Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread)

By Snejana Andreeva

on Apr 26, 2023, Updated Oct 24, 2025

5 stars from 1 review
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My Fried Tomato Sandwich is what I call an “INSIDE-OUT sandwich” 🥪. The tomato that’s usually on the inside of the sandwich is instead breaded and placed on the outside, replacing sliced bread. Thick slabs of fresh tomato 🍅 are dredged in flour, eggs, and breadcrumb, and pan-fried until crisp and crunchy. Incredibly customizable, you can load up these low-carb sandwiches with your favorite fixings.

Key Takeaways

  • The Fried Tomato Sandwich features breaded, fried tomato slices in place of traditional bread, creating a low-carb meal.
  • This customizable sandwich allows you to add any toppings you like, making it a versatile choice.
  • You can modify the recipe for gluten-free or vegan options, and even use an air fryer for a healthier version.
The final recipe made with crispy crust buns filled with layers of sliced roast beef, lettuce, sliced avocado, and mayonnaise, placed on a wooden board.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread)

My Fried Tomato Sandwich is a low-carb 💭 dream. I promise you will NOT miss the bread when you sink your teeth into this incredible recipe. By breading and shallow-frying the tomatoes, they are crispy on the outside, but stay sweet and firm on the inside. I honestly prefer these fried tomatoes 🍅 over sandwich bread! You can absolutely customize the fillings to whatever you have on hand, or your family loves.

Ingredients

Ingredients for a recipe displayed on a marble surface: two large tomatoes on a wooden board, eggs, a bowl of breadcrumbs, olive oil in a small container, and flour in a white bowl with a striped cloth nearby.

🌾 All Purpose Flour: Step one of a 3-part dredging station is all-purpose flour. It helps create a crust for the egg to stick to.

🥚 Eggs: Next, whisked eggs are used to give the breadcrumbs something to cling to.

🍞 Breadcrumbs: Panko or Italian breadcrumbs both work equally well to create a crunchy crust.

🍅 Tomato: Select the firmest, least juicy tomatoes. After slicing the tomatoes, you can optionally sprinkle each slice with salt to draw out excess moisture. Then dab off the moisture with a paper towel.

🥑 Avocado Oil: A neutral oil with a high smoke point is perfect for frying.

🥪 Mayo: My preferred sandwich condiment of choice! You can easily make homemade mayo with an immersion blender.

🥬 Lettuce: A bit of greenery to add color and freshness.

🦃 Turkey: My protein of choice is sliced turkey or ham, but you can add any you like, including fried eggs.

Nonna’s Tip 🍅

Make sure that when choosing the tomato for this recipe it is firm and not too ripe, or it will not hold its shape.

Three sandwiches with deli meat, lettuce, avocado, and mayonnaise are stacked between two crispy breaded rounds on a wooden board.

Variations and Substitutions for This Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread)

  1. Feel free to use gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs if you are sensitive to gluten.
  2. If you are vegan, you can try using melted vegan butter, or oil instead of eggs to dredge.
  3. Leave out the cold cuts in this Breaded Tomato Sandwich if you are vegetarian/vegan. You can add a 🌿 plant-based alternative instead.
  4. If you’re looking to make your own homemade breadcrumbs, please click here: Italian Breadcrumbs.

Similar Recipes

How to Modify this Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread) for the Air Fryer

You can absolutely make the breaded tomatoes slices in the air fryer. Spray each tomato slice on both sides with avocado 🥑 or olive oil. Air fry at 400F (200F) for 8 to 10 minutes, until the tomatoes are crispy and golden on the outside.

I have the COSORI Pro II Air Fryer Oven Combo. The recipe time and temperature will vary by appliance, so please keep an eye 👀 on the tomato slices as they cook.

Two sandwiches made with crispy breaded buns, filled with layers of lettuce, sliced meat, avocado, and topped with white sauce, are placed on a wooden board. The background features a subtle hexagonal pattern.

Best Served With

  • Turn this Fried Tomato Sandwich into a BLT and fill with bacon 🥓 and lettuce.
  • Serve this as a breakfast sandwich with a fried egg and avocado slices 🍳🥑.
  • Serve this alongside a fresh salad 🥗, like my Simple Green Salad or Authentic Greek Salad.

Common Questions

can I bake the breaded tomatoes instead of frying?

You certainly can bake these, although they may not end up as crispy as frying. I would bake them at 400°F (200°C) on a greased baking sheet for 15-20 minutes (flipping halfway through), until golden brown.

Can I make this fried tomato sandwich recipe gluten-free?

Yes, use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs as substitutes.

can I make this Fried tomato sandwich vegetarian?

Yes, simply skip the ham or turkey and enjoy with just the mayo, lettuce, or other vegetarian toppings. You could also add a fried egg for protein.

can I make these Fried tomato sandwiches ahead of serving?

These breaded tomatoes are best served right away so they maintain their crispiness.

what is the best kind of tomato to use?

Use a large, firm tomato variety, such as the variety called beefsteak tomatoes. Green tomatoes also work well, because they are very firm. Avoid heirloom and overripe tomatoes, which will be too juicy and messy to fry.

5 stars from 1 review

Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread)

A sandwich featuring crispy, round fried bread, layered with slices of ham, bright green lettuce, and avocado, topped with creamy white sauce. The sandwich is set on a wooden board, with another similar sandwich blurred in the background.
Thick slabs of fresh tomato are dredged in flour, eggs, and breadcrumb, and pan-fried until crisp and crunchy. They are used as low-carb alternatives to bread in these incredibly customizable sandwiches.
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Makes: 3 sandwiches
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 2 small eggs, beaten and seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs, seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 6 slices tomato, (1/2-inch thick), firm and not too ripe
  • ⅓ cup avocado oil

Additional Toppings

  • 3 teaspoons mayo, or spicy mayo
  • 3 leaves lettuce
  • 6 slices turkey, or black forest ham

Instructions

  • Prepare the dredging station by adding the flour to one bowl, the beaten eggs into another bowl, and the breadcrumbs to another bowl.
  • Dip each tomato slice in the flour.
    A tomato slice coated in flour sits on a gray plate. Nearby are sliced tomatoes, ingredients for a Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread): eggs, breadcrumbs, and olive oil arranged on a marble countertop.
  • Next, dip your floured tomato in egg mixture.
    A slice of onion coated in flour sits in a bowl of beaten eggs. Nearby are plates with flour and breadcrumbs. A striped cloth is partially visible on the side. The setup suggests preparation for breading.
  • Finally, dip in breadcrumbs, making sure to coat each tomato slice all over. Repeat this step with the remaining slices.
    A round gray plate filled with beige breadcrumbs sits on a striped white and brown cloth. Nearby, part of a bowl with a beaten egg and another with flour are visible, suggesting preparation for breading food.
  • Note: If you don't want to get your hands too dirty use the right hand, left hand, right hand method. Dip the tomato in the flour with the left hand, then dip it in the egg mixture switching to your right hand, and lastly coat it in the breadcrumbs by switching to the left hand again. In doing so, you will avoid ingredient buildup on your fingers.
  • Once the tomato slices have been breaded, set them aside.
    A white plate with six breaded patties, surrounded by bowls containing breadcrumbs, beaten eggs, flour, and olive oil. The scene is set on a light gray marble surface with a striped cloth.
  • Coat the bottom of a pan with a thin layer of the oil and warm over medium-high heat, until the oil shimmers. (The tomato slices should sizzle when placing them in the oil.)
    A cast iron skillet with four breaded tomato slices frying is placed on a marble surface. Two fresh tomatoes and a striped dish towel are next to the pan, with additional breaded slices on a nearby plate.
  • Fry the tomatoes for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until golden.
    A black cast iron skillet contains four breaded and frying green tomato slices. A striped kitchen towel is on the side, with a white plate holding raw tomato slices and two whole red tomatoes nearby on a marble surface.
  • Transfer the fried tomatoes to a paper towel-lined plate to remove any excess oil.
    Four fried green tomato slices on a paper towel atop a marble surface, with two whole tomatoes nearby. A striped cloth is partially visible on the left side.
  • Assemble the fried tomato "sandwiches" with any toppings you like. I added 1 teaspoon mayo, lettuce, and sliced turkey, followed by another slice of breaded tomato on top. Enjoy!
    Close-up of a sandwich with lettuce, sliced turkey, avocado, and mayonnaise, served between two pieces of fried bread. In the background, there are blurred tomatoes on a wooden surface.

Nonna’s Notes

  • Toppings Galore: There are unlimited topping options for these sandwiches. A few of my favorites include sliced avocado, sliced cheese, fresh herbs (such as basil), sliced pickles or relish, and more. 
  • Low Carb, Gluten-Free Sandwiches: If you love this low-carb alternative to bread, check out my other similar recipes: Viral Jalapeño Sandwich, which uses just jalapeños and cheese to create a “wrap,” Egg Sandwich, and Watermelon Sandwich. 
  • Green Tomatoes: Unripe green tomatoes are an excellent choice here, since they are firm and not too juicy, which makes them ideal for frying. However, they can be more sour and less sweet than firm red, ripe tomatoes.  

My Notes

Add your personal notes here!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Fried Tomato Sandwich (No Bread)
Serving Size
 
1 sandwich
Amount per Serving
Calories
482
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
 
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
7
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
19
g
Cholesterol
 
98
mg
33
%
Sodium
 
601
mg
26
%
Potassium
 
284
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
38
g
13
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
 
707
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
 
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
 
96
mg
10
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 1 vote

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