The best Open-Faced Cheese and Tomato Sandwich ever. The combination of tomato and cheese is always a hit however you layer it.
These Scandinavian-style sandwiches known as Smørrebrød are easy to prepare. Totally impressive in appearance and certainly delivers on taste. Less bread and more toppings are a win for me.

I am sure you have enjoyed lots of open sandwiches like:
- Smashed Avocado Toast – perfect for any meal of the day.
- Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel – this classic is so easy to make at home.
- Fresh Tomato Bruschetta – perfect with pasta or as a starter.
- Strawberry Bruschetta – great for an appetizer or dessert.
- Cucumber Sandwich Bagel – you can serve this as an open sandwich.
Let’s not forget all the tuna melts and hot open-faced sandwiches with gravy too.
The best part about great sandwiches is that to make it a full meal add a tasty side. This simple pea salad is perfect. Crisp, refreshing, and bursting with flavour.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this open sandwich can be found at the bottom of this post.
Ingredients Needed For This Cold Cheese And Tomato Sandwich
Super easy to find ingredients. Keep reading for some awesome substitutions and recipe tips.
- Thin buns
- Fresh tomatoes
- Goat cheese
- Antipasto spread
- Balsamic glaze
- Fresh basil
One thing I will suggest is that you use the BEST tomatoes possible. Heirloom tomatoes are fantastic.
Making Open-Faced Sandwiches With Tomatoes And Cheese
All you need to do is slice and layer. This is the perfect sandwich for brunch, lunch or dinner.
- Divide your bun in half. One half for each serving.
- Spread the cheese on the bun.
- Layer on the sliced tomatoes.
- Top with the antipasto spread.
- Drizzle with balsamic.
- Garnish with basil leaves.
This tomato and cheese recipe is so simple to make and so delicious to eat. Open-face sandwiches are great for feeding a crowd and for sandwich buffets since they are presentation perfect.
Suggestions/Recipe Tips
Buns – I love thin, dense buns. This sandwich is all about the toppings. You can also use dense slices of bread. Think rye, multigrain, or sourdough, they would all be great options.
Cheese – Goat cheese is perfect. It spreads nicely and tastes delicious. I used a flavoured one, but plain would work. If you are not a goat cheese fan, honestly any cheese will work. You might also like to try this Goat Cheese Log. Cream cheese, ricotta, or any kind of sliced cheese you like. There is no right or wrong kind of cheese.
Tomatoes – The freshest, best-tasting tomatoes work best. If you cannot find heirloom, beefsteak or Kumato are great options. Of course, if you grow your own tomatoes in the garden, those would be perfect.
Antipasto Spread – This comes in mild and hot. Take your pick. You can also leave this out if you prefer, but it does add a nice layer of flavour. All you need is a little, especially if you are using the hot one. As an alternative try a bit of marinated artichokes or eggplant.
Balsamic Glaze – Always a great choice. You could also just use a few drops of regular balsamic. It will be much thinner and the flavour will not be as intense or as sweet.
Garnish – Fresh herbs of any kind will work. I choose basil, but chives, dill, thyme or oregano are great alternatives.
Serving – I like to serve these as soon as they are made. You can store them in the fridge until ready to eat. Just be aware the longer they are stored, the chances of the bread getting soggy increases.
FAQ (Questions And Answers)
Sandwiches are made with a single slice of bread, half a bun, or half a bagel.
Heirloom tomatoes are grown for their flavour. They are not mass-produced, which makes them more expensive. They are more fragile than regular tomatoes and less disease-resistant.
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Be sure to check out the other delicious sandwiches, wraps and burgers on this site.
For more sandwich ideas, here are a few to try:
- Brie Grilled Cheese
- Curried Tofu
- Smoked Salmon Sandwich
- Egg Salad Wrap
- Harvest Turkey Wrap
- Sliced Corned Beef Sandwich
Open-Faced Cheese and Tomato Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 thin buns
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 10 ounces heirloom tomatoes sliced
- 2 teaspoons antipasto spread
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes and set aside.10 ounces heirloom tomatoes
- Slice the buns in half. Alternatively you can use 4 slices of dense bread.2 thin buns
- Divide the goat cheese between the slices of bread/buns and spread.4 ounces goat cheese
- Top with the slices of tomatoes.
- Top with ยฝ teaspoon of antipasto spread per sandwich.2 teaspoons antipasto spread
- Drizzle each serving with balsamic glaze.1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- Garnish with basil leaves and serve.fresh basil leaves
Erin
I made as a quick lunch yesterday and am so happy I did! Easy and so quick to put together. Way better than our usual meat + cheese sandwiches. Thanks! Love the balsamic on there.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Balsamic is the perfect topping for these open-faced tomato sandwiches.
Jenny
Count me in on the antipasto spread! When you add tomato and goat cheese itโs hard to beat. Cheers!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I know right…it is so good on these open-faced sandwiches.
Nancy
What a simple yet flavorful sandwich. This is going to be my quick go to during these warmer days.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, on a hot summer day this open-faced sandwich is so good.
Savita
Perfect for this summer season, so fresh and delicious sandwich. Loved how easy it is to prepare.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This is the best tomato sandwich in our house.
jan
thanks for the recipe for a new type of sandwich filling. was getting tired of eating them the same way.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You are welcome. Enjoy the open-faced sandwich experience.
Bernice
This is one of those classic Summer recipes that I wait all year to make. It’s simple but if you have the freshest ingredients (tomato) it makes the wait worthwhile. Summer on a plate!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, tomato sandwiches in the summer are the best ever.
Jean
This sandwich makes a perfect snack on the go. They are easy to prepare and simply delicious.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, this open-faced tomato and cheese sandwich is super easy to make and perfect any time of the day.
Andrea
loveee this idea! tomatoes and cheese are the ultimate combo!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
You can never to wrong with a tomato and cheese sandwich for any meal of the day.
Anjali
This is such an easy and tasty sandwich!! Made it for lunch today and it turned out great!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
So glad you enjoyed this gourmet open-faced cheese and tomato sandwich.
Jamie
This was the perfect sandwich for our picnic! The heirloom tomatoes went great with the goat cheese!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree this tomato and cheese sandwich is so delicious. Heirloom tomatoes are wonderful in this.
Glenda
One of my summertime favorites! Fresh garden tomatoes are so delicious!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I have to agree, fresh tomatoes from the garden are perfect in this open-faced tomato sandwich.
Carrie Robinson
Ooooooo…. yes, please! So perfect for all of these fresh summer tomatoes available right now! ๐
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
YES you are correct. Fresh tomatoes are just what you need for this delicious open sandwich recipe.
Tara
Oooh, I fell in love with Smรธrrebrรธd while in Denmark. These look absolutely amazing and I love the summer flavors.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
Thanks so much. These open-faced sandwiches are a hit for sure.
Janessa
This sandwich was absolutely delicious. I’ll be making this with my fresh garden tomatoes all summer long!
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
This cheese and tomato sandwich is just what you need for your garden fresh tomatoes. ENJOY!
Greta
I loved this sandwich. I made it for breakfast and everybody loved it. I’ll do it again.
Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy
I agree, this open-faced sandwich recipe is perfect for any meal of the day.