Tomatoes piling up on the counter? Don’t let them go to waste when there are so many easy ways to turn them into something tasty and fresh. Whether you’ve got big juicy ones or sweet cherry tomatoes, there’s a simple recipe here that can help you use them up fast. These 23 ideas are perfect for warm days, easy dinners, and anything in between.
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes mix with crunchy pita chips to make a bowl that’s full of texture and flavor. A quick splash of lemon and oil adds just enough tang without slowing anything down. Use this easy tomato recipe when you need something fresh, fast, and simple to throw together.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
Avocado Tomato Salad
Creamy avocado and ripe tomatoes come together in a bowl that’s colorful, smooth, and full of fresh flavor. It takes only a few minutes to toss everything with a light dressing that keeps it bright. Make the most of your tomatoes with this quick recipe that works for lunch or a side.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tomato Salad
Hearts of Palm Salad
Chopped tomatoes pair with soft hearts of palm and crisp cucumbers in a salad that stays light but still fills the plate. It holds up well in the fridge, even if made ahead, and doesn’t need much dressing to shine. Try this fast tomato recipe when you want something easy and different from the usual.
Get the Recipe: Hearts of Palm Salad
Chunky Guacamole
Roasted tomatoes mix into mashed avocado to make a dip that’s smoky, creamy, and full of bold flavor in every scoop. It uses just a handful of ingredients and comes together in minutes with no stress. Turn extra tomatoes into this easy guacamole and watch it disappear fast.
Get the Recipe: Chunky Guacamole
Tomato Quinoa Salad
The quinoa soaks up juice from the tomatoes while still holding its shape, and the cucumbers add a clean crunch to every bite. A light dressing ties it all together without making it soggy or bland. Make this simple tomato recipe when you want something healthy that still feels full and fresh.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Quinoa Salad
Veggie Pasta Salad
Pasta mixes with juicy tomatoes, sweet corn, and salty feta for a dish that works cold or warm and holds up great in the fridge. The tomatoes stay fresh and juicy even after sitting, which makes them great for prep. Keep this tomato recipe on hand for days when you need something fast and filling.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Pasta Salad
Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Roasted tomatoes layered with zucchini and squash to make a dish that’s soft, rich, and full of deep tomato flavor. As it bakes, the tomatoes melt into the vegetables and make everything taste better together. Use this easy tomato recipe when your pile of tomatoes needs a smart and tasty plan.
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille with an Italian Flair
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Roasted tomatoes bring just the right touch of sweetness and color to a cheesy bowl of pasta that feels both familiar and new. The sauce is creamy but not too heavy, thanks to the juicy tomato chunks. Make this simple tomato recipe when you want comfort food with a fresh twist.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Tomato Tart
Thin tomato slices bake on a buttery crust with cheese and herbs for a dish that looks fancy but is easy to make. The crust stays crisp while the tomatoes get soft and full of flavor from the oven. Turn your tomato stash into something special with this quick and tasty tart.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Tart
Spinach Caprese Salad
Sliced tomatoes mix with soft mozzarella and fresh spinach in a salad that feels light but doesn’t skip on flavor. A little dressing brings everything together in minutes without weighing it down. Keep this fast tomato recipe in your rotation for days when you want something easy that looks like more.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Caprese Salad
Caprese Panini
Melty mozzarella, basil, and tomato slices get pressed between thick slices of bread until crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The tomatoes warm up just enough to bring out their flavor without getting mushy. Use this tomato sandwich recipe when you want something better than a cold lunch.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Fresh tomatoes cook down into a quick sauce that coats pasta without feeling heavy, and spoonfuls of ricotta add a soft, creamy bite. It doesn’t take much time or many ingredients to make this feel like a full meal. Use this fast tomato recipe when your tomato bowl is full and dinner needs to be quick.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Tomato Basil Biscuit Cups
Juicy chopped tomatoes and fresh basil get tucked into biscuit dough and baked until golden, fluffy, and warm. The soft bread soaks in the flavor without falling apart, and each bite pulls apart easily. Try this cozy tomato recipe when you need something simple that still feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Biscuit Cups
Slow Roasted Italian Tomatoes
Roast your tomatoes low and slow until they turn soft, sweet, and packed with deep flavor, you can use all week. The oven does the work while you get rich, roasted tomato goodness with almost no effort. Make this easy tomato recipe now and keep the extras ready for toast, pasta, or anything else.
Get the Recipe: Slow Roasted Italian Tomatoes
Shrimp and Tomato Pasta
Shrimp and chopped tomatoes cook in one pan to make a fast, light sauce that coats every bite of pasta. The tomatoes break down just enough to feel saucy without losing their fresh taste. Cook this tomato recipe when you want a dinner that’s fast, full of flavor, and easy on cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Tomato Pasta
Penne with Salmon and Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes burst in the pan while salmon flakes into pieces that soak up all the juices and herbs. The white wine adds a light touch that ties it all together without being too strong. Keep this tomato pasta on standby for nights when your cherry tomatoes are ready and time is short.
Get the Recipe: Penne with Salmon and Cherry Tomatoes
Classic Roasted Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta
Roasted tomatoes and creamy whipped feta go on toasted bread for a snack that’s simple, rich, and full of contrast. The tomatoes bring a soft bite while the feta stays cool and tangy underneath. Use this tomato recipe when you want a quick appetizer that tastes like a lot more work.
Get the Recipe: Classic Roasted Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta
Wheat Berry Salad with Tuna and Tomatoes
Juicy tomatoes, chewy grains, and chunks of tuna mix together in a bowl that feels hearty but still light. A lemony dressing brings everything to life and keeps it fresh all week. Use this tomato recipe when you want a meal-prep option that holds up and tastes good.
Get the Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad with Tuna and Tomatoes
Bruschetta Al Pomodoro
Chopped tomatoes and basil go on slices of crisp bread for a fast snack that tastes bright and full of flavor. The crunch of the bread and the softness of the tomato mix make each bite just right. Turn your extra tomatoes into this quick bruschetta and see how fast it disappears.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta Al Pomodoro
Green Bean Tomato Salad
Green beans and tomatoes mix with a light dressing to make a salad that’s fresh, crunchy, and ready in minutes. The tomatoes bring in just enough juice to balance out the crisp beans. Make this tomato side dish when you need something fast and bright to fill the plate.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Tomato Salad
Tomato Egg Drop Soup
Whisked eggs swirl into a tomato broth to make a silky soup that’s light, warm, and full of clean flavor. It only takes a few ingredients and comes together fast on the stove. Try this tomato soup when you need something simple that still feels like a warm hug.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Egg Drop Soup
Tomato Burrata Salad
Thick tomato slices sit with creamy burrata and get a drizzle of balsamic for a dish that needs no cooking and still feels full. The cheese stays soft, and the tomatoes keep it juicy and bright. Reach for this tomato salad when you want a fast meal that’s still packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Burrata Salad
Stuffed Tomatoes
Big ripe tomatoes get hollowed out and filled with seasoned meat and herbs, then baked until soft and bubbling. The tomato shells turn sweet in the oven and keep everything packed together. Make this hearty tomato recipe when your counter is full and you want a dinner that hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Tomatoes