When my grandma would have everyone over for a birthday party or a holiday or some other event, it was an entire day of eating. We looked forward to the appetizers almost as much as we looked forward to the dinner and desserts. My gram would put out a whole spread of snacks, and we’d stuff ourselves silly – and that was BEFORE DINNER. Again, I wonder how none of us were 1,000 pounds.
The hands-down family favorite appetizer was (and still is) Bacon-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes. My mom still makes them for parties and they are gobbled up in about five minutes.
Bacon-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
you need:
2 lbs bacon
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/2 cup mayonnaise
24 cherry tomatoes (approx one bundle)
Fry your bacon first. You need time to let it drain and cool once it’s cooked.
Once the bacon is fried and cooling, finely chop your onions.
Remove any stems that are on the tomatoes and rinse them. Then cut of a small piece of the BOTTOM of the tomato. This is important – you will be standing the tomatoes, and they won’t roll around if you stand them stem-side down.
Scoop out the insides of the tomatoes. My mom uses a potato peeler, I used a 1/4 teaspoon. Anything that’s small and metal will make this step easy.
Place your scooped tomatoes upside down on paper towels to drain.
Once your bacon is cool, crumble it up. Try to resist eating it.
Mix the onions, bacon, and mayo in a bowl. You can store the filling until you are ready to serve it. My mom will often make the filling the night before a party and store it overnight.
When you’re ready to serve the tomatoes, fill ’em up!
I want to eat these right now.
Mike taste test!
Mikey likes it!
Like all delicious food…it is not healthy. But you won’t care because BACON MMMMM.
- 2 lbs bacon
- ½ cup finely chopped green onions
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 24 cherry tomatoes (approx one bundle)
- Fry bacon until crisp. Drain and cool on paper towels.
- Crumble bacon
- In a medium bowl, mix bacon, green onions, and mayonnaise. Refrigerate.
- Remove stems from tomatoes.
- Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each tomato.
- Using a small spoon, scoop the pulp of the tomatoes out, then place them upside down to drain.
- Fill tomatoes with mixture before serving.
more
Lisa says:
Mmmm, those look delicious. I think I may need to give it a try and I just happen to have bacon and cherry tomatoes in the fridge
Becca_Masters says:
i am going to have to give these a try!!!!
also whilst you’re talking appetisers! my BIL came up with a great base for little snacks.
basically take some bread (white and brown) and roll it flat with a rolling pin. Get a really small round cookie cutter and cut rounds out of the flattened bread.
in a saucepan melt some butter and add some virgin olive oil.
brush the small rounds of bread with the melted butter and oil and then place them in a mini muffin tin. If you put them into the rounds of the muffin tin then when they bake they come out like little round small shallow bowls.
bake for about 10 minutes in a moderately hot oven.
allow to cool, and then you can fill them with LOADS of stuff.
houmous and caramalised onions, mozarella pieces and half a cherry tomato, some cream cheese and smoked salmon, ANYTHING. they are so easy to make and will be a hit.
discountchica says:
You are amazing! Also, you have inspired this frozen food gal to try a new recipe each week! Hopefully this total non foodie (I think Special K is gourmet) to actually make something on the stove!
tracey says:
sounds delish!
But what I really want to know is…how do you keep your red hair so vibrant???? I color mine red and it fades SO fast!! Your hair is so shiny and lovely.
Becca_Masters says:
i was about to comment on Heather’s hair! it’s so awesome!
Heather says:
I love both of you. I’ll have to do a tutorial or something about making color last!
Becca_Masters says:
it’s just amazing. the lights in your new kitchen really make it shine too.
Chris says:
This looks soooooo good, darn it, I had a party Tuesday night, I so would have tried out these. I just may have to get the items this weekend.
Lisa_in_WI says:
Ooh, those sound delish and — best of all — really easy!
Lynda M O says:
and me with husband headed for market !~! It’s these little bubus for dinner tonight. Thanks so much !~!
AmazingGreis says:
Yum!
Lindsey says:
Wish I could think of an appetizer recipe I use off the top of my head but can’t right now. Thought I would share a Rachel Ray cherry tomato trick —– if you have to halve a bunch of them, place them between two lids, like lids off margarine tubs, fridge storage lids, etc, then take the knife and slice between two lids and voila!!! Perfectly halved in a very short time!!!
Your recipe sounds terrific — I will definitely use it! Thanks!
Amy says:
MUST MAKE! Wish I had bacon in the house, cherry tomatoes galore in the garden right now
Jeannine says:
like button!!
Jenny says:
Yum! These tomatoes look delicious and cute!!
http://m.pillsbury.com/recipes/mini-soft-pretzels-and-dip/eac33a82-fa07-4883-8b1c-79c9b1754224/
http://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/34818/cant-eat-just-one-spinach-ball/
These are 2 appetizer recipes that are always big hits at our house. Kids especially love the mini pretzels and cheese dip.
Thanks for sharing, Heather!
Sue says:
Some people may not prefer this, Heather, but you mentioned that they weren’t “healthy”‘. Couldn’t you use turkey bacon, and fat free mayo instead? I use these lots of times. Anyway,,,,,.they sound absolutely scrumptious, and with each one being just the right size for popping into your mouth; I would think that you would find yourself eating a ton of them!
Sue says:
P.S. I think these would also be great using a regular size tomato,,,some crackers on the side, and a big glass of iced tea. That would make for a healthy, yummy lunch!
Brandie says:
Sharp thinking! Thanks for the anwesr.
Gayatri - Life.Unordinary says:
This sounds and looks DELISH. Will try it out for sure. My first time here – I’ll be back.
Shan says:
Bacon, onions, mayo….sure to be a hit around here. Thank you!
Binny says:
Mmmmmm! Oh my God, why am I licking my monitor. My word, I cant resist your bacon.
Michele says:
I am SOOOO going to the store when I get out of the office to get the goods to make these! Nice addition to the site today! Thank you, God Bless and YUMMMMMMY!
Just Jiff says:
Nice! I tend to use cream cheese in everything, so I may try some with cream cheese instead of mayo but make some with mayo too. I love trying new appetizers! Please post more recipes!
Jessica says:
We do this with mushrooms but will have to try with tomatoes.
Amy K says:
Yum, thanks for posting this! I’m not a huge fan of mayo, but I think I’m going to try making them with either sour cream or cream cheese instead.
Gemini-Girl says:
not kosher.
Nicole says:
OMG do you KNOW how many blasted cherry tomatoes I have on my counter right now from our (nearly done…PHEW!) garden?!?
These look uhhh-MAZING!! Can’t wait to make em. For dinner. : )
Thanks for posting, Chef Spohr!
leanne says:
You had me at bacon. Mmmmmm…
Lynda M O says:
We ate these for breakfast this morning (altho most would say brunch) and they were as tasty as some of the omelets we used to sit around thinking about and then serving them to the grateful hungry clientele at Pepe’s Cafe on Caroline St in Key West. Truly the last good reason to go all the way to the End of US 1.
Ella says:
Hellllloooooo heart attack! These look pretty damn good! I’m going to try them with some fakon and veganase…probably a healthier version!
Alexandra :) says:
LOVE the yummy face! xD
giselle says:
I know a recipe with these same ingredients, but way faster and easier to make more. Use bacon, mayo, and diced fresh tomato and mix it all up. Eat with crackers as a dip. You can add green onions!! Basically you have the same flavors, but in a dip!
Jo says:
I always make these only I use a little shredded lettuce also. It’s BLT finger food.
charlotte says:
My family and I eat them almost every week , along with stuffed jalipinos . but believe me they are not hot at all , they tast like green bell pepers .
heres how you make them : get as many jalipinos as you want , cut in hafe , take out seeds ( the hot stuff !) and use gloves . then stuff with cream cheese , rap in bacon and put a tooth pick in the middle . put on a rack that goes in a rosting pan . 400 till the bacon is crisp . and tu-du !
cynthia says:
Heather – I just made these a couple weeks ago (had it pinned forever! obviously) and they were a HUGE HIT! thanks