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These cherry tomato recipes highlight the best this sweet, juicy tomato has to offer! Try it in pasta, pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more.
The burst of a bite into a cherry tomato is one of life’s great thrills. There’s so much that this small and mighty vegetable (er…fruit!) has to offer! Cherry tomatoes are most abundant in the summer, when they’re bursting out of farmers markets and gardens. But these days hydroponic tomatoes, those grown in water in a greenhouse, offer beautifully sweet flavor all year long.
Here are all the best mouthwatering cherry tomato recipes to make with these magnificent orbs! There’s pasta that will make your heart melt, or mac and cheese that tastes like a symphony. Whatever you choose, make sure you have the highest quality, ripest cherry tomatoes before you start: it will make all the difference.
And now…our top cherry tomato recipes!
First up in our cherry tomato recipes: cherry tomato pasta! It's a meal that's simple, stunning, and highlights the best these fresh ingredients have to offer. This easy dinner stars blistered tomatoes, a technique of cooking tomatoes in a hot pan until the skin blisters and blackens. Add tangy balsamic vinegar and peppery fresh basil, and you’ll be amazed at the amount of flavor you can achieve in just 20 minutes!
Turn tomatoes into gold with our tomato confit recipe, which tastes like a burst of summer sunshine! Slow roasting cherry tomatoes in olive oil turns them rich and concentrated, with a jammy, melt-in-your-mouth texture and sweet caramelized flavor.
This easy recipe is visually stunning and irresistibly tasty, spearing all the components of a Caprese salad onto a skewer. There’s nothing better than basil and tomatoes in summer, and combined with seasoned mozzarella and a balsamic glaze: you won’t be able to eat just one!
Another great cherry tomato recipe? Pizza! This recipe is a classic pizza with a twist: artichoke and these small sweet tomatoes, scattered with cheese over a thin crust pizza dough. It’s so, so delicious and it tastes just as good as these pictures make it look. Maybe better.
How about a little mac and cheese with...roasted tomatoes? This cherry tomato recipe is a true gem. Several friends helped to taste test and gave it 5 stars! The sharpness of the white cheddar cheese brings a sophistication, and the contrast of the bright roasted tomatoes is an unexpected flair.
This cherry tomato recipe takes just 5 minutes and elevates them to a decadent, sweet and savory treat. Cooking tomatoes in a blazing hot skillet chars the outsides and make the interior juicy and tender. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar at the end adds a sweet tart tang. You can use these blistered tomatoes in so many ways: as an appetizer, in a simple pasta, or over grilled fish for a stunning summer dinner.
Ready for one of the best taste treats on the planet? Burrata and cherry tomatoes. Burrata is a revelation: gooey, fresh mozzarella that’s hiding a secret: an even gooier, creamier interior. Here’s the best way to serve it: with cherry tomatoes, herbs, olive oil, and sea salt. The Italians are all about the perfection of simplicity: so it’s only fitting that they’re the ones behind this rockstar cheese.
Want a secret for making tomatoes taste incredible in minutes? Try Marinated Tomatoes! The flavor that’s infused is unreal: zingy, garlicky, sweet and salty, with a hint of heat on the finish. These are pure gold: use them as an appetizer for crostini, serve as a salad, spoon over chicken or fish, or eat over toast for a simple lunch!
Cherry tomatoes are perfect in main dish salads like this falafel salad. Make a batch of this easy baked falafel, then layer them with crunchy veggies, taomtoes, and top with a creamy, zingy tahini dressing. Or, use purchased frozen falafel or even repurpose take-out leftovers!
Tomato basil salad might be basic, but it’s the best kind of basic. The marriage of juicy, bright tomatoes and herby basil is one of life’s greatest pairings. This combo never gets old. This salad is an easy way to enjoy it: simply marinade the two with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to bring out their inner beauty. Top with chunky sea salt and it’s a salad that works at any meal: lunch, dinner, brunch…or a snack in between.
This hearty farro bowl recipe is packed with Mediterranean flavors! Juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, briny olives, and a creamy dressing make a satisfying grain bowl that’s the perfect meal for summer or any season.
Here’s a great salad that’s simply perfection, in our books. Meet this Italian salad! It’s full of all the right flavors and textures: crisp lettuce, crunchy garlic croutons, and zingy pepperoncini. It’s covered in punchy, herby Italian vinaigrette that makes the flavors sing! And shaved Parmesan seals the deal.
Also try: Favorite Chopped Salad
Here’s a cherry tomato recipe that’s full of big Italian flavors: antipasto salad! This combo between a pasta salad and Italian antipasti is loaded with zingy flavor: briny olives and crunchy vegetables, contrasted with bright cherry tomatoes and chewy pasta.
This grilled chicken salad recipe combines juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables and a tangy Italian vinaigrette, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. Substitute grilled tofu for vegetarian and vegan!
This grilled cheese with cherry tomatoes & basil isn’t just any old grilled cheese. Roast the cherry tomatoes until they’re starting to burst, then take them out of the oven and mash them to extract the juice. Mix that with a bit of mayo for a killer sauce. It becomes a sort of roasted tomato mayonnaise and totally makes the sandwich!
Last up in our cherry tomato recipes: this Mexican style green salad! It's a chopped salad with Latin-style flavors: colorful veggies, cherry tomatoes, cilantro lime salad dressing, and tortilla strips. It's a super-flavorful dish that's perfect for serving with tacos or enchiladas, or top with shrimp for a filling main dish salad.
Cherry tomatoes vs grape tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes vs grape tomatoes: what’s the difference? Cherry tomatoes are shaped like a cherry: they’re perfectly round and have a sweet flavor. Grape tomatoes are oblong shaped with thicker skin, and not nearly as sweet as the cherry tomato. The two look very similar, so it’s easy to mistake these two tomato varieties.
You can use grape tomatoes for cherry tomatoes in most of the cherry tomato recipes above. Their flavor differences are very subtle. But in all honesty: we like cherry tomatoes much better because of their sweet flavor. So we recommend finding cherry tomatoes if at all possible.
Want more with tomatoes? Try 15 Juicy Fresh Tomato Recipes.
Frequently asked questions
Cherry tomatoes are incredibly versatile and can be used in various dishes. They can be roasted, grilled, blistered, or even eaten raw in salads. Some easy recipe ideas include adding them to pasta dishes, pizzas, or skewers, or simply halving and tossing them with olive oil, salt, and pepper for a quick and flavorful side dish.
Thank you, I didn’t know what to do with all my cherry toms. This is very good, easy to follow, and everyone had seconds. I’ll have to make it again when I pick my next batch of cherry toms.
Oh my, this was soooo good! I had a lot of cherry tomatoes in my garden and just couldn’t keep up with eating them. I found this recipe and it used almost all I had (for today!). I also had 1/2 of a zucchini to use up so sauteed that before I added the tomatoes. It was so good. I could have eaten the whole pan. This is definitely a keeper and I will make it again! Thank you for sharing.