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Tomato Cracker Salad

The classic flavors of a Southern tomato sandwich combine in this quick and easy Tomato Cracker Salad recipe. It's the perfect side dish to nearly any occasion the summer can throw at you!

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If there was ever a dish that defined summer, this Tomato Cracker Salad would be it for me.  I told my friends over at Southern Living a little bit about my family’s love of this humble, but tasty dish.  Be sure to visit with them to read all about it.

The classic flavors of a Southern tomato sandwich combine in this quick and easy Tomato Cracker Salad recipe. It's the perfect side dish to nearly any occasion the summer can throw at you!

Garden-fresh tomatoes combine with saltine crackers, mayo (y’all know Duke’s is my brand of choice), and some salt and pepper to create a dish that my family has been enjoying for as long as I can remember.  If you love the flavors of the classic tomato sandwich, then chances are you’re going to love this too.

The classic flavors of a Southern tomato sandwich combine in this quick and easy Tomato Cracker Salad recipe. It's the perfect side dish to nearly any occasion the summer can throw at you!

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A few things to keep in mind…

This dish is best served immediately.  The water content of the tomatoes and the mayo turn this dish soggy fast, so I like to make this at the absolute last minute.  But it’s super quick to toss together, so that’s not usually a problem.

Sometimes I’ll cut up my tomatoes and spread them out on paper towels just to allow them to wick a little moisture out to buy a little more time.

My mom never seeded a tomato.  Ever.  But I find this to be better without the seeds.  It’s an extra step, but I think it’s worth it.  But you do you.  🙂

Fresh, in-season tomatoes are best in this.  Heirloom tomatoes are even better.

Print Recipe
4.67 from 6 votes

Tomato Cracker Salad

Prep Time15 mins
Total Time15 mins
Author: Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 4 medium garden-fresh tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup mayo
  • 1 sleeve saltine crackers, coarsely broken
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Seed and coarsely chop the tomatoes.  In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes and and mayonnaise.  Add the broken crackers and toss lightly to coat.  Add salt and generous amounts of black pepper to taste.  Serve immediately.  
Making This Recipe?Tag us on Instagram: @SouthernBite using the hashtag #SouthernBite, so we can see what you are making in the kitchen!

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The classic flavors of a Southern tomato sandwich combine in this quick and easy Tomato Cracker Salad recipe. It's the perfect side dish to nearly any occasion the summer can throw at you!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I must admit, I was very curious about this recipe. But because I had saltines and tomatoes that I needed to use up, I have it a try. I love it! Simplistic wonderfully dry ghtful! Everyone should try thus! A wonderful surprise!

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    • We have made this “Cracker Salad” in the low country for years . It’s the best served with Frogmore Stew! We do add chopped onion and in the summer the Valdalias.

      Reply

      • As I said before, my mom has been making it for as long as I can remember. She did spend some time in South Carolina. I wonder if she picked it up there. I’ve also heard it called Georgia Cracker salad. Who knows! I just call it delicious! 🙂

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      • Please tell me about your Frogmore stew. I haven’t ever heard of it. But, this cracker salad is new to me too. I can almost taste it. Thanks

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        • Lowcountry Boil Recipe

          4 pounds small red potatoes
          5 quarts water
          1 (3-ounce) bag of crab boil seasoning (Zatarain’s)
          4 Tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
          2 pounds kielbasa or hot smoked link sausage, cut into 1½-inch pieces
          6 ears of corn, halved
          4 pounds large fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined optional
          Cocktail sauce

          Add potatoes to large pot, then add 5 quarts water and seasonings.
          Cover pot and heat to a rolling boil; cook 5 minutes.
          Add sausage and corn, and return to a boil.
          Cook 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
          Add shrimp to stockpot; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.
          Drain.
          Serve with cocktail sauce.
          Serves 12.

          (Adapted from Southern Living, August 2002 and Real Simple, August 2001)

          Reply

        • I looked up Frogmore Stew and it seems like another name for the Low Country boil. I am sure this salad would be great with Frogmore stew!

          Reply

  2. Such an interesting recipe. I’ve not seen anything like this before. It is almost prime local tomato season here in Northern California and I’m excited to do this one. Thanks!

    p.s. I do the same thing with tomatoes – I cut ahead of time and let drain on paper towels. And take the seeds out!

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  4. I LOVE tomato sandwiches and this sounds even better! Now that our nest is empty, a loaf of bread goes stale before we eat it so I just don’t buy it much anymore. But, I always have saltines on hand!! Perfect!

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  5. OK. So I thought I was the only person in the world who indulged in this delicious recipe. Truly! We too ate it all the time growing up. My Mom swore it originated in the area where she grew up (western NC). She had stories to tell about having the tomatoes right from the garden, making this salad and having fried baloney. They were very poor. Sometimes they didn’t have the mayo, just tomatoes, crackers, salt and pepper! Thanks for bringing it up to everyone again!

    Reply

    • My family has humble beginnings as well and I imagine this dish was originally a product of that. I’ve also heard it called Georgia Cracker Salad, so who knows where it came from! I’m just glad we have it! 🙂

      Reply

  7. I have never had this salad but would to make it . Unfortunately , I would be the only one eating it.My son does not like fresh tomatoes. My husband could not eat it because it would drive his blood sugar sky high with the crackers in it

    Reply

    • For diabetics (like me)…you could make a much smaller version.
      a few crackers and grape tomatoes sliced in half. Just make sure the
      remainder of the meal is low-carb. A few crackers aren’t going to drive
      your blood glucose too much, especially if you eat lots of fiber with
      the meal. I might add some fresh spinach to the mix. Mayo is ok…and a few
      tomatoes are ok. I will definitely try this. It will be worth a bit of insulin to
      give it a try! Thanks so much for posting!

      Reply

        • I am a diabetic also. As for the spike in blood sugar because of the crackers is offset by the fats in the mayo (Dukes for sure). The fat slows down the rate of carb uptake. Check with your Endocrinologist. That’s what mine told me. How much it affects it? I don’t know and still would not overdo it.

          Reply

    • When you make the salad and just before you add the crackers, take some of the tomato salad out for your husband and then add the crackers to the rest. This way you both get a taste of tomato salad. I have made tomato salad for years but never with crackers in it. I do like my tomato salad with sliced onions. And the day after, what is left over makes a good tomato sandwich on toast.

      Reply

  8. My husband LOVES fresh tomatoes, but I doubt he’d try this. I’m not crazy about tomatoes, but this intrigues me and I’m gonna try it! I think I’ll love it. 🙂 Aren’t we strange with our eating habits?

    Reply

  9. I love saltines with a little mayonnaise and fresh cut tomatoes. I have never thought to make a salad! Oh my goodness! What a wonderful recipe! Thank you so much for sharing this!

    Reply

  10. Thanks for posting this. My mom made this yummy salad when I was growing up in Savannah. She also had a winter version (sort of) that was a can of chopped tomatoes with a pat of butter, salt & pepper and white bread toast torn into pieces and she heated it all in a sauce pan.

    Reply

  11. I don’t eat fresh tomatoes, mostly because of the seeds. I just don’t like seeds in anything. I didn’t know you could seed them! I think I’m gonna try this! Thank you, Stacey!

    Reply

    • I always seed tomatoes because I just don’t care for them. To make it easy, I just slice the top off and poke my fingers down in each cavity over the trash can and the seeds squirt right out. Hope you’ll enjoy!

      Reply

  12. I have made this a lot. However, I make it by combing mayonnaise, sweet pickles boiled eggs and a little pickle juice together with the tomatoes. Let it chill for awhile in the fridge. just before serving add the crackers to this mixture with salt and pepper. This will have the cracker crispy and the coolness makes the salad real fresh tasting.
    this is just my way.

    Reply

  13. Make this all the time but also add chopped-up boiled eggs. A favorite at our house. It is best if you wait right before you eat it to put in the crackers. I always do it when we sit down. So good and crunchy that way.

    Reply

      • Being Italian and from the north my grandma would make a salad that was similar to this but instead of crackers would add crumbled up pepper biscuits idk if every one know what they are or if there a new England thing but the taste is amazing and it doesn’t get soggy as fast…we also add them to soup for the same reasons instead of crackers

        Reply

  15. Well, this sounds good! Maybe add some cooked bacon and serve over some torn or shredded lettuce. I might have to try this. I am sure I would be the only one eating it tho. Hubby doesn’t like mayo and son doesn’t like tomatoes. I’ll just have to cut the recipe down. thanks!!

    Reply

  16. Did you know that Duke and Sauer’s mayonnaise is made by the same company. Look on your Duke label and you will see that it is made by Sauers. Sauers is much cheaper and just as good. Thought I would let you know. The same tomato dish topped with butter and baked for a while becomes scalloped tomatoes and is great, too.

    Reply

  17. Oh My Goodness! I had forgotten all about this recipe. My husband and daughter do not eat tomatoes or mayo so it got off my scope but I will make some just for me as soon as my tomatoes ripen. I am a south Georgia girl and always heard it called Georgia Tomato-Cracker salad. My parents were from South Alabama and my grandmother always made it. No way to tell where it is from but it sure is good. My family always added Vidalia onions and a squeeze of Lemon juice.

    Reply

    • I’m with you. You can all it whatever you want, just don’t forget to call me when it’s ready! Love the addition of those sweet Vidalias and lemon!

      Reply

  18. My mom makes this salad. But she adds bell pepper to the tomatoes. She adds the crackers just before serving so it will not be soggy.

    Reply

  19. I make something similar. I peel tomatoes(or not),scoop out the inside,then mix with crackers and mayonnaise and stuff back into the tomato shell!

    Reply

  20. I wonder if I can use club crackers since that’s what I have in my cupboard. Going to give it a try.

    Reply

  21. Oh yum! I love tomatoes. But my mom would make breaded tomatoes for my dad with canned tomatoes. I wouldn’t eat them. But this sounds so good to me with the mayo and crunchy crackers! Can’t wait for my tomatoes to ripen and try this! Thank you!

    Reply

  22. Never heard of such a thing but I don’t think we’re going to be strangers for long. Thanks for a wonderful “new” recipe.

    Reply

  23. Google Shockingly Sweet Stewed Tomatoes. I never would eat my Mom’s stewed tomatoes but these are wonderful.

    Reply

  25. I make this salad, started over 10 years ago. My coworkers knew my love of fresh tomato’s and made this for me but with 1 added ingredient chopped green onions too. I said that looks gross but I tried it and fell in love!!!!!! The taste is awesome. I have been making it ever since then, anyone who has not tried this needs to it will be a new favorite.

    Reply

  27. Using pomodoro/plum tomatoes will contribute less moisture. Using pepper crackers and a buttermilk salad dressing will reduce prep time.

    Reply

  28. I have got to try this! My husband loves crumbled corn bread with petite diced tomatoes with the juice and a scoop of mayo all mixed up together. Looks awful but absolutely wonderful. I may try this since I don’t always feel like making cornbread.

    Reply

  29. My daughter and I have been making this for several years and absolutely love it! So when I decided to make it for my brother and nephew recently they were very hesitant, but being good sports they agreed to try it. Needless to say, they loved it, and asked me to make more.

    Reply

  31. Oh my goodness! Found this recipe while scrolling Pinterest in the wee hours of yesterday morning and as soon as it was time for breakfast went straight to the kitchen and chopped up two small garden tomatoes from the last of a friend’s harvest and made this salad for me and ONLY me (son doesn’t care much for tomatoes and hubs doesn’t love mayo). I ate EVERY bite and it was sublime! I told my 83-year old mother-in-law about it at lunch yesterday, and she said, “Oh! That sounds like something I’d like!” So I guess you have TWO more converts! I’m going to call this “White Trash Panzanella!” 😝 How has I never heard of this before?!

    Reply

    • Hey! I was going to say that Italians have something like this but with dry, stale bread. I couldn’t remember the name, but that’s it- panzanella!
      Also, I think there are such things as whole-grain saltines, and unsalted-top saltines. That might make it more doable for special diets.

      Reply

  32. LOL!! I never knew there was an actual recipe for this! I eat this all the time when I don’t want a heavy meal but yet something to fill my tummy with goodness. Sometimes I will add chopped English cucumber and dill weed (dried or fresh). Now THAT is my favorite! Oh, if you have a little cottage cheese that needs to be used up but not enough for a recipe then that, too, is a tasty addition. 🙂

    Reply

  38. It was great seeing you at the Farmer’s Market. Glad you are in Prattville! I’ll have to try this recipe.

    Reply

  39. I can’t beleive I’m just now finding out about this simple wonderfully delicious recipe! I made it last nite to go with supper & hubby & I both loved it! Thanx so much for sharing that! Looking forward to more of your recipes.

    Reply

  41. Looking for recipes with few ingredients for our food pantry clients. Excited to find this. Will definitely print it for them.

    Reply

  42. We had this with home grown tomatoes. It was delicious. Going to have it again tonight. Thanks so much for this recipe. I really like your site.

    Reply

  43. Just watched your video for this recipe. Enjoyed it! I had this bookmarked earlier to make someday… I’ll make it Saturday because Farmer’s Market is then and the tomatoes have been coming out here in Northern California.

    Reply

  44. Enjoyed the video. I shared the recipe on Facebook. Sounds so simple and tasty! I have been raised on cornbread and beans by southern family and never tried this?! How does that happen? By the way, my hubby makes the cornbread recipe you have in your Southern Bite cookbook and it never fails to please!

    Reply

  45. I came across this recipe by total accident and I was shocked! My granny (which is from Southern Ga) has been making this all her life and has passed it down to her kids, grandkids and great grandkids. I have NEVER heard of anyone outside of our family who knows what Cracker Salad is! We too get strange looks from people who have never had it but most love it once they try it! It’s one of my favorite recipes from my Granny. And is part of so many wonderful childhood memories!

    Reply

  46. My mom made a salad with just chopped tomato and sweet onion seasoned with salt, pepper and a teaspoon of sugar. Sometimes she added fresh dill. We always served it with warm buttered French bread. I’m looking forward to trying this version, thanks!

    Reply

  47. I see I’ve posted on this recipe twice in the last two years without making it. I finally made it! It was a smashing success. Everyone was impressed. The tomatoes were the star of the dish, of course, but the crackers and mayo, salt, pepper brought out that je ne sais quoi. (I added a lot, of lot of pepper and it could take it) Thank you!

    Reply

  48. You need to make this and eat it right away! It’s great right upon mixing it up….not so much later. It gets wierd!

    Reply

  50. I had tomatoes, Dukes and saltines on hand so I threw this recipe together…..and was wowed!
    My taste buds did a little jig and my tummy was happy.
    This is definitely the dish I am going to make and take to our next church potluck.

    Reply

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