Pickled Green Tomatoes: What They Are, How to Eat Them & Where to Buy

If you grew up in the South, you probably know green tomatoes as the thing that gets breaded and fried. Pickled green tomatoes are their tangier, crunchier cousin, and once you have a jar in the fridge you will find yourself reaching for it more often than you expect.

Here is what pickled green tomatoes actually are, what ours taste like, the easiest ways to eat them, and where to buy a jar.

What are pickled green tomatoes?

Green tomatoes are simply tomatoes picked before they ripen and turn red. They are firm, a little tart and much less juicy than a ripe tomato, which is exactly why they pickle so well. Instead of turning to mush in the jar, they hold their shape and keep a satisfying bite.

Pickling them in a vinegar brine turns that firm, grassy fruit into something bright and savoury. The result sits somewhere between a dill pickle and a relish: tangy, crunchy at the edges, and soft enough in the middle to soak up flavour.

Are they the same as fried green tomatoes?

No. Fried green tomatoes are sliced, coated in cornmeal and fried. Pickled green tomatoes are brined and ready to eat straight from the jar, no cooking needed. That said, they are great friends: a few chopped pickled green tomatoes in the dipping sauce for fried green tomatoes is a very good idea.

Are they spicy?

Ours are not. Our jar is the twin of our Banana Pickle, which is named for banana peppers rather than for any heat. Both are balanced, garlicky and dill-forward. The Banana Pickle uses cucumbers; The Green Tomatoes uses green tomatoes. If you like one, you will very likely like the other.

What do they taste like?

Expect a clean, tangy first bite, then garlic and dill, then the mild, almost green-apple tartness that unripe tomatoes have on their own. There is no sugar-forward sweetness and no burn. It is a savoury, everyday pickle, the kind you put next to almost anything.

Texture is the other half of the story. Green tomato slices are meatier than cucumber chips, so they feel more substantial on a sandwich or a board.

How to eat pickled green tomatoes: 9 easy ideas

1. Straight from the jar

Honestly, this is how most jars get finished. Use a clean fork, and do not skip the brine-soaked pieces at the bottom.

2. On a fried chicken sandwich

Swap your usual pickle chips for a couple of green tomato slices. The extra thickness stands up to crispy chicken and a soft bun.

3. With pulled pork or barbecue

Rich, smoky meat needs something sharp beside it. Pile chopped pickled green tomatoes on top or serve them on the side like slaw.

4. On crostini with whipped feta

Toast thin slices of baguette, spread with whipped feta or cream cheese, and top with a slice of pickled green tomato and cracked black pepper. Easy party food that looks like effort.

5. In a BLT (a BLGT?)

Add a slice or two alongside the ripe tomato. You get sweet and tangy tomato in the same bite.

6. Chopped into a salad

Dice a few slices and toss them into potato salad, pasta salad or a simple green salad. A spoonful of brine in the dressing ties it together.

7. Next to shrimp and grits

A small pile of chopped green tomatoes on top of creamy grits cuts the richness and adds colour.

8. On a cheese or charcuterie board

Set them next to sharp cheddar, pimento cheese and cured meats. They look different from the usual cucumber pickles, so they get noticed.

9. In a relish for burgers and hot dogs

Finely chop pickled green tomatoes with a little onion and spoon it over a burger or a hot dog. Instant Southern-style relish.

Where to buy pickled green tomatoes

Pickled green tomatoes can be hard to find in a regular grocery store, especially outside the South. Your best options are:

• Farmers markets in the South, where small picklers often bring them seasonally.
• Specialty food shops that carry regional Southern products.
• Online, direct from the maker. This is the easiest way to get a specific jar shipped to your door.

You can order The Green Tomatoes straight from our site. Every jar is 17 oz, made in small batches in Atlanta, and shipping is free in the US when you order 2 or more jars. If you want to build a little Southern pantry, browse our Pickled Vegetables collection or shop all pickles.

What to pair it with in your cart

Since free shipping kicks in at two jars, here are the natural partners:

• The Banana Pickle, its cucumber twin, for a side-by-side tasting of two award winners.
• The Okra, the other classic Southern pickle, great on the same board.
• The Vintage, our medium-sour classic dill, if you want a traditional cucumber pickle too.

Our customers rate us 4.9 out of 5 across 280+ reviews, and you may have seen us on The Today Show. Still, the best review is your own: open a jar, try it on a sandwich, and let us know how you ate yours.

Get the jars

Small-batch, made in Atlanta, and free US shipping on 2+ jars.

The Green TomatoesGarlic, dill and tang. Flavor of Georgia 2026 Category Winner.Shop · $16.95The Banana PickleThe cucumber twin. Flavor of Georgia Best Pickle 2024.Shop · $16.95The OkraCrisp, tangy Southern okra. Board and Bloody Mary ready.Shop · $16.95