Summer Tomato Sandwiches (The Best Classic Recipe with Duke's Mayo)
Updated: Aug 4
The classic lunch that marks the height of summer.
Recipe #34 of The 100 Recipe Project.
This is one of those recipes that isn't really a recipe at all.
Every summer there comes a week when the tomatoes finally taste like tomatoes again.
The kind that perfume the kitchen when you slice into them.
Juicy enough that the cutting board fills with sweet tomato juice.
Those are the tomatoes that deserve their own sandwich.
Not piled high with deli meat or covered in fancy toppings — just toasted bread, a generous swipe of mayonnaise, thick slices of perfectly ripe tomatoes, flaky salt, cracked pepper, and maybe a few basil leaves from the porch.
Some lunches are elaborate.
Some become traditions.
This one is both.
Why You'll Love These Summer Tomato Sandwiches
Ready in under 10 minutes
Peak summer flavor with just a handful of ingredients
Perfect for garden tomatoes
Makes an easy lunch or light dinner
One of the simplest recipes you'll make all year
The Recipe for Summer Tomato Sandwiches
Around Our Table
Late July always feels like tomato season in Franklin.
The farmers market starts overflowing with colorful heirlooms, and it's hard to walk past them without bringing home a bag.
Some become salads.
Some become pasta.
But the very best ones never make it that far.
They become tomato sandwiches eaten standing at the kitchen counter while the afternoon light pours through the windows.
Sometimes the simplest meals become the ones you remember most.
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What to Serve With Easy Summer Tomato Sandwiches
Salt & vinegar kettle chips
Fresh peach slices
Pasta salad
Variations
BLT
Add crispy bacon.
Garden
Add cucumber and sprouts.
Southern
Use white bread and Duke's mayonnaise.
Burrata
Add creamy burrata and basil.
Avocado
Layer sliced avocado underneath the tomatoes.
FAQ
What's the best bread?
Sourdough, country white, or thick-cut sandwich bread.
Do I have to toast the bread?
Highly recommended.
The crisp texture holds up much better.
Can I make these ahead?
They're best assembled immediately before serving.
What tomatoes work best?
Heirloom, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, or any vine-ripened local tomato.
Complete the Moment
Serve these on the porch with an ice-cold glass of Southern sweet tea while the cicadas hum in the background. It's the kind of lunch that reminds you why summer tomatoes are worth waiting all year for.
From My Kitchen Collection
There's something special about a lunch that's built around one perfectly ripe tomato. These are the pieces I reached for while making these Summer Tomato Sandwiches—and the kitchen favorites that make simple seasonal meals feel just a little more special.
The oversized board I love for slicing bread, tomatoes, and serving sandwiches family-style.
A good bread knife makes clean slices through crusty sourdough without crushing the loaf.
The finishing touch that makes ripe summer tomatoes really shine.
Perfect for a light drizzle over tomatoes just before serving.
Simple neutral dishes that let colorful summer produce take center stage.
Recipe #34 of My 100 Recipe Project
From My Franklin Kitchen,
Alexis
Pull Up a Chair
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