Ree Drummond Just Shared Her 'Girl Dinner' & It's a Tasty Spin on a Southern Classic

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There are a lot of TikTok things that immediately resonate with us, from Rat Girl Winter living to Eclectic Grandpa home style. But nothing hit quite like Girl Dinner, which basically caused all of us to embrace the fact that sometimes after a busy day we don’t actually want an elaborate meal for dinner — we just want something easy that tastes good. And it turns out that Girl Dinner has been around for awhile. Just look at Ree Drummond. She was pronouncing the glory of Girl Dinner years ago, when she introduced her viewers to “Ree Food,” the meals she makes when she doesn’t have to also worry about feeding her entire family. And just like the Girl Dinners on TikTok, Drummond’s Girl Dinner looks like the perfect simple, snacky meal to enjoy at the end of the day.

So what does The Pioneer Woman eat for dinner when she doesn’t have to think of anyone else? She puts a twist on a Southern favorite, by making a fried red tomato sandwich. You may have heard of fried green tomatoes before (or seen the classic movie of the same name), which are slices of unripe green tomatoes that are coated in cornmeal and fried until crispy and golden. The green tomatoes have a tart and tangy taste, but it turns out you can use the same technique with red tomatoes.

The difference is that red tomatoes are sweeter and juicier, meaning the end result is a little messier, but it’s totally worth it — especially if you’re alone anyway and can eat over the sink. But it’s the rare recipe that’s actually better when you use the red tomatoes you get in the winter, which usually aren’t as good as their summer counterparts, meaning they’re firmer and less juicy. You can eat a ripe red summer tomato like a juicy peach, but winter tomatoes are much better with a little embellishment, and whipping out the cast iron skillet and frying them with a crispy cornmeal coating will definitely do the job.

But it doesn’t stop there (although it could — fried red tomatoes with a creamy homemade ranch dip sound divine on their own). Drummond turns these crispy red tomato slices into a sandwich. Soft white bread, mayonnaise, and a handful of basil are all you need to make an iconic but simple sandwich — personally, we’d add plenty of black pepper, too, and maybe even a dash of hot sauce.

The next time you don’t feel the need for a three course meal, try making yourself one of The Pioneer Woman’s fried red tomato sandwiches. They’re soft, crispy, sweet, tangy, creamy, and satisfying, and with Drummond’s seal of approval, you know they’ll hit the spot.

Before you go, check out Ina Garten’s easy weeknight dinner recipes below:

Watch: We Tried Ina Garten’s Overnight Mac & Cheese & We Totally Get Why It Broke the Internet