Proclaimed “one of the best fried green tomatoes” by Guy Fieri, host of Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, this fried green tomato recipe includes a few whammy ingredients that make them quirky but crazy delicious!

I’m still reeling. I just can’t believe I was a contestant on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games! I’ve always been a huge fan of the show. It’s always given me “Supermarket Sweep” vibes and that’s one of my favorite shows from my childhood. Still, when they reached about me being on a show featuring home cook dads, I was very nervous. I’m not super competitive and don’t do well under pressure. As a blogger and recipe developer, I can honestly take all the time I need cooking and creating recipes, so the idea of having to shop, cook, prep, and plate a dish in 30 minutes gave me hives!

With the encouragement of my family, I ended up agreeing and literally had the time of my life! It was an absolute blast!
Competing with the other dad’s was an amazing experience and we’re still in touch!
Spoiler Alert: I didn’t win, but came in second place. And losing to a super nice guy like Tim made it way more tolerable.

At the end of the day, I feel like I won anyway. When I was making my fried green tomatoes during the last round, Guy said, “That’s like one of the best fried green tomatoes I’ve ever had! That’s textbook!” He said it again to the judges as well. I was thrilled and so honored by those words.

So that’s what I’m sharing with y’all today, the recipe for fried green tomatoes that I made on Guy’s Grocery Games. Y’all enjoy!

What makes these fried green tomatoes different?
During the Home Cook Dad’s episode of Guy’s Grocery Games, the four dads were challenged with “Grocery Bowl” – a game where we had to use watermelons as bowling balls to knock down 2-liter soda bottle pins labeled with random ingredients. Any pins left standing had to be included in our dishes. We were left with lager, mustard, and bbq potato chips.
I created an open faced grilled pimento cheese sandwich topped with fried green tomatoes.
I used the beer in my buttermilk for dredging the tomatoes and used the crushed potato chips with cornmeal as my breading.

How do I pick green tomatoes?
I actually prefer tomatoes that aren’t super firm and bright green. I like to choose tomatoes that are lightly turning from yellow to green and are just slightly soft. The firm ones work just fine, I just feel like the ones with that slight yellow tint taste better.
Are green tomatoes just unripe tomatoes?
While there is a variety of tomato that remains green when fully ripe, most green tomatoes you’ll find in the grocery store and the ones you’ll need for this recipe are simply unripe tomatoes.

Can fried green tomatoes be frozen?
Yes! Once they have been breaded, you can place the tomatoes on a wire rack and freeze them. Once frozen, you can put them in a sealable container or zip-top bag to freeze for about 6 months. The tomatoes can then be cooked from frozen at the same temperature with the addition of a few minutes.
Can fried green tomatoes be made in the air fryer?
Yep! Preheat the air fryer to 400ยฐF. Lightly spray the basket with oil, olive oil spray, or nonstick cooking spray. Place the breaded tomatoes in the basket and spritz them with oil as well. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once about halfway through.

How to serve fried green tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes are great served all by themselves, but can be served alongside a delicious remoulade sauce. You could also serve them as I did on the television show on an open-faced grilled pimento cheese sandwich drizzled with a little hot sauce.
Recipe Card
Best Fried Green Tomatoes from Guy’s Grocery Games
Ingredients
- 3 large green tomatoes
- 1 (7.5-ounce) bag Kettle Brand BBQ Potato Chips
- 1 cup plain cornmeal
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup beer
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes into 1/8 to 1/4-inch slices and sandwich them between paper towels to wick away excess moisture.
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the potato chips, corn meal, and salt and pulse until the chips are finely crushed. Pour the mixture into a medium bowl and set aside.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and beer. Set aside.
- In a third medium bowl, add the all-purpose flour. Set aside.
- Pour about 2 inches of oil into the bottom of a heavy dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet. Be cautious not to fill the vessel any more than 1/3 of the way full. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350ยฐF.
- Coat the tomatoes lightly in the flour, then dip it into the buttermilk mixture. Then lightly coat them in the potato chip and cornmeal mixture.
- Fry in batches, being cautious not to crowd the pan. Adjust the heat to maintain the temperature as close to 350ยฐF as possible. Cook for 2 minutes on one side, then gently flip and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. Cook until just lightly golden brown. Drain on a pan lined with paper towels topped with a wire rack to allow the excess oil to drip away. Sprinkle the warm tomatoes with additional salt, if desired. Serve warm.
Video

* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Laurie
Oh my gracious !! We tuned into GGG and I said that man looks familiar and then they said your name and I went OH WOW !! Loud enough my hubby had to cover his ears !! You were fantastic on the show !! I am so excited that you posted the recipe !! I just saw in the comments someone said you have your own show. Where can we see your show ? I think Food Network should give you a show !! I would watch it every week !! Thanks for all the great recipes !!
Awww! Thank you!!It was an absolute blast. So, I don’t have my own show, but have a food segment in another tv show every week called Simply Southern TV. You can find out more and about how to watch it here: https://southernbite.com/simply-southern-recipes/
Gary Wright
Stacey, my Wife and I have been big fans of you since we discovered you on your TV program. It was great seeing you compete on Guy’s program. Do you think we’ll be seeing you more often on any of the national cooking shows? Sure hope so.
Thanks so much, Gary! I sure appreciate the support! Fingers crossed! I’d love to do more tv.
Nancy Helpinstill
I set my DVR the minute you announced the date of the show in your blog. Youโd have thought Guy was talking to ME when he raved about your FGT, I was so proud! Been watching you for years and several of your recipes are standards at my house. My mouth is now longing for pimento cheese! Used to eat that all the time in East Texas growing up. People here in LA donโt even know what it is! ๐
Ha1 Thanks so much, Nancy! I sure do appreciate that!
Charleen
I watched the show and was so proud of you. Second place isn’t anything to sneeze at!!we are proud of you. Good competitive spirit .
Ha! Thanks, Charleen!
Becky
Do you always use beer and BBQ potato chips in your fried green tomato recipes, or was this just the way you made them for the show? I watched the show, by the way, and you were great!! I was so proud of you!!
Lord, no. This is how I normally make them: But the potato chips and beer were part of the challenge and they ended up tasting amazing!
Becky
Thank you, Stacey! Now I will have to try both versions of the recipe and decide which I like best!!
Deddy
My husband and I donโt prefer the very green tomatoes either. I like them to have a very light touch of pink somewhere on them. Iโve always just used cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper and fried them up. Will definitely try the BBQ chips!!
I just prefer the flavor and texture of them when they are just starting to ripen. Hope you enjoy this version.
Linda C
Entertaining show and so cool that you went for it. It was like watching an old friend at work since I have followed either your blog or Facebook presence/newsletter for years!
Thanks so much, Linda!
Kathy
Stacey we were cheering you on during GGG! Congratulations on your second place finish-weโre so proud of you! You rocked it! So happy you posted this recipe. Iโm anxious to make them since they got rave reviews from Guy and the judges. (Maybe theyโll invite you back- be sure to let us know)
Thank you, Kathy! I appreciate the support! Fingers crossed!
Jeanne
Thank you so very much for posting the recipe, Stacy! I canโt wait to try it! Just need some green tomatoes! Love your recipes! Made the hamburger steaks a few days ago; great success! I had never had them before, but sure a good and quick, easy meal.
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed the hamburger steaks!
Aileen
I cannot wait to watch it Stacey! I haven’t been able to yet but I’m very much looking forward to it. I love Guy’s shows as well. I love fried green tomatoes and usually just make them the traditional way but your recipe sounds fantastic! And to come up with it on the fly like you did wow. ๐
Thanks, Aileen! I appreciate you!!
Myrna
Yum. Fried green tomatoes! So happy good things are happening for you. I was at an event where a local restaurant had fried green tomatoes that were very thin like potato chips and deep fried. I ate more than my fair share. Can’t wait to try your recipe.
That sounds delicious! Thanks, Myrna!
Janet Eberle
Hi Stacey! I loved seeing you on GGG. Your recipes looked so good. I will definitely be making your pimento cheese and fried green tomato sandwich. You are truly a southern gentleman and I so enjoy reading your blog.
Thanks so much, Janet! You are too kind!
Shelly L. Halvorson
I freaked our when I saw y’all on GGG! I even made my 19 year old son watch! He thought your pimento and fried green tomatoe sandwich looked incredibly delicious! You are just as sweet as I assumed. So happy to see your mug on my tv! Go Stacey!!!
HA! Thanks, Shelly! Thanks for watching!!
Harriet
I loved watching the show and your tomatoes had my mouth watering. I canโt imagine having to come up with a recipe so quickly using those ingredients. Congratulations to you for representing us Southerners so well!
It was pretty intimidating, but I loved every minute of it! Thank you!
Marcy Wing
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I love all of your recipes.
Thanks, Marcy!!
Linda Wyman
I donโt think a week goes by that I donโt make your tomato cracker salad! Has become one of my family favorites ๐
Love hearing that! So glad you’ve enjoyed it!
Carla
As soon as the show was scheduled, I set my recording. Enjoyed the show very much….will be making your fried green tomatoes. Thanks for all the great recipes.
Denise
I’ve been following you for years and I was thrilled to watch the GGG episode with my sister at your house. You did amazing and I love what you said about not being competitive but going for it anyway! Seriously I almost cried in happiness for you when Guy said your tomatoes were some of the best if not the best he’d ever eaten! I keep imagining your pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes on a burger. All the best to you and yours!
Denise
Sorry I meant to say at her house, not your house.
Awww! Thank you, Denise! And thanks for the years of support!!
Thanks, Carla! I sure appreciate it!