30 Best Tomato Recipes That Taste Like Summer In Every Bite
Grill them, roast them, or fry them up.
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When the season for fresh tomatoes finally arrives, there's simply no such thing as eating enough of them. Whether you grow tomatoes in your own backyard garden or find them overflowing at farm stands in the warm weather months, summer is the peak season for the ripe, sweet fruit. (Yes, a tomato is a fruit!) So, go ahead and take advantage of your summer crop with these seasonal tomato recipes while you still can.
Here, you'll find new ways to use all different types of tomatoes— big beefsteak tomatoes, beautiful heirlooms, bite-sized cherry tomatoes, and so many more. You can put them to good use in tomato-based pasta recipes, summer salads, or even as the star ingredient in Ree Drummond's tomato tart! Of course, you can keep your summer recipes simple with a classic Caprese salad—it's just slices of tomato, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil—or spruce things up with a homemade ratatouille. It's perfect for alfresco dining!
Whip up a batch of fresh tomato sauce with your abundance of homegrown tomatoes and use it as the base for spaghetti or eggplant parmesan. Then, be sure to freeze or can the leftovers to enjoy a burst of fresh tomato flavor for months to come. The best way to store tomatoes is by leaving them on your counter. And if you grow more than you can eat, you can always freeze tomatoes when the season is over. That way, you can have plenty of juicy flavor in all your fall recipes, too!
Easy Tomato Pie
There's no better way to show off fresh summer tomatoes than in a glorious pie. It features slices of tomato layered with a luxuriously cheese mixture that's piled into a buttery crust and baked to bubbly perfection.
Get the Easy Tomato Pie recipe.
Tomato Sandwich
Sometimes simple is best, and this summer sandwich is proof. A healthy smear of basil-infused garlic aioli takes a tomato sandwich to the next level. You can even switch up the herbs by trying parsley or dill.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
Fried Green Tomatoes
"Fried green tomatoes are the best summer indulgence!" says Ree. Crispy and salty, this summer classic will make an epic appetizer but you can also pile them onto a sandwich like a BLT!
Get the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.
Tomato Tart
"This was one of the most delicious things I’ve ever eaten," Ree says of this tomato tart. A crispy crust, caramelized onions, and just the right amount of cheese complement the roasted tomatoes.
Get Ree's Tomato Tart recipe.
Slow-Roasted Tomatoes
Roasting the tomatoes with garlic and thyme results in the most delicious sweet, herby flavor. Eat them alone, toss them with pasta for an easy summer dinner, or pile them on toasted baguette slices for a spin on bruschetta.
Get the Slow-Roasted Tomatoes recipe.
Caprese Chicken
This cheesy, herby chicken dish captures all the flavors of the classic salad in an easy dinner. Jazz up chicken cutlets with tomatoes, cheese, jarred pesto, and store-bought balsamic reduction.
Get Ree's Caprese Chicken recipe.
Grilled Tomatoes
When you add garlic, a little spice, and a bit of olive oil to tomatoes, and char them on the grill, you get magical side dish for any summertime meal. Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs to make the flavors pop.
Get Ree's Grilled Tomatoes recipe.
Cherry Tomato Pasta
It's amazing how much flavor comes from this speedy sauce! While the pasta cooks, sauté garlic, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, and cherry tomatoes that burst and release all of their delicious juices. Dollop with creamy ricotta to finish.
Get the Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Panzanella
This is one of Ree's favorite summer salads. It combines grilled shrimp, tomatoes, red onion, olives, capers, and hunks of crusty bread that soak in all the juices—what's not to love?
Get Ree's Grilled Shrimp Panzanella recipe.
Upside-Down Tomato Cornbread
Give your skillet of cornbread a summertime makeover! Multi-colored heirloom tomatoes are baked into the bottom of the cornbread and once it's done in the oven, the loaf is flipped out onto a serving plate.
Get the Upside-Down Tomato Cornbread recipe.
Mediterranean Chicken
This one-skillet dish is packed with veggies like tomatoes, bell peppers, and zucchini along with olives that give it a bright, briny zing. Serve with orzo, rice, or even a big hunk of crusty bread.
Get Ree's Mediterranean Chicken recipe.
Pico de Gallo
You'll need plenty of fresh tomatoes for this flavorful dip. It gets paired with onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice for a burst of bright flavor. Don't forget the tortilla chips!
Get Ree's Pico de Gallo recipe.
Caprese Salad
Juicy summer tomatoes, thick slices of fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze combine forces to create one of the best salads of all time.
Get Ree's Caprese Salad recipe.
Fresh Tomato Sauce
Put your abundance of summer tomatoes to good use in this easy tomato sauce recipe. Use it for spaghetti or chicken parmesan, and freeze any leftovers to enjoy the taste of fresh tomatoes for months to come!
Get the Fresh Tomato Sauce recipe.
Ratatouille
Slices of tomato, eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash look like a work of art in this vegetarian dish. They cook up in a tomato-based sauce for even more summer flavor.
Get the Ratatouille recipe.
Succotash
This recipe combines two summertime favorites: tomatoes and corn! It's also loaded with hearty lima beans, fresh thyme, and sliced green onion for a flavorful side dish.
Get the Succotash recipe.
Fried Green Tomato BLT
Fried green tomatoes are one of summer’s best treats! Pair them with bacon and lettuce for the perfect sandwich.
Get Ree's Fried Green Tomato BLT recipe.
Angel Hair Pasta
Thinner than spaghetti but just as delicious, this pasta is perfect for a lightened up dinner. The key is to keep the sauce light too by topping it with a no-cook sauce of marinated tomatoes.
Get the Angel Hair Pasta recipe.
Burrata Salad
Creamy burrata is the star of this salad, but a blend of grape tomatoes, peppery arugula, and balsamic glaze brighten it right up. This simple recipe is a wonderful side dish for summertime.
Get the Burrata Salad recipe.
Grilled Pizza
Pizza on the grill? Oh yes you can! Enjoy pizza night al fresco with this recipe. Try caprese-style toppings using fresh tomatoes, creamy burrata, and fresh basil for the most delicious summertime meal.
Get the Grilled Pizza recipe.
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