40 Delicious Ways to Cook with Plump, Juicy Cherry Tomatoes
From summery salads to pasta and one-pot dinners, cherry tomatoes shine in these recipes.
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One of the things that we love most about cherry tomatoes is that—unlike other varieties—they're readily available year-round. They're as easy to find in grocery stores as they are at the farmers' market, and that's good news for anyone who can't get enough of their bright color, juiciness, or versatility. Best of all, there are so many different ways to enjoy cherry tomatoes in your own cooking, but if you're strapped for ideas, we're sharing 40 of our best and brightest recipes.
When choosing cherry tomatoes, look for packages of red, orange, or yellow (or a combination!) for fiery color in every bite. Choose ones that are unbruised and have no visible wrinkles or squished spots; these are all signs that they are past their peak. They're at their best when stored at room temperature; when refrigerated, they start to lose their flavor and some texture.
Cherry tomatoes are a favorite ingredient in Mediterranean cooking—tomatoes paired with basil, mozzarella, and extra-virgin olive oil are always a winning combination. We took that to the next level by roasting them in a one-skillet appetizer recipe, swirled and twirled them with pasta of every shape and size, and even served them over breaded chicken. Toss them with ingredients such as feta cheese, anchovies, capers, and roasted red peppers for authentic seaside flavor.
While tomatoes really shine in summer, cherry tomatoes can be used in comforting winter recipes, too, such as a one-pan roast chicken dinner or spicy steamed mussels. Next time you pick up a pint or two of cherry tomatoes, turn to these recipes that make use of these petite tomatoes.
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Vegetarian Enchiladas Suizas
How colorful is this family-friendly dinner recipe? Warm, crispy tortillas are topped with sautéed poblano peppers, zucchini, green salsa, and bright red cherry tomatoes for a meal that will truly let you taste the rainbow.
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Green Beans with Tomatoes and Crispy Breadcrumbs
Make use of summer produce while it's at its peak with this seasonal spread of lightly boiled green and wax beans topped with breadcrumbs and sautéed cherry tomatoes. It's just the thing to accompany grilled fish or meat.
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Spaghetti with Tomato Sauté
Skip the jarred sauce in favor of juicy mixed cherry tomatoes—three pints, in fact! They're sautéed with garlic and olive oil until they just burst at the seams, then tossed with cooked spaghetti and creamy ricotta cheese.
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Ravioli with Roasted Eggplant, Tomatoes, and Capers
Upgrade cheese-filled ravioli with seasonal summer vegetables including roasted eggplant and cherry tomatoes, plus salty capers and plenty of Parmigiano-Reggiano.
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Grilled Skirt-Steak Salad
This is no ordinary steak salad. We're serving juicy grilled skirt steak with charred corn cut from the cob, chopped bell peppers (we love using bright yellow or orange-colored peppers), halved cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese.
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Drunken Mussels with Chorizo and White Beans
Take steamed mussels to the next level with spicy chorizo and hearty white beans for a super cozy dinner anytime of the year. Cherry tomatoes simmer with cannellini beans, white wine, sliced chorizo, and garlic just before the mussels are added.
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Chicken Paillard with Caprese Panzanella
Turn a simple caprese salad into a stellar supper with this recipe that uses a combination of heirloom and cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and mozzarella.
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Chicken-Salad Club Roll
Chicken salad is never bland, never boring when tossed with sliced scallions and fresh tarragon. Tuck it into a hot dog bun with crispy bacon, sliced avocado, Little Gem lettuce, and sliced cherry tomatoes.
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Tricolor-Salad Pizza
There's no sauce on this pizza—instead, we topped the dough with halved cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, sliced fennel, radicchio, and baby arugula for a fresh, crisp bite.
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Skillet Cod with Bulgur, Zucchini, and Tomatoes
This satisfying one-skillet supper starts by sautéing zucchini, shallots, bulgur, and cherry tomatoes together until the grains are cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Nestle the fillets of fish in the mixture and cook until firm.
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Easy Chicken Thighs with Cherry Tomatoes and Pernod
Bright red cherry tomatoes and vibrant green basil bring so much color to this one-pan chicken dinner. It's an elegant all-star dish to prepare for your family and friends.
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Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella, and Chickpeas
Try this inspired take on pasta salad: Our recipe is packed with protein-rich chickpeas, chopped fennel, capers, two kinds of cheese (mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano), and an entire pint of cherry tomatoes.
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Succotash Pasta
There are no lima beans in this twist on the favorite vegetable side. Instead, we're using zucchini and adding basil, jalapeño peppers, and halved cherry tomatoes for a pasta that tastes like summer.
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Roasted Tomatoes and Cheese with Thyme
Get ready to wow with this appetizer. Just combine extra-virgin olive oil with cocktail and cherry tomatoes and thyme sprigs and broil until the tomatoes burst. Add double- or triple-cheese to the skillet until it's warmed all the way through.
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Oil-Poached Halibut with Fennel, Tomatoes, and Mashed Potatoes
A fish as special as halibut deserves an equally special preparation, which is why we've poached it in olive oil along with fennel, cherry tomatoes, and mixed olives for a stunning Mediterranean meal.
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Tomatoes with Lightly Whipped Cream
Take a Caprese salad to the next level in just three easy steps—arrange an assortment of cherry and heirloom tomatoes on a platter, dollop freshly whipped cream on top, then sprinkle with basil leaves, flaky salt, and cracked pepper.
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Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and Freekeh
Looking for a one-pan dinner that's just a little different? Chicken legs are braised in a skillet along with cracked freekeh, garlic, cherry tomatoes, and pitted green olives for a meal that's both delicious and easy.
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Tomato-Jam Pinwheels
Here's an inspired way to make use of cherry tomatoes. Create a filling with the juicy red fruit, brown sugar, and vinegar. Then, spread it over puff-pastry and form into individual pinwheels.
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Pasta Peperonata with Tuna and Olives
Take a trip to coastal Italy with this colorful, super flavorful pasta recipe. It lets plump cherry tomatoes share the stage with basil, golden raisins, Kalamata olives, and tuna packed in oil.
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Roasted Chicken with Kale and Tomato Panzanella
Three cheers for this sheet pan supper that pairs fatty chicken thighs and drumsticks with hearty Lacinato kale, cherry tomatoes, rustic bread, and lots of grated Parmesan.
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Pasta with No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce
This quick pasta recipe with cherry tomatoes has all the makings of a classic puttanesca sauce—green olives, capers, and garlic—and takes just 20 minutes to prepare.
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Blistered Green-Bean and Corn Frittata
This light and bright frittata is just right for brunch! It gets a seasonal spin from fresh corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, and green beans. It's sure to start your day off on the right foot.
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Rice Salad with Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Feta
Everything you love about Mediterranean cooking—vibrant tomatoes, tangy feta, healthy grains, and lots and lots of fresh herbs—can be found in this rice bowl, which you can serve as a main course for lunch or a side dish at dinner.
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Campanelle with Pistachio-Mint Pesto, Asparagus, and Cherry Tomatoes
Looking for a pasta recipe that celebrates summer? This seasonal recipe is packed with fresh, flavorful ingredients (including a unique spin on pesto and cherry tomatoes) and should certainly do the trick.
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Greek Layer Dip
Everything you love about a classic Greek salad can be found in this dip. Start with a layer of creamy Greek yogurt, cannellini beans, lemon juice, and garlic, which have been whirred together in advance, then top with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, feta, and fresh herbs.
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Lima-Bean Salad with Roasted Poblanos and Queso Fresco
Cherry tomatoes shine in this Tex-Mex-inspired summer salad recipe, which is loaded with seasonal vegetables, spicy chile peppers, cilantro, and crumbled fresh cheese.
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Spanish Cod with Chorizo and Fennel
When weeknights get busy, turn to this extra-special seafood dinner recipe featuring cherry tomatoes—it only takes 40 minutes to go from pantry to plate, but the result is simply spectacular.
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Golden Dal with Gingered Tomatoes
Cozy up with this vegan lentil stew that starts with red lentils and ground turmeric. The extra-special topping is cherry tomatoes, which are sautéed with shallots, fresh ginger, and cumin seeds for added warmth.
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Baked Rigatoni with Sausage
On a cold night, there's nothing like digging into this hearty rigatoni that's made with everything but the kitchen sink—aka butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, hot Italian sausage, shallots, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese.
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No-Knead Tomato Focaccia
If you're intimidated by the idea of making your own bread, give this no-knead recipe a try. The focaccia is studded with multi-colored cherry tomatoes and seasoned with garlic and red pepper flakes before it's baked on a sheet pan.
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Roasted Ratatouille and Eggs
One of our favorite vegetable hybrids, this one-pot dinner (or brunch) is a mix of the favorite French vegetable stew and shakshuka! Cherry tomatoes, Japanese eggplants, roasted red peppers, and capers are roasted rather than cooked on the stovetop, and the eggs are added once the vegetables are soft and saucy.
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Tomato Salad with Chile Yogurt
A combination of cherry, heirloom, and beefsteak tomatoes serve as the star of this simple salad, which is topped with Greek yogurt that gets added heat from grated fresh ginger and thinly sliced serrano chile peppers.
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Cherry Tomato, Corn, and Halloumi Salad
Whether you serve this Greek-inspired dish as an appetizer or side salad, it won't be long before the plate is completely empty. The combination of corn kernels, halved cherry tomatoes, baby arugula, and super creamy halloumi cheese is simply irresistible.
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Bucatini with Roasted and Fresh Tomatoes
Cherry and on-the-vine tomatoes are used in two different ways in this pasta recipe—half are reserved for roasting, while the other half are not cooked but are mixed with classic toppings like Pecorino Romano, fresh basil, and fresh mint.
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Escarole, Beet, and Cherry-Tomato Salad
Cherry tomatoes are the juicy, bright contrast to funky blue cheese, earthy beets, fresh dill, and hearty escarole in this spirited salad.
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Fish Taco Bowl with Lime Crema
Keep things simple by building bowls instead of individual tacos using short-grain brown rice, black beans, cherry tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and plenty of freshly squeezed lime juice.
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Chicken-Mozzarella Melts with Cherry Tomatoes
One-pot dinner? Check. Under one hour? Check. Colorful and delicious? Check and check. And a supreme use of cherry tomatoes? Check.
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Pressure-Cooker Corn Risotto
Risotto is a classic comfort food. Here, we developed a seasonal version that's perfect for summer, complete with fresh corn on the cob and juicy cherry tomatoes. Bonus: It's made in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot for easy prep!
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Tuna Cakes with Arugula-Tomato Salad
For a quick, healthy dinner turn to these easy fish cakes made with canned tuna, pickles, and panko. They're served alongside a simple salad of arugula and cherry tomatoes.
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Martha's Spaghetti alle Vongole
Our founder's version of the classic linguine with white wine sauce and clams is complete with eight ounces of cherry tomatoes, which are sautéed with garlic and extra-virgin olive oil.