and let it thicken to your liking. I like it kinda runny though... more flavor to soak up with bread!

👩‍🍳 FAQs

📚 Related recipes

• Nothing says "Southern summer" like these Fried Green Tomatoes. They're crisp, juicy, and beg-for-second-helpings good.
• Cream of Tomato soup is a classic comfort meal for any tomato fan, but homemade with love? That pretty much wins in all regards.
• Hearty Slow-Cooker Beef Stew simmers all day in a flavorful onion soup mixture to create falling-apart tender beef and hot, tender veggies.

📓 Meal plans in minutes

📞 The last word

Stewed tomatoes are comfort food. They bring the bright, fresh taste of summer to your table all year long. They are a great substitute for canned tomatoes, as well.

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published July 27, 2022. Last updated July 23, 2023 for more helpful information and editorial improvements.