Cherry tomatoes are healthy, juicy, versatile, and easy to cook, and with these 30 cherry tomato recipes, you won’t run out of ideas.
Take your pick from these salads, pasta, pan–fried meals, stuffed veggies, and appetizer ideas.
There are endless ways to cook and eat cherry tomatoes. For example, have you ever tried sweet and tender confit tomatoes, juicy sautèed tomatoes, marinated or purèed? Now is your chance.
Technically a fruit, but nutritionally cherry tomatoes are considered a vegetable.
The best season for enjoying cherry tomatoes is summer and autumn, when they are at their sweetest and juiciest.
With the seasonality details established, let’s dig into these 30 easy and healthy cherry tomato recipes.
No cooking needed
Whether it is hot temperatures outside or running out of time, these quick recipes can help.
Cherry tomatoes are tasty when fresh and added to bread and salads. Here are our best no–cooking cherry tomato recipes.
1. Tomato salad
We start this list with one of the easiest ways to prepare and eat cherry tomatoes: tomato basil salad.
Heirloom tomatoes and yellow and black pear cherry tomatoes make a beautiful red summer salad.
2. Chickpea salad
Cherry tomatoes are a great pairing with legumes and pulses.
Next on our list is a 15-minute chickpea salad. It’s a reader favorite with creamy dressing, crunchy cucumber, and juicy cherry tomato.
3. Italian Panzanella
Reduce food waste and use your stale bread leftovers with our Italian bread salad.
San Marzano tomatoes and sunchocola cherry tomatoes give this salad a sweet and juicy bite.
4. Greek salad
Super sweet cherry tomatoes pair well with salty feta and plant-based feta.
Add cucumber, oregano dressing, and red onions; your new favorite summer lunch is ready.
5. Bruschetta
Tomato bruschetta is probably our favorite appetizer.
Fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, garlic, toasted bread, and olive oil are a winning combination.
6. Quick side salad
Every time we eat pasta, soup, and pizza, we make this 5–minute side salad with fresh greens.
It’s a great way to use up (and jazz up) leftover cherry tomatoes.
7. Avocado salad
Add healthy fats and plant–based protein to your salad with avocado, crispy chickpeas, and black olives.
The acidity of the cherry tomatoes complements the creamy avocado perfectly.
8. Zucchini salad
A salad to impress and great for barbecue nights, putlocks, and cookouts.
Zucchini ribbons, lemon marinade, fresh mint, and cherry tomatoes make a beautiful and wholesome raw salad.
9. Cucumber tomato salad
One of our most popular salads is this cucumber cherry tomato salad with fresh herbs.
Pair this salad with any meal for a refreshing and vitamin–packed side dish.
10. Artichoke salad platter
No cooking is required with this spring salad.
Mix and style arugula, cherry tomatoes, jarred artichokes, olives, and Italian dressing for a healthy appetizer and side dish.
20-minute cherry tomato meals
Have you got 20 minutes? Then we have easy and delicious weeknight dinner ideas for you. All of them are served with wholesome plant–based protein and packed with flavor.
11. Mushroom pasta
Garlic–infused cherry tomatoes and sautèed mushrooms are an excellent pairing with al dente pasta.
Try this plant-based pasta for a family–friendly and healthy dinner.
12. Tofu salad
Fried tofu, tahini sauce, and fresh veggies are a colorful and nutrient–dense mix.
This tofu salad is a great way to use leftover cherry tomatoes and cucumber in a delicious manner.
13. Spaghetti Pomodoro
This 20-minute Italian spaghetti is a favorite among kids and picky adults.
Pan-fry cherry tomatoes with garlic and simmer with canned tomatoes for a well–rounded flavor.
14. Chickpea pasta salad
Meal planning just got a little easier with this chickpea pasta salad.
Use fresh veggies, mustard dressing, chickpeas, and al dente pasta for a whole–food lunchbox idea.
15. Sautèed eggplant
Cherry tomato and eggplant are a match made in heaven.
Add garlic and fresh basil; you’ll have a perfect pasta sauce and bruschetta topping.
16. Quinoa chickpea salad
Our chickpea quinoa salad is an easy and tasty meal that you can make in about 20 minutes with fresh veggies, chickpeas, and grains.
We often make a big batch, and it feeds us for days – breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
17. Spaghetti salad
Pasta and cherry tomatoes work very well together, whether served as a cold or warm meal.
Try this fresh spaghetti salad with black olives, lemon, and herbs for a different type of pasta salad.
18. Green bean salad
The mustard dressing in this green bean salad is a winner; it’s a great side dish for summer and autumn.
Vegans can easily replace feta with toasted pine nuts, which makes it suitable for all eaters.
19. Cherry tomato pasta
The recipe showcases the creativity and simplicity of Italian food.
The ingredients are easy to find: pasta, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, basil, and parmesan cheese.
20. Cauliflower tahini bowl
This is our favorite way of making a salad with cauliflower.
You will enjoy a creamy, tasty, tahini–covered, vitamin-rich bowl of veggies with red cherry tomatoes for a juicy and sweet addition.
21. Pesto pasta salad
To make this pesto pasta salad, you can use storebought or homemade basil pesto. We show you how to make the classic Italian one and then give you a non-dairy alternative.
30+ minute cherry tomato recipes
Whether you are looking for your next Sunday dinner, special meal, or pasta night inspiration, these 30+ minute recipes can help.
We use a mix of tasty toppings and sauces, healthy protein, and fresh herbs to make these meals extra flavorful.
22. Baked and steamed tofu
You’ve never had tofu like this before.
Topped with cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and lemon, these tofu servings are a Mediterranean and protein–rich dinner idea.
23. Eggplant pizza
Calorie–light and rich in flavor and fiber, this eggplant pizza is great party food.
Make this healthy “pizza” with a topping of diced cherry tomatoes marinated in olive oil, basil, and garlic.
24. Tomato confit
Cherry tomatoes are particularly suitable to be made confit.
Roast them slowly, at a low temperature, and it will boost their flavor while making them incredibly juicy and tender.
25. Lentil pasta
Lentil pasta, or pasta with lentils, is a traditional Italian recipe that has been around for hundreds of years.
It’s a creamy and naturally plant–based recipe with cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs; a must-try for any tomato lover.
26. Stuffed eggplant
Try these stuffed eggplants with avocado spread, crunchy chickpeas, and fresh cherry tomatoes.
It’s a vegan and vegetarian–friendly dinner idea for the whole family.
27. Focaccia bread
Try something new and delicious, and make this rustic focaccia topped with cherry tomatoes, sage, onion, and salt.
Cherry tomatoes, releasing their liquid during cooking, create that “gooey” texture which, in a crunchy crust, is perfect.
28. Eggplant soup
Another delicious combination of cherry tomatoes and eggplant; charred eggplant soup.
We roast eggplant, and cherry tomatoes in the oven for a sweet, caramelized, and smoky flavor.
29. Tomato risotto
This tomato risotto is creamy and irresistible.
Make it with canned or bottled tomato puree or with fresh cherry tomatoes for a rustic Italian flavor.
30. Farro salad
For this healthy serving of grains, we use bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, corn, black olives, and red onion.
Mix with chickpeas and drizzle with a mustard dressing for a lunchbox–friendly meal.
White bean pasta salad
This Italian pasta salad is a light and crunchy bowtie pasta bowl.
We like cherry tomatoes as they add sweetness and crunch, and they’re a great pairing with white beans.
What to serve with cherry tomatoes
- 35 Vegan chickpea recipes (lunch and dinner ideas, meal planning inspiration, etc.)
- Best eggplant recipes (roasted, stuffed, blended, fried, etc.)
- 20 easy zucchini ideas (grilled, air-fried, salad, soups, and grain bowls).
- 25 Amazing avocado recipes (spreads, starters, sandwich ideas, and salads).
How to store cherry tomato recipes
Fresh cherry tomato
Make ahead: for best results, fresh raw cherry tomato recipes should be made 1.5 hours before serving time, then stored in the fridge in the vegetable zone for about 45 minutes to let the flavors come together, and then let out at room temperature for another 30 to 45 minutes before serving.
Refrigerator: we recommend storing salads and grain bowls in the refrigerator in the refrigerator in the refrigerator in the refrigerator in the refrigerator in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours. Once out of the fridge, leave it at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
Cooked cherry tomato
Make ahead: you can make pasta, soup, and sautèed recipes ahead and use them for meal prep as they keep well in the fridge.
Refrigerator: store cooked cherry tomato recipes in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Heat in a pan or microwave.
It’s essential that you refer to each recipe for exact storage guidance.
For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.
30 Easy Cherry Tomato Recipes
Ingredients
- 20 ounces cherry tomatoes or other small tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cloves garlic (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano or thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300°F or 150°C. Prep your baking tray; you can use any as long as it fits all the tomatoes without overlapping. We use a quarter sheet pan.Rinse the tomatoes, cut them in half, and arrange them on a single layer without overlapping and facing up.
- To a small bowl, add grated garlic, salt, dried oregano, sugar, and extra virgin olive oil.With a teaspoon, top each tomato with the mixture.Each tomato must get a bit of everything to make every bite as delicious as the next.
- Slow roast in the oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes at 300°F or 150°C.
- They should be completely soft and juicy.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you liked these cherry tomato recipes, you might also enjoy:
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”6YnqfXds” upload-date=”2023-03-11T08:13:05.000Z” name=”Tomato Confit.mp4″ description=”Tomato confit is slow-roasted tomatoes in the oven with olive oil, garlic, a pinch of sugar, and dried or fresh herbs.
” player-type=”default” override-embed=”default”]
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.
Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.
Easy right?