Tomato Crostini with Bacon (Gluten Free or Not)

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Tomato Crostini is topped with fresh tomatoes and a cream cheese spread with bacon and chives. Serve as an appetizer or even as a meal.

gluten free tomato crostini with chive cross on top.

Way back when my kids were little, we used to have parties at my mom and dad’s house for their birthdays. Both birthdays were in the summer and my parents have a huge pool, so it was a no brainer. My mom and I would think about all the wonderful appetizers we could make, not even thinking that these were KIDS parties and they didn’t give a crap about the food. All they cared about was swimming and cake! Seriously, trying to get a bunch of young kids out of a pool to go eat lunch is like pulling teeth!!

But the deal was this–WE wanted the food. We just used the kids as an excuse to make and eat all the good stuff! Not to say the kids didn’t have a great time and of course we made great “kid friendly” foods, but our goal was to load up on all the appetizers we could think of for ourselves!!

My sister used to work for a catering company and these little beauties were one of the many things they would make. Once she shared the recipe with us, we were all hooked and began making them for every party occasion we could think of (including kids’ birthday parties!). While the kids would rarely eat them, we’d scarf them down.

tomato crostini ingredients

ingredients measured out and labeled on granite countertop.

Bread for crostini base–of course this is a gluten free blog so I’ll be using my Gluten Free Artisan Bread to make the base, but this recipe isn’t only limited to gluten free. My mom buys a (gluten-filled) baguette to make these appetizers and has for years.
Cream cheese–the base of the simple spread. For dairy free, use a vegan cream cheese (affiliate link).
Bacon–you know that everything with bacon is better and this recipe is no exception to that rule. However, you can make it without bacon if you’re vegan (or use a vegan bacon alternative) (affiliate link).

here’s how easy it is to make these appetizers

Toast the bread. Brush or drizzle both sides of each baguette slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet (unlined for maximum crispness). Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes, flipping over half way through baking.
Make the spread. Whisk or stir together the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth. Add the bacon and chives and stir until well combined.
Assemble the crostini. Spread cream cheese mixture onto each toasted bread slice and top with half of a tomato slice. Garnish with chive sprigs and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.

spreading cream cheese mixture onto baguette toasted slice.

adding tomato slice and chive sprigs to top of tomato crostini.

common questions regarding crostini

Can I brush the bread with melted butter instead of olive oil?

Absolutely! Melted butter is a great alternative to olive oil.

Can I grill the bread or griddle it?

Yes, I’ve done both and both work great. Grilled bread imparts a wonderful smoky flavor that compliments the crostini.

How long will these crostini last?

The crostini will keep for 3-4 days, covered in the refrigerator. The bread may start to soften a bit, but they’ll still be delicious.

I don’t like chives. What can I use instead?

Chopped green scallions or even fresh basil would work perfectly!

several tomato crostini with bacon in a circle on live wood serving platter.

more appetizers to try

up close of crostini on live wood serving platter.

These Tomato Crostini can be whipped up in no time, so you can get ready for the party or big game and not spend hours in the kitchen.