Best Italian Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes without Rice

Best Italian Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes without Rice

Why You Should Give This Recipe a Try

Like most people, I often have a hard time thinking up new dinner ideas. I try asking my husband for suggestions and he says, “What do you feel like making?” Sweet, by not helpful. These Best Italian Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes without Rice are an easy meal idea I got from my brother-in-law’s wife. Being French, she knows a thing or two about food and this great recipe is no exception. 

But aren’t stuffed tomatoes filled with meat AND rice, you ask? Often, yes. But these tomatoes are hearty and flavorful and brimming with sweet Italian sausage and can be served on any type of rice you choose. Quick, easy, and delicious, they are a family favorite in our house. Try adding them to new recipes for your weeknight rotation!

Some of the best features of this recipe:

These are so quick – only about 30 minutes total!

Juicy tomatoes! This is the perfect recipe for using up your farmer’s market tomatoes. And baking the tomatoes until they are fork tender means they produce a delicious sort of broth that gets sopped up by rice or some crusty bread.

Mix and match sausage based on your preferences: mild Italian sausage? Sweet Italian sausage? Hot Italian sausage? You can use one or a mix. There is something for the whole family here.

Cheese! There is cheese inside and on top of these tomatoes. My preference is Parmesan, but if cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese or some other favorite cheese is what you have on hand, there are many that will work. Gooey cheese makes everything better, no?

Best Italian Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes without Rice is a super easy recipe that does not require any special cooking techniques or equipment and all of the ingredients can be found without problem in the grocery store. The whole cooking process is really fast and simple!

Recipe Ingredients

4 large tomatoes (beefsteak tomatoes)

1/4 cup chopped tomato flesh (reserved from the 4 large tomatoes)

1 lb sweet Italian sausage meat

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 clove minced garlic

1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs and 4 tablespoons more for the topping

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan and 4 tablespoons more for the topping

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried parsley

salt and pepper

Helpful Tools

Tablespoon

Large mixing bowl

Large skillet

​Heatproof spatula

Wooden spoon

Medium baking dish

Non-stick cooking spray

Ingredient Notes

Tomatoes should be firm so that you can scoop out the inside and then fill the tomato with the stuffing without it falling apart. Don’t buy tomatoes that are overripe.

I like to use sweet Italian sausage because we are not spice people. If you prefer more heat, you can use hot sausage or a mix of the two. For even more heat, sprinkle in a tiny bit of red pepper flakes in with the other ingredients. 

Parmesan cheese is my go-to, but you can also use cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey jack.

While there is no rice in these tomatoes, I do prefer to serve them with rice, the perfect side for the drinking up all the juice from the baked tomatoes and sausage. Use the cooked rice of your choice:white rice, brown rice, wild rice. You can also use pasta or couscous as a bed for your stuffed tomatoes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Wash the tomatoes, making sure to remove any stickers.

2. Cut horizontally across the top creating a little cap. You can discard this piece.

3. Cut lightly around the inside of the tomato. Using a large spoon (a tablespoon works well) scoop out the inside of the tomato. Put the tomato flesh into a small bowl. You will use it in the stuffing.

4. Lightly sprinkle salt inside the hollowed out tomato. Flip the tomato over onto a plate lined with paper towels.

5. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

6. Dice 1/2 a medium onion.

7. Mince 1 clove of garlic.

8. Chop the reserved tomato flesh until you have 1/4 cup.

9. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil to a large skillet. Saute onions over medium-high heat until translucent. Do not let them brown, lowering the temperature to medium heat if necessary.

10. Add the sausage meat to the skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking apart the meat into small pieces with a heatproof spatula. The meat is cooked when it is uniformly brown with no pink pieces.

11. Drain the fat off of the meat and place the sausage in a large bowl. 

12. Add the minced garlic, Panko, Parmesan, dried basil, and dried parsley to the meat and onion mixture. Lightly salt and pepper.

13. Drain the chopped tomato flesh and add to the meat mixture. Stir everything together with a wooden spoon.

14. Lightly spray the bottom of the baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

15. Turn over the tomatoes and gently blot the inside with a paper towel.  

16. Fill the tomatoes loosely with the stuffing and place them in the bottom of the pan.

17. Sprinkle the top of the sausage mixture in each tomato and top with about a tablespoon of breadcrumbs, followed by a tablespoon of cheese.

18. Bake for about 15 minutes until the tomato is easily pierced with a sharp knife and the topping is golden brown with a layer of melty cheese.

Check out the printable recipe card for this Best Italian Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes without Rice with step-by-step instructions below!

Storage

Place leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.

Tips & Tricks

If you can’t find sausage meat in your area, you can use whole Italian pork sausage. Slit open the casing and place the sausage meat in the skillet. 

You can make the stuffing for the tomatoes and store it in the fridge up to two days before you would like to use it.

You can replace the dried herbs with fresh if you prefer. Use 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh parsley and 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh basil. You can also use 1 tsp of dried Italian seasoning in place of the parsley and basil.

FAQs

Can I make this using different kinds of meat?

One of the reason this is a great meal is that it is very versatile. You can use various types of sausage, but other types of meat as well. You can try ground beef, ground turkey, or even Italian chicken sausage. The texture of the Italian chicken sausage will be different than other types.

​Can I use this recipe to make stuffed peppers?

You can use this same recipe to make stuffed peppers. Simply cut the top off of fresh bell peppers and clean out the ribs and seeds. Cook until the side is easily pierced with the point of a sharp knife.

​Looking for another easy to make weeknight meal? We really enjoy this recipe for One Pot Creamy Pasta Primavera with White Wine.