46 Tomato Recipes to Make While Summer Is Hot
These fresh tomato recipes showcase the best ways to serve the juicy orbs as soon as they’re finally tasting great at local markets (and maybe even getting ripe in your backyard). While it is absolutely valid to simply slice and salt a juicy tomato in season, our best tomato recipes go a step further, letting the savory-sweet flavor of peak season tomatoes shine in easy salads, summery pastas, and cooling bowls of gazpacho.
Need a refresher on tomato basics before diving into summer’s best sweet-and-savory fruit? Whether you’re wondering how to buy tomatoes, how to store tomatoes, how to peel tomatoes, or the easiest way to prep a tomato, we’ve got you covered.
Feel like a tomato expert now? Great. Read on for 46 of our very best tomato recipes.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/46Oregano-Marinated Tomato Salad
Tomato season brings warm weather—the kind of weather that makes you want to take it easy. Here’s some good news: Many of the best tomato recipes are practically labor-free. A quick marinade (30–60 minutes will do the trick) in salt, pepper, olive oil, and fresh oregano is the key to a truly memorable heirloom tomato salad. The process intensifies the rich tomato flavor and brings out all the rich juices. Serve with crusty bread for cleaning that plate.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova2/46Caprese Salad
Here’s what you should know about making a classic caprese salad. No pesto. No balsamic. Just the best tomatoes you can find and really fresh mozzarella. Add basil leaves, good extra-virgin olive oil, plus sea salt and pepper, and maybe a pinch of dried oregano. That’s it.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/46Pasta With 15-Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce
Juicy cherry tomatoes burst open in warm olive oil, creating a luxuriously silky sauce that comes together in minutes. Whatever kind of pasta you’ve got in the cupboard would work here—this cherry tomato pasta has been an Epicurious reader favorite for years.
Photo by Faith Mason4/46Speedy Summer Gazpacho
This recipe transforms fresh tomatoes, cucumber, basil, and bell pepper into a refreshing cold soup in mere minutes. Serve it as an appetizer at your next dinner party or add a grilled cheese sandwich to make it lunch.
Photo by Marcus Nilsson5/46Marinated Tomatoes
This is one of our favorite summer cookbook recipes. The smart move: The sweetness of peak season tomatoes gets balanced with savory fish sauce and chiles. The dish is best enjoyed on a hot summer afternoon with a refreshing drink in hand.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton6/46Ratatouille
When your garden is popping, it’s time for a little taste of Provence. This classic French dish highlights ripe tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper, cooked until slumped and tender. Serve as a main course with couscous or offer alongside grilled fish.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/46Panzanella
There are many ways to play with panzanella—we love it with chili crisp and with creamy pickle-laced ranch. But if you want to start with a classic version of the Italian bread salad, this recipe from Gourmet will do the trick.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food styling by Simon Andrews8/46Baked Tomatoes, Peppers, and Goat Cheese With Crisped Toasts
This fun tomato idea is flavored with soft, mild goat cheese and a hint of garlic. Served over a crispy baguette, it’s the perfect summer lunch, midday snack, or Labor Day recipe. It can be made up to five hours ahead and held at room temperature; add the cheese right before serving.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/46Summer Pizza With Salami, Zucchini, and Tomatoes
Pile summer tomatoes, zucchini, and fresh herbs on top of store-bought pizza dough, then finish with a drizzle of red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar. This pizza gets cooked on a sheet pan—no pizza stone or backyard pizza oven required.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich10/46Succotash
This succotash has some bacon for heft and jalapeños for kick, plus fresh summer corn, cherry tomatoes, lima beans, and okra. It’s like the whole farmers market in one bowl, and it’s a great accompaniment for grilled chicken.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce11/46Raw Tomato Sauce
Resist the urge to simmer a haul of August tomatoes all day long. Grated tomatoes don’t need that fuss, and fresh raw tomato sauce is one of those perfect only-in-summer experiences. This version is simply seasoned with a touch of tomato passata, garlic, olive oil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Just add pasta, freshly shaved Parmesan, and a few leaves of fresh basil.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell12/46Massaged Kale With Tomatoes, Creamed Mozzarella, and Wild Rice
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton13/46Easy Pasta Salad
You can prep this no-mayo pasta salad a few hours ahead, then tote it to a potluck, picnic, or backyard barbecue.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton14/46Charred-Peach Panzanella With Pickled Pepper Vinaigrette
When fragrant summer peaches and tomatoes reach their prime, you’ve got to try this spicy, zingy take on bread salad. The bread gets toasted in the rendered bacon fat, which is always a good idea.
