Four Delicious Dinner Ideas That Will Help You Make the Most of Summer Tomatoes

Who doesn't love ripe summer tomatoes? Vines are popping with the vibrant and versatile fruit right now, and you'll find them at roadside stands, farmers' markets, and possibly even in your own backyard. These bursts of sun enliven almost any meal, adding a pop of color and a touch of juicy sweetness to dinner. Here, in our four latest weeknight dinner recipes, we bake them in a cheesy tart, take a tomato-and-mozzarella salad into meaty main dish-salad territory, sauté them with sausage and toss them with gnocchi, and use them to amp up a simple repast of tuna and beans. Use these recipes as your starting point and be sure to add tomatoes to as many meals as possible while these favorite red fruits are at their peak.

Related: Savory Recipes to Make with Summer Peaches

Here's a hearty main dish salad that keeps cooking to a minimum. Turn the stove on once and simmer potatoes and then cook green beans in the same pan, the rest of this Tuna, Tomato, and White Bean Salad, pictured above, is heat-free.

Here's a family-friendly dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes, thanks to quick-cooking ingredients like fresh tomatoes, sausage, zucchini, and store-bought gnocchi. After cooking them in a skillet, stir in prepared pesto and fresh basil and Gnocchi with Sausage, Zucchini, and Tomato is ready to serve.

Much as we love the caprese salad, it doesn't scream entrée. The elemental pairing of tomatoes and mozzarella is a must-eat dish this time of year. When you add in grilled chicken breast halves and slices of grilled eggplant plus Kalamata olives—and switch the usual basil for parsley—then Grilled Chicken and Eggplant with Mozzarella and Tomatoes becomes a hearty dinner sure to satisfy even the hungriest of diners.

For an easy and elegant summer dinner, bake this cheesy tart that showcases juicy slices of heirloom tomatoes paired with flaky store-bought puff pastry, buttery brie, and briny capers. Simply pair with salad greens for a main course or cut smaller slices and serve as an appetizer.

Recipes by Sarah Carey