Southern Tomato Cracker Salad

Southern Tomato Cracker Salad is a delicious dish that combines summertime tomatoes with crispy, salty crackers. With a handful of ingredients, you can have a simple, flavorful, and perfect salad for those hot summer days when you want something light to eat.

A southern dish with all of the flavors of the classic tomato sandwich, but it’s eaten in a bowl. Ripe tomatoes, a sleeve of saltine crackers, Duke’s Mayonnaise, and black pepper are combined to create the perfect balance of taste and texture for the ultimate summer luncheon.

There’s nothing quite like fresh summer produce. Tomato plants are usually the first to go into the ground for our garden every summer. For as long as I can remember, even in my childhood, we planted a garden, and tomatoes, beans, squash, cucumbers, and peppers were among the vegetables always planted and maintained each season. We always had tomato cracker salad when backyard tomatoes were plentiful in the summer. 

Tomato Pie is another Southern Summertime Classic that never gets old. This pie is made with fresh tomatoes and caramelized onions that are tasty, delicious and screams summertime.

What is Tomato Cracker Salad

Tomato cracker salad may sound a little bit strange, but it is a Southern summer staple today. I have been eating this salad since I was a little girl, and I look forward to it every season. If you are from the South, you more than likely know about this salad. If you’re not from the South and looking for a different salad for the summer, you are about to be amazed. With four simple ingredients and a few minutes, you will have a dish your family will love. If you are a fan of tomato sandwiches, try this salad. It might be your new favorite salad for the summer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

What Are the Best Tomatoes for This Salad

When choosing the best tomatoes for this salad, I use several most often; they work well. Some of my choices are but are not limited to Beefsteak, Celebrity, Roma, Heirloom, and Cherry Tomatoes. Use what you have, and you can’t go wrong as long as they are fresh. The best tomatoes are what you like and your personal preference. Choose tomatoes that are ripe and firm for the best taste and texture. Tomatoes are still a Southern staple today in my kitchen.

When it comes to fresh garden tomatoes, they all taste great to me. If you need to buy tomatoes, they are easy to find at roadside stands or a great local farmer’s market. 

Ingredients Needed for Tomato Cracker Salad

Four simple ingredients are needed for this tasty, simple recipe. And the good thing about this dish, it’s fast, easy, and super delicious. This is an old-fashioned recipe that’s perfect for any summertime meal.

Tomatoes – Garden fresh tomatoes are lovely in this salad. I’ve made this salad with fresh garden tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and grape tomatoes. 

Saltine Crackers – Coarsely crushed saltine crackers give this salad much-needed crunch and salt.

Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise holds this salad together. Duke’s brand mayonnaise is my brand of choice but use your favorite.

Seasoning – Black pepper and a dash of salt are all needed to season this salad. Feel free to add a sprinkle of your favorites, such as garlic powder, cayenne pepper, or some red pepper flakes. 

How to Make Tomato Cracker Salad

If you are looking for a super simple salad, this is it. Combining juicy garden-fresh tomatoes, crispy crackers, and creamy mayonnaise creates a beautiful balance of textures and flavors that tastes like summertime. This is a fast salad to whip up and will serve 5-6 as a side salad. Take ripe tomatoes to a whole new level with just a few simple ingredients.

1. This recipe starts with coarsely dicing your tomatoes. Leave the skin on and dice tomatoes into small bite-size pieces. 
2. Next, add some mayonnaise to make this dish creamy.
3. Then add crushed saltines, salt, and pepper.
4. Finally, give it a good stir and dig in.

For best results, this salad should be eaten immediately after being made. The tomato juices mix with the mayonnaise and make an incredible creamy dressing. I’ve served this as a side dish, main dish, light lunch, snack, and appetizer.

Caprese Salad is another tomato dish that goes great with just about anything. Fresh basil sits on top of mozzarella and thick tomato slices. This makes a tasty appetizer or side dish and is full of flavor. 

Add-Ins for Tomato Cracker Salad- The Ultimate Lunch

Adding a few more ingredients can quickly turn this side dish into the ultimate lunch. 

Green Onions – adding a handful of sliced green onions to this salad adds more flavor and is lovely.

Bacon – Now I can never turn down crispy bacon, especially added to a salad. If you have some leftovers from breakfast, throw them in.

Avocado – Adding thinly sliced avocado will add a little more creaminess to each bite.

Ranch Dressing – Add a little ranch dressing to the salad to enhance the flavors.

Should I Remove the Seeds from the Tomatoes

This is a step I usually don’t do. If you have a lot of seeds in your tomatoes, you may find it necessary to remove them and some of the juice. This will keep your salad from becoming soggy. 

• Wash and slice tomatoes horizontally.

• Scoop out the tomato seeds and discard them.

• Dice tomatoes and add to the bowl.

• ​Continue with the recipe as stated.

How to Store Tomato Cracker Salad

Honestly, it would be best if you didn’t store this salad. The juice from the tomatoes and the mayonnaise will quickly make the crackers soggy. This salad comes together quickly, so it is easy to throw together before serving. If you are serving this away from home, you can pack everything up and assemble it at that location. I’ve never had any leftovers, but if you do, it’s best to throw them out.

Can I Make A Smaller Amount of Tomato Salad

Absolutely! Just reduce the ingredients for each serving and enjoy. I do this all of the time, and it is fabulous! This is an easy salad to adjust the amounts for one or ten people.

More Tomato Recipes: 

Tomato Pie

Fried Green Tomatoes

Caprese Salad

Tomato Gravy

Tomato Soup

Delicious Salads to Try:

Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

Macaroni Salad with Peas

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Greek Pasta Salad

Creamy Potato Salad

For More Southern Classic Side Dishes and Desserts:

Southern Style Egg Salad

Crispy Southern Fried Catfish

Southern Buttermilk Pie

Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes

Questions