When summer gardens finally offer up their fresh, ripe, glorious tomatoes, we simply can’t get enough. For breakfast, we’ll devour them drizzled with a little olive oil alongside scrambled eggs. Lunch means towering BLT’s, of course—and at snack time, you can’t beat a perfectly ripe tomato sliced into thick wedges and sprinkled with a little sea salt. Looking for delicious fresh tomato recipes for dinner and beyond? You’ve come to the right place. Here are some of our must-have recipes when tomatoes are at their peak.
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Tomato Mozzarella Salad
“Tomato and basil are a classic combination and when paired with fresh mozzarella you have something so simple and so delicious you could make a meal out of this all by itself!” says recipe creator Jillian. “The addition of good quality balsamic vinegar gives it that little added ‘pizzaz’ perfect served with Italian bread and a nice wine!”
Disney’s Ratatouille
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
This classic French recipe is a fantastic use of fresh summer vegetables. Recipe creator Juli Warfel Bitler recommends serving over a bed of brown rice, couscous, pasta or other starch, or with crusty bread.
Garden Fresh Tomato Soup
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
This simple soup is the one to make when tomatoes are super-ripe in summer gardens and farmers markets. “A quick and easy recipe for real homemade tomato soup like no other you’ve had before,” says Charlotte.
Spaghetti Sauce With Fresh Tomatoes
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This was bursting with flavor,” raves Charlene Slaybaugh. “I used it on meatball subs. The chunky sauce was perfect. The only change I made was using jarred minced garlic instead of garlic powder. Saved to favorites. Will definitely use again.”
Cherry Tomato and Cheese Galette
Chef John
“I have made this several times now,” says Tony Reynolds. “The first effort had great taste but suffered in appearance due to my crust manipulating skills. Since then it is bang on with great flavor and practiced presentation. I now have basil from my garden for a boost of freshness!”
Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce
AllRecipes / Diana Chistruga
“I’ve made the sauce twice in the last week to keep up with a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes,” says Beverly Siek. “The flavors really do blend well, and it takes very little effort to make it.”
Pork Chops with Fresh Tomato, Onion, Garlic, and Feta
France C
“You will not be disappointed with this wonderful pork chop,” says recipe creator Lovecooking, who recommends serving with garlic mashed potatoes. “It is tender, moist, and full of fresh flavors.”
Roasted Tomatoes and Burrata Caprese Salad
Allrecipes
“Delicious!! I love burrata. It is one of my favorite cheeses with it’s creamy center and firm exterior. I have been making this for years,” says Allstar tcasa. “The roasted tomatoes added a nice flavor. Drizzled with a really nice balsamic and fresh herbs you really cannot go wrong.”
Watermelon and Tomato Feta Salad
Dianne
This recipe calls for the best of summer produce — sweet watermelon and ripe tomatoes. The result? “A light and tangy combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavors,” says kimbaleelou.
Pan con Tomate
Ramona Cruz-Peters
“I had this dish in Spain and it has become a favorite,” says SmartYak3649. “There, the chefs would grate the tomato on a coarse cheese grater. That way it was still a bit chunky. Use good restic bread if possible and a good, authentic EVOO.”
Chef John’s Gazpacho
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This refreshing Spanish soup is the taste of high summer. The key to this gazpacho is to use “killer, end-of-summer, super-sweet tomatoes,” says Chef John. “There just isn’t any substitute, so happy hunting.” Serve cold in chilled bowls.
Tomato Chicken
AuntE
Fresh tomatoes combine with chicken thighs seasoned with turmeric, minced garlic, chili powder, and ginger. AuntE gives it 5 stars: “Enjoyed this easy recipe,” she says. “Will be great for end of summer tomato blowout.”
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Rosemary
Kim’s Cooking Now
“I loved this recipe,” says Plates4u. “The sweetness of the ripe heirloom tomatoes was so nicely mixed with the rosemary. It was so fast and so good.” Aimeej adds, “This is great as a cold salad, or for a different twist, grill straight on the BBQ for a warm but fresh side dish.”
Tomato Concassé
France C
It may sound fancy, but concassé is really just peeled, seeded, and finely chopped fresh tomatoes. Use it as a base for fresh salsas. Add it to sauces, stews, soups, and chili. It’s also the key to Chef John’s Steak Pizzaiola.
Caprese Salad with Grilled Flank Steak
Allrecipes
Diced fresh tomatoes mix it up with cubed mozzarella, fresh basil, butter lettuce, and marinated grilled steak. Finish it with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. “This is a fresh, healthy, easy-to-make salad,” says cookinmama.s
Tomato Pie
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“Tastes like a BLT sandwich, only better,” raves Donnak. It combines sliced fresh tomatoes, bacon, fresh basil, and Cheddar cheese baked in a deep-dish pie crust. “You will not regret this one. Use any favorite cheese for this recipe.”
Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad
Will Dickey / Food Styling: Margaret Dickey / Prop styling: Phoebe Hauser
Sliced cucumbers, onions, and tomato wedges are marinated in a simple homemade salad dressing. “This was superb,” says Angel. “The sugar really helps to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar. Favorite salad ever!”
The Best Fresh Tomato Salsa
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This fresh, delicious salsa combines chopped tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, bell peppers, and cilantro with a little lime juice and ground cumin. “Perfection,” raves TENNESSEE. “Simply put, I love salsa, and this is the best I’ve ever eaten. I made it with fresh tomatoes and peppers from our garden. A marvelous recipe for solving the puzzle of what to do with our excess tomatoes.”
Baked Tomato Slices
lutzflcat
Slices of tomato are seasoned with rosemary and garlic, brushed with olive oil, and baked. These delicious tomatoes make tasty pizza toppers or additions to pasta! “Awesome,” says MsDeb. “Yellow and red heirlooms fresh out of the garden plus homegrown garlic put this dish over the top.”
Stacked Tomato and Burrata Salad
Photo by Kim’s Cooking Now!.
This stacked salad features buttery burrata cheese spread between layers of heirloom tomato slices and beautiful fresh basil leaves with a healthy drizzle of good quality olive oil. That’s all there is to it! “It’s decadent and delicious. This is a beautiful presentation,” says AdvenChef.
Tomato Bacon Squares
lutzflcat
This quick-fix treat is like a BLT on storebought pizza crust. “Swiss cheese perfectly compliments the bacon, tomatoes, and bell peppers,” says April Phillips.
Vera Cruz Tomatoes
Photo by abapplez.
Ripe fresh tomatoes are stuffed with a creamy bacon, spinach, and cheese filling. “This is a recipe that can be used as an appetizer or main meal,” says ChefsyndiG. “And you can use any size tomatoes you want. Just make sure they are firm. If you use roma tomatoes you can get more servings with the stuffings.”
Jersey Fresh Tomato Soup
Molly
They know fresh tomatoes in the Garden State. Garden-fresh tomatoes simmer with carrots and onions in chicken broth. “This soup is wonderful,” says Deb C. “The garden freshness of the tomatoes shines through perfectly, the seasoning well balanced.”
Tomato and Bacon Jam
Photo by Christina.
This sweet and savory tomato and bacon spread is delicious on so many things. Try it on a grilled cheese sandwich or burgers, with scrambled eggs or pork chops. “Oh WOW this is fantastic!” raves Christina. “I halved the recipe using some beautiful ripe tomatoes from my dad’s garden. I’m now wishing that I made the whole recipe b/c I can’t stop eating it.”
Amish Tomato Pie
Buckwheat Queen
It’s summer’s perfect savory pie! Sliced fresh tomatoes combine with a rich filling of Fontina and Cheddar cheeses, bacon, leeks, mayonnaise, and a little Dijon. “A summertime savory pie. There is a lot of preparation for this pie, but it is well worth every minute,” says Buckwheat Queen. “I love this pie on on summer mountain evenings. Enjoy with cool ice tea.”
Byrdhouse Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
larkspur
Cook fresh cherry tomatoes in sizzling butter with basil and a little sugar until they just start to blister. “Great Recipe!” says abapplez. “A burst of flavor and color on the table. We loved these.”
Homemade Tomato Sauce
AllRecipes / Ana Cadena
Fresh tomatoes slowly cook with onion, green pepper, garlic, and red wine in this rich, flavorful sauce. “This recipe is fantastic and worth the extra work,” says gz1gz2. “After the initial cooking of the sauce we added a bit of cooked chicken and Italian sausage and served with bowtie pasta. Just wow is all we can say!”
Tomato, Basil, and Corn Salad with Apple Cider Dressing
“Five ingredients and five minutes is all you need to make this easy and nutritious summer salad!” says Pina. “If you have extra time, you can use 4 ears of fresh corn, cooked and shucked, instead of the frozen corn. You can vary the amount of basil, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar to your taste.”
Tomato Basil Salmon
CookinBug
Sprinkle salmon fillets with dried basil, top with tomato slices, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese. “Simple and delicious…can’t get any better than that!” says cookiemonster. “I chopped up some fresh basil from the garden for it. Served with a salad, this salmon made a light refreshing meal.” CHEDDAR97005 recommends serving it “with a side of sautéed spinach and a glass of pinot noir.”
Tarte aux Moutarde (French Tomato and Mustard Pie)
You need just six ingredients to make this dish from Lyon, France: a pastry crust, grainy brown mustard, ripe tomatoes, Swiss cheese, olive oil, and herbes de Provence.
Marinated Garden Tomatoes
lutzflcat
Here’s a basic, old-fashioned recipe that has stood the test of time. “It’s great on a hot day for a crisp side dish,” according to recipe creator Mrs_Mike.
Mama’s Best Broiled Tomato Sandwich
Christina
Try this gorgeous open-faced sandwich with summer soup or on its own for a light, flavorful meal.
Tomato and Ricotta Salata Bruschetta
Buckwheat Queen
This Italian restaurant-worthy recipe is the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for summertime get-togethers.
Fresh Corn and Tomato Casserole
abapplez
With just five ingredients (fresh tomatoes, fresh corn, bacon, butter, and salt), it couldn’t be easy to make this colorful summer side dish.
Roasted Tomato, Avocado, and Fresh Mozzarella Crostini
Allrecipes
“Roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and avocado are layered on toasted bread in this quick and easy crostini recipe everyone loves,” recipe creator Julie Hubert says of this light appetizer.
Grilled Shrimp with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Angel Hair Pasta
Grilled Shrimp with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Angel Hair Pasta | Photo by Bibi.
Everything except the pasta comes together quickly on the grill. Recipe creator Bibi suggests serving with a Caesar salad and hot garlic bread.
Watermelon Tomato Salsa
bd.weld
Watermelon adds refreshing flavor to this summertime tomato salad, while jalapeños bring welcome spice.
Sliced Tomatoes with Fresh Herb Dressing
Alberta Rose
You don’t need to fire up the oven for this no-cook summer side. Fresh tomatoes are flavored with thyme, oregano, parsley, chives, garlic, and topped with Parmesan.
Italian BLT
Update the classic fresh tomato BLT with Italian ingredients like ricotta and pesto.
More Inspiration
Allrecipes Magazine
Tomato and Garlic Pasta
This is probably one of my favorite recipes from this site! I have made it more times than I can count,” says calizen. “You really want to use quality ingredients for this. Use fresh, red, ripe tomatoes, as the flavor is just something you can’t get out of a can.”
Dining and Cooking