Peak-season tomatoes are one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Juicy and bursting with sweetness, they are technically fruits but often treated as vegetables. Most varieties reach their prime from June through early September when their flavor is at its peak. With a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors, there’s a perfect tomato for every dish, cuisine, and occasion with these fresh tomato recipes.
You’ll find a variety of tomatoes at the store for your fresh tomato recipes, each suited for different uses. Larger slicing tomatoes are perfect for adding to sandwiches or layering on a burger. Medium-sized, like on-the-vine, Campari, and Roma tomatoes (sometimes called plum tomatoes), have a meaty texture and low water content, making them great for slicing onto sandwiches, adding to salads, blending into soups or salsas, or cooking down into fresh tomato sauce. Smaller cherry and grape tomatoes add a burst of sweetness to salads, pastas, and roasted dishes.
When shopping for tomatoes, choose some that feel heavy for their size with smooth skin and an earthy aroma. While you want some give when lightly squeezed, avoid the ones that are overly soft or have wrinkled, damaged skin. Once you find the perfect ripe tomatoes, store them at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Once refrigerated, the texture of the tomato tends to get grainy, and they lose their natural sweetness.
Handled with care, the best tomatoes reward you with incredible flavor in every bite, making them a must-have in your kitchen all season long. Explore our favorite ways to incorporate this versatile ingredient into our summer cooking with these fresh tomato recipes.
Beef and Rice-Stuffed Tomatoes
Move over, zucchini boats! Scooped-out tomatoes are another delicious edible vessel, creating a hearty summer dinner that tastes as good as it looks. Cooking the tomato pulp with the beef gives the dish extra tomato-y goodness and helps you cut down on food waste.
Get the recipe: Beef and Rice-Stuffed Tomatoes
Tomato Cornbread Cobbler
This savory cobbler consists of garlicky cherry tomatoes topped with a cheesy cornbread batter. Whether you and your family enjoy it for dinner or save it for guests, you can serve it straight from the skillet for a stress-free, mess-free meal.
Get the recipe: Tomato Cornbread Cobbler
Spicy Tomato and Watermelon Salad
A classic Caprese will never go out of style, but this vibrant summer salad is a fun way to switch things up. The acidity of the tomatoes counteracts the sweetness of the watermelon, creating a perfectly balanced pair packed with warmly spiced flavor.
Get the recipe: Spicy Tomato and Watermelon Salad
Grilled Shrimp with Tomatoes and Pesto
Tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of olive oil can be the perfect summer meal on their own, but we couldn’t resist giving you more reasons to enjoy that juicy fruit. With the addition of herbaceous pesto and shrimp, you have a super-fast supper that will be on repeat all season long.
Get the recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Tomatoes and Pesto
Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Tomatoes
If you’re headed to a potluck, look no further than this pasta salad. It’s easy, it’s crowd-pleasing, and it gets even better as it sits. Shaving the zucchini into ribbons gives it an extra-impressive appearance, and using multi-colored tomatoes will make the whole thing pop.
Get the recipe: Orzo Salad with Zucchini and Tomatoes
The Perfect Tomato Sandwich
A perfectly ripe tomato doesn’t need much to make it shine, and this four-ingredient sandwich proves it. Enjoy it as a snack or for a quick dinner al fresco, complete with potato chips or a scoop of creamy coleslaw. Just don’t skip the step of salting the tomatoes, which draws out moisture and keeps the bread from getting soggy. It’s one of our favorite fresh tomato recipes!
Get the recipe: The Perfect Tomato Sandwich
Tomato and Corn Salad
The only summer produce that can rival peak-season tomatoes? Sweet summer corn cut straight from the cob. Here, the two join forces in an impossibly simple salad, which would be right at home alongside grilled chicken or steak.
Get the recipe: Tomato and Corn Salad
Bowtie Pasta with No-Cook Tomato Sauce
Instead of simmering on the stovetop, this extra-easy sauce comes together in the food processor. Simply pulse ripe tomatoes with pecorino and basil, then drizzle in olive oil until it reaches your desired consistency. It will warm right up when tossed with hot pasta.
Get the recipe: Bowtie Pasta with No-Cook Tomato Sauce
Grilled Beef and Tomato Skewers
Is a skewer even for summer without juicy tomatoes? Look no further than this tomato skewer with the addition of cubes of French bread and beef, for a clash of textures that is sure to delight any guest. It also makes them more filling, eliminating the need for extra sides.
Get the recipe: Grilled Beef and Tomato Skewers
Marinated Tomato Salad
If you want to use a variety of tomatoes at the market, grab them all and assemble this stunning salad. Keep it vegan by preparing it as is, or crumble on some feta for a burst of tangy flavor.
Get the recipe: Marinated Tomato Salad
Spanish Tomato Toasts
Transport yourself to Spain with this five-ingredient recipe, which is best enjoyed in the sunshine as an appetizer or snack. The trick to pulling it off is grating the tomatoes, which gives them a uniform texture that makes it easy to spread on the bread.
Get the recipe: Spanish Tomato Toasts
Spaghetti with Easy Fresh Tomato Sauce
Juicy summer tomatoes take center stage in this no-cook pasta dish, creating a light and flavorful sauce that comes together in minutes. Tossed with tender spaghetti and finished with fresh basil and a sprinkle of Parmesan, it’s a simple meal that will be loved by the whole family.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Easy Fresh Tomato Sauce
Chicken Caprese Wraps
Give leftover rotisserie chicken a new life with these vibrant caprese wraps. Creamy mozzarella, juicy summer tomatoes, and hearty spinach are tucked into a soft tortilla, then drizzled with balsamic glaze for the perfect balance of rich and refreshing flavors. Light yet satisfying, it’s a delicious way to enjoy the classic caprese combination.
Get the recipe: Chicken Caprese Wraps
Shrimp Scampi with Tomatoes and Spinach
Juicy shrimp is sautéed with garlic and a splash of chicken broth and paired with sweet tomatoes, tender spinach, and al dente pasta in this showstopping dish. Using frozen shrimp and pantry staples, this dish is a quick way to get dinner on the table with delicious, restaurant-worthy flavor.
Get the recipe: Shrimp Scampi with Tomatoes and Spinach
Whipped Cottage Cheese with Corn and Tomatoes
This colorful dip is the perfect appetizer or snack for the summertime. Freshly shucked corn kernels join forces with sweet summer tomatoes and seasonal herbs to create a mouthwatering veggie medley. Served over cool, creamy whipped cottage cheese, it’s the perfect companion for crackers or chips.
Get the recipe: Whipped Cottage Cheese with Corn and Tomatoes
Pork Tenderloin with Honey Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Tender, juicy pork pairs with sweet, caramelized cherry tomatoes in this effortlessly delicious dish. A simple honey glaze enhances the natural flavors of the meat and produce, striking the perfect balance of savory and sweet. Serve it alongside polenta, mashed potatoes, or brown rice for a well-rounded meal.
Get the recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Honey Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Fourth of July Caprese Salad
Celebrate the Fourth of July with this patriotic take on a classic Caprese salad. With the help of a star-shaped silicon mold, you can make eye-catching shaped cheese bites to add on top of a medley of seasonal tomatoes, basil, and pesto. As beautiful as it is delicious, this dish brings both flavor and flair to your holiday table.
Get the recipe: Fourth of July Caprese Salad
