I grow tomatoes at home every summer, but I’ll still happily grab a few extra at the farmers market or store when they look too good to leave behind. They’re sweeter, juicier, and usually much cheaper than they are the rest of the year, so now is the perfect time to make the most of them! Most of these dishes put fresh summer tomatoes front and center, but I’ve also included a few recipes that use canned tomatoes for good measure. You’ll find salads, hearty dinners, cozy soups, and easy dishes made for sharing, all proving tomatoes are good for far more than topping a salad!
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- Shop with the season to save. Tomatoes are generally in season across the U.S. from June to September, when a larger local supply can mean lower prices at grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Exact timing will depend on the climate and variety. Early-season tomatoes (often smaller cherry varieties), mid-season tomatoes (including many Roma and slicer varieties), and late-season tomatoes (some heirloom tomatoes) can spread the harvest across summer and into early fall!
- Look for “seconds” and buy by the box. Farmers’ markets and farm stands often sell slightly bruised, cracked, or extra-ripe tomatoes for less because they’re not quite pretty enough for display. They may not be salad material, but they’re perfect for sauces, soups, salsa, and roasting!
- Store them the right way. Did you know you can buy (or pick!) tomatoes while they’re still a little green and let them ripen on the counter at room temperature? Just keep them away from direct sunlight! I like to store mine stem-side down because it helps protect the softer area around the stem and slows moisture loss. Avoid the refrigerator, since cold temperatures can dull their flavor and will change the texture. If this sounds familiar, you may have seen us share the same guidance over on our Instagram!
Hearty Dinners Featuring Tomatoes
Tomatoes deserve a whole lot more credit than just being a salad ingredient. They cook down into silky sauces, roast until they’re rich and jammy, and add brightness to everything from pasta to stuffed vegetables. These hearty dinner recipes all let tomatoes take center stage.
1. Creamy Tomato Spinach Pasta
Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta
$4.80 recipe / $1.20 serving
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Our quick-cooking creamy tomato spinach pasta is a great one to keep handy when summer dinner needs to stay simple. It comes together in about 30 minutes with pantry staples, and the tomatoes melt into a creamy sauce that coats the noodles. Toss in a few handfuls of spinach at the end, and you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner with barely any effort.
2. Angel Hair Pasta Pomodoro
Angel Hair Pasta Pomodoro
Angel Hair Pasta Pomodoro is an easy weeknight pasta recipe with tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs tossed with delicate noodles that cook in just 2 minutes!
$5.21 recipe / $0.65 serving
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This angel hair pasta pomodoro is one of my favorite ways to let fresh tomatoes do what they do best. It has a short ingredient list, cooks quickly, and tastes wonderfully fresh thanks to ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil. I use angel hair because it cooks in just a few minutes, making this an easy way to turn in-season tomatoes into dinner.
3. Baked Feta Pasta
Baked Feta Pasta
This baked Feta Pasta recipe is made with budget-friendly roasted Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic, pasta, and a creamy block of feta! Easy and SO delicious!
$11.05 recipe / $2.76 serving
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My version of feta pasta keeps the viral favorite budget-friendly by using Roma tomatoes, but you can definitely use cherry or plum tomatoes if you’ve got them growing at home! The tomatoes roast until sweet and juicy, creating a creamy sauce with almost no extra work. Once everything is soft and bubbling, just stir it together and toss it with the pasta.
4. Tuscan White Bean Stuffed Tomatoes
Tuscan White Bean Stuffed Tomatoes
This Tuscan White Bean Stuffed Tomatoes recipe is hearty, warming, and deeply satisfying. It’s also budget-friendly and easy to make!
$9.42 recipe / $2.35 serving
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If you’ve never tried my Tuscan white bean stuffed tomatoes, prepare to be surprised by how filling they are. I packed the stuffing with white beans, four types of veggies, herbs, and Parmesan, so every tomato becomes a complete meal. They’re certainly hearty enough for dinner but still feel fresh and summery!
5. Tomato Pie
Tomato Pie
$14.14 recipe / $1.76 serving
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When tomato season is in full swing, I always make at least one tomato pie. Juicy summer tomatoes, fresh basil, a tangy cheese and mayonnaise filling, and a flaky puff pastry crust come together to make one seriously delicious slice. It’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or an easy summer dinner, and I think the leftovers are even better the next day.
Tomato Soup Recipes
Soup might not be the first thing that comes to mind during tomato season, but it’s one of the best ways to use a generous haul! These recipes range from quick and comforting to chilled and refreshing, with several that can be frozen for another day.
6. Roasted Tomato Soup
Roasted Tomato Soup
Roasted tomato soup is made with fresh tomatoes, onions, and garlic that are slowly roasted until the flavors are deep, sweet, and cozy!
$8.62 recipe / $2.16 serving
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Roasting makes all the difference in this roasted tomato soup. The tomatoes caramelize in the oven, which concentrates their sweetness and gives the soup a deep, rich flavor that fresh tomatoes alone can’t match. If you prefer a creamy bowl, I’d stir in a splash of heavy cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk before serving.
7. Tomato Lentil Soup
Tomato Lentil Soup
This tomato lentil soup is full of vegetables and herbs for a simple, flavorful, and warming winter soup. Makes great leftovers!
$4.74 recipe / $0.79 serving
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Tomato lentil soup is one of those recipes I come back to because it’s comforting without taking all afternoon to make. Red lentils cook quickly, naturally thicken the soup, and add plenty of plant-based protein to make it satisfying enough for lunch or dinner!
8. Salmorejo
Salmorejo
Salmorejo is a cold Spanish soup that’s delicious, creamy, easy to make, and a great way to use up summer tomatoes and day-old bread! On a hot summer day, it’s pure tangy, velvety, perfection.
$9.78 recipe / $1.22 serving
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Cold soup might sound unusual at first, but salmorejo makes total sense once summer is in full swing. Tomatoes, crusty bread, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar blend into a velvety soup that feels surprisingly substantial for such a short ingredient list. I’d definitely serve it well chilled on the hottest days.
9. Swamp Soup
Swamp Soup Recipe
A thick, tomatoey vegetable soup with “swampy” bits of spinach and gooey swiss cheese make this unconventional Swamp Soup unforgettable!
$11.44 recipe / $1.43 serving
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Our swamp soup is basically tomato soup with the volume turned all the way up. Tomato sauce and diced tomatoes make the broth thick and hearty, frozen spinach adds plenty of vegetables with no chopping, and those gooey cubes of Swiss cheese are hands down the best part. It’s ready in about 30 minutes and makes eight servings, so it’s a great one for feeding a family or stocking the freezer.
10. Sopa de Letras
Sopa De Letras
Sopa De Letras, or alphabet soup, is a delicious and hearty tomato-based Mexican soup that’s packed with flavor and ready in twenty!
$6.70 recipe / $0.84 serving
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My daughter would be all over the alphabet pasta in sopa de letras, but I’m here for how quick and affordable it is. Roma tomatoes, onion, garlic, and vegetable broth are blended into the base, then the pasta is toasted before simmering, so it gets a little extra flavor. The whole pot is ready in just 20 minutes!
Fresh & Easy Summer Favorites
Tomatoes are one of my favorite budget ingredients when they’re in season because they can go in just about anything. These recipes stretch a few ripe ones into salads, sandwiches, salsa, and dressing with very little fuss.
11. Cucumber Tomato Salad
Cucumber Tomato Salad
This Cucumber Tomato Salad is a cold, crunchy, juicy mix of cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and feta tossed in a simple red wine oregano vinaigrette.
$6.62 recipe / $1.10 serving
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Fresh tomatoes and crisp cucumbers were made for each other, and our cucumber tomato salad proves it. The simple vinaigrette lets the vegetables do the talking, and it pairs with just about anything coming off the grill!
12. Tomato Sandwiches
Tomato Sandwiches
$1.32 each
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I made these classic tomato sandwiches for lunch the other day, and they reminded me how good simple food can be. A perfectly ripe tomato, soft bread, mayonnaise, and plenty of black pepper really don’t need much else. 😋
13. Pico de Gallo
Pico de Gallo
This fresh and easy pico de gallo only takes a few minutes to make and adds vibrant flavor to your tacos, enchiladas, nachos, and more.
$4.18 recipe / $0.35 serving
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There is almost always a bowl of pico de gallo in my fridge whenever we’re making tacos, burritos, or nachos. It’s fresh, easy to throw together, and tastes even better after the flavors mingle for a little while. Any leftovers disappear quickly around my house.
14. Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad
Nothing screams summer more than Caprese salad made with juicy, ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and sweet and spicy basil!
$13.93 recipe / $2.32 serving
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For me, a caprese salad tastes like summer in a bowl. Sweet tomatoes, creamy fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, and a drizzle of balsamic create the perfect balance of juicy, creamy, fresh, and tangy in every forkful. I think it’s one of those recipes that proves great ingredients don’t need much help!
15. Avocado and Tomato Salad
Avocado and Tomato Salad
This simple avocado and tomato salad is a chunky mix of all of summer’s fresh flavors, like tomato, avocado, lime, and cilantro.
$6.13 recipe / $1.02 serving
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Think of our avocado and tomato salad as an extra chunky guacamole packed with fresh vegetables. The avocado makes it creamy, and the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion keep everything crisp and refreshing. It tastes best the day it’s made, but if you press plastic wrap directly onto the surface before refrigerating, the avocado stays greener for longer!
16. Tomato Basil Vinaigrette
Tomato Basil Vinaigrette
This tangy and slightly sweet tomato basil vinaigrette only requires a few simple ingredients and tastes great over salad and pasta alike.
$1.34 recipe / $0.34 serving
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Tomato paste gives this tomato basil vinaigrette a rich tomato flavor, fresh basil keeps it bright, and it comes together in minutes with pantry staples. It’s especially good on tomato salads, pasta salads, or grilled vegetables!
Perfect for Potlucks
Summer cookouts, neighborhood potlucks, backyard BBQs, and family picnics all call for dishes that travel well and disappear fast. These tomato-packed recipes are easy to make ahead and always earn a spot on my table!
17. Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad
Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad
This Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad with homemade Parmesan Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light and fresh summer meal. Perfect for potlucks!
$8.59 recipe / $1.43 serving
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This tomato mozzarella pasta salad gives me all the fresh flavors I crave from a Caprese salad but stretches them into a budget-friendly pasta salad that’s perfect for feeding a crowd. The homemade Parmesan balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together, and I actually think it tastes even better after a little time in the fridge.
18. Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
$10.75 recipe / $1.79 serving
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For an easy potluck dish that won’t take over your grocery budget, try our Mediterranean tuna salad. It stretches tuna with white beans, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and feta, then gets tossed with a simple vinaigrette. I’d make it ahead because the flavors get even better after a little time in the fridge.
19. Tomato Rice
Tomato Rice
Tomato rice is an easy yet flavorful side dish that uses only a few simple ingredients, and it’s sure to liven up any dinner plate!
$3.05 recipe / $0.38 serving
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Give a basic bag of rice a little personality with this tomato rice recipe! Tomato paste, garlic, onion, broth, and lime cook right into the pot, so the rice comes out savory, cozy, and anything but plain. And at about 38 cents per serving, it’s a very easy yes for me.
20. Tomato Relish
Tomato Relish
$4.86 recipe / $0.81 serving
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Consider my tomato relish the answer to an overenthusiastic garden, farmers’ market haul, or grocery-store sale. Any tomato variety works, and the whole lot simmers with lime, ginger, onion, sugar, and spices until thick, juicy, and ready for burgers, toast, sandwiches, or gifting. It’s one of my favorite ways to turn a tomato surplus into something that actually earns its fridge space.
21. Tomato Butter
Tomato Butter
$3.58 recipe / $0.18 serving
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If you’ve never stirred fresh tomatoes into butter, tomato butter is about to become your newest summer obsession. It turns ordinary toast, corn, grilled vegetables, or pasta into something extra special with very little effort. I always keep leftovers in the freezer because it’s an easy way to save that fresh summer tomato flavor for later!