Discover easy and flavorful tomato recipes for everyday cooking. From fresh salads and pasta to soups, rice dishes, sauces, and quick dinners, tomatoes are a versatile ingredient that can be used in countless meals.
Why Cook with Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the most versatile ingredients in cooking and are used in cuisines around the world. Their natural sweetness and slight acidity add fresh flavor to everything from simple salads to rich sauces and comforting soups.
Tomatoes can be enjoyed fresh, roasted, grilled, sautéed, or slowly cooked into sauces. They pair especially well with garlic, olive oil, basil, onion, pasta, rice, chicken, seafood, and cheese.
Tomatoes also provide nutrients including vitamin C and potassium and are a dietary source of lycopene. For additional nutrition information about tomatoes, visit USDA FoodData Central.
Popular Tomato Recipes
Explore our collection of tomato recipes, including fresh salads, pasta dishes, soups, flavorful rice recipes, chicken dinners, sauces, and easy side dishes. New recipes featuring tomatoes will appear here as they are added to Cooking Club.
Ginger Lime Rice with Parmesan
Chicken and Ricotta Tortilla Wrap
Watermelon Tomato Breakfast Recipe
Tomato and Olive Rice Recipe
Tomato Soup
Tomato Basil Pasta
Chicken and Watermelon Salad
Mexican Chicken with Tomato Jalapeno Relish
Tomato and Onion Rice
Huevos Rancheros – Traditional Mexican Breakfast
Chicken Club Sandwich
Red Pepper & Tomato Salad
Easy Ways to Use Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes work especially well in salads, sandwiches, tacos, salsa, and other light dishes. Cooked tomatoes can create a flavorful base for pasta sauces, soups, stews, casseroles, rice dishes, and many easy dinner recipes.
Roasting tomatoes is another simple way to prepare them. Oven roasting concentrates their flavor and works well for pasta, side dishes, sandwiches, salads, and homemade sauces.
Tips for Cooking with Tomatoes
- Choose ripe tomatoes that are firm but give slightly when gently pressed.
- Use fresh tomatoes for salads, sandwiches, salsa, and other uncooked dishes.
- Roast tomatoes to concentrate their flavor and natural sweetness.
- Pair tomatoes with garlic, basil, onion, olive oil, and fresh herbs.
- Try different tomato varieties to add different colors, textures, and flavors to your meals.
What Goes Well with Tomatoes?
Tomatoes pair well with many everyday ingredients. Garlic, onion, basil, olive oil, avocado, mozzarella, Parmesan, chicken, seafood, pasta, rice, beans, and fresh vegetables are all excellent choices.
For Mediterranean-inspired meals, combine tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, basil, and cheese. For Mexican-inspired dishes, try tomatoes with avocado, lime, onion, beans, chicken, or fresh herbs. Tomatoes also work well with rice and pasta when you need an easy and satisfying meal.
How to Choose Fresh Tomatoes
Look for tomatoes with smooth skin and good color for their variety. They should feel firm but not hard and should not have large bruises or damaged areas. Ripe tomatoes are ideal for fresh recipes, while slightly firmer tomatoes can work well for roasting, grilling, and cooking.
Related Ingredients
Looking for more inspiration? Explore more recipes by ingredient or browse our recipe collection for more easy meal ideas.
FAQ About Tomato Recipes
What recipes can be made with tomatoes?
Tomatoes can be used in pasta sauces, soups, salads, tacos, rice dishes, sandwiches, casseroles, salsa, appetizers, and many other easy recipes.
Are tomatoes healthy?
Tomatoes provide nutrients including vitamin C and potassium and are a dietary source of lycopene. The overall nutritional value of a tomato recipe also depends on the other ingredients and portion size.
What ingredients go well with tomatoes?
Tomatoes pair well with garlic, basil, onion, olive oil, avocado, mozzarella, Parmesan, chicken, seafood, pasta, rice, beans, and fresh herbs.
How should fresh tomatoes be stored?
Whole ripe tomatoes can generally be kept at room temperature for a short period. Cut tomatoes should be covered and stored in the refrigerator.
