Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (2024)

Marinated cherry tomatoes are a colorful, juicy and tasty side dish that is perfect for summer parties, buffets and large gatherings because it can be made hours in advance! This is one of our favorite cherry tomato recipes!

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (1)

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This recipe has just 4 ingredients and the process couldn’t be easier! I hesitate to call it a ‘recipe’, but we all need quick and easy side dishes when we’d rather not be doing heavy cooking in summer.

P.S. We have included Amazon affiliate links below for our favorite tools used to make this recipe.

One of our readers, Olga, wrote in and shared this idea for these marinated cherry tomatoes. She takes it a step further; blanching and peeling the tomatoes before marinating. We equally loved them peeled or unpeeled so we are sharing the unpeeled easier method; just slice them in half and you are ready to roll! Thank you Olga for sharing this treasure of a recipe!

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (2)

Ingredients for Cherry Tomato Recipe:

We used the 2 lb pack of multi-colored baby tomatoes at Costco, but any cherry or even grape-sized tomatoes would work well in this recipe.

Which Italian Dressing is Best?

We used “Ken’s Steakhouse” LIGHTItalian dressing and loved that it had a little bit of parmesan in the ingredients. Olga who shared this recipe uses a “Zesty Italian” dressing. You can experiment and use YOUR favorite Italian dressing but I would suggest using one that is clearer in appearance (NOT CREAMY). You still want the color of your Italian marinated tomatoes to pop without disappearing into the marinade. If you have an option, select “Light” which will have less oil and more uniform marinating and is also less likely to solidify if refrigerated.

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (3)

How to Make Italian Marinated Cherry Tomatoes:

1. Rinse cherry tomatoes and cut them in half. It is easiest to slice with a serrated knife and I slice them through the center because they look prettier.

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (4)

2. Add the sliced tomatoes to a glass mixing bowl or container (or right into a quart-sized glass jar with lid). Add the chopped parsley and garlic then pour over 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Italian dressing or just enough to barely cover the tomatoes. Stir and cover to marinate.

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (5)

How Long should I Marinate Tomatoes?

The tomatoes will be more flavorful the longer they sit and need a bare minimum marinating time of 2 hours. I cover and leave these on the counter at room temperature for 4 hours and serve – you will want to chill them after that if there are leftovers. They keep very well refrigerated overnight.

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (6)

If you have leftover tomatoes or want to serve them with breakfast, try serving them as bruschetta. All you need are some toasted baguettes. So easy and good!

More Cherry Tomato Recipes to Discover:

  • Chicken Pesto Roll Ups with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
  • Chicken Mango Avocado Salad with baby tomatoes
  • Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad with fresh cherry tomatoes
  • BLT Salad with THE BEST dressing (super easy!)

Print-Friendly Marinated Cherry Tomato Recipe:

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe

4.97 from 29 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (8)

Marinated cherry tomatoes are a colorful, juicy and tasty side dish that is perfect for summer parties and entertaining because they can be made ahead! Let tomatoes marinate at least 2-4 hours. They are even better overnight.

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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

Servings: 10 servings as a side dish

  • 2 lb cherry tomatoes*
  • 1/2 bunch parsley, (1/2 cup finely chopped)
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups light Italian dressing**

Instructions

  • Rinse and cut cherry tomatoes in half.

  • Add the sliced tomatoes to a glass mixing bowl or quart-sized glass jar with lid. Add chopped parsley and minced garlic then add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Italian dressing or just enough to barely cover the tomatoes.

  • Stir, cover and let sit at room temperature for at least 2-4 hours to marinate or refrigerate overnight.

Nutrition Per Serving

102kcal Calories8g Carbs1g Protein7g Fat1g Saturated Fat361mg Sodium243mg Potassium6g Sugar695IU Vitamin A24.6mg Vitamin C18mg Calcium0.9mg Iron

  • Full Nutrition Label
  • Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe

Amount per Serving

Calories

102

% Daily Value*

Fat

7

g

11

%

Saturated Fat

1

g

6

%

Sodium

361

mg

16

%

Potassium

7

%

Carbohydrates

8

g

3

%

Sugar

6

g

7

%

Protein

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

695

IU

14

%

Vitamin C

24.6

mg

30

%

Calcium

18

mg

2

%

Iron

0.9

mg

5

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: marinated cherry tomatoes

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 102

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

Q: Do you have a go-to summer side dish? I am always looking for new ideas and would love to hear from you in a comment below!!

PS. Thank you so much for following along, trying our recipes, and sharing them with the people you love. Whether you are here for the first time or have been hanging out with us for the past 9 years, THANK YOU for stopping by! You are always welcome here.

Loads of Love,

-Natasha 🙂

Natasha Kravchuk

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (9)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Marinated Cherry Tomatoes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make cherry tomatoes taste better? ›

Drizzle your tomatoes with olive oil and generously season with salt and pepper, then roast in a 200-degree oven for about an hour to an hour and a half. We like this method of perking up flavorless tomatoes because you don't really have to watch it closely.

What seasoning is good for tomatoes? ›

While basil, cilantro, and oregano are all popular herbs to pair with Tomatoes, there are many more options to choose from! If you want to experiment with more herbs, here are a few extra options that taste great with Tomatoes: Parsley. Dill.

How to make cherry tomatoes taste sweeter? ›

Ripe tomatoes equal sweet tomatoes. If possible, allow them to ripen on the vine which will also make them sweeter. Before planting your tomatoes, incorporate lots of organic matter to give the plants plenty of nutrients. Be consistent with watering.

Why are my cherry tomatoes tasteless? ›

Watery, tasteless fruit is due to overwatering. When a plant starts fruiting, it starts looking yellow and tired. That's when we often rush out and water the plant to help perk it up.

What gives tomatoes good flavor? ›

And flavor, said Jay Scott, an emeritus tomato breeder at the University of Florida, basically comes down to just three things — sugar, acids, and aromatic volatiles. Some people like much sweeter tomatoes while others like less sweet tomatoes — no one tomato variety will ever be a “perfect” tomato to everyone.

Why do you put Epsom salt on tomatoes? ›

Fact! Adding Epsom salts to your plant either through foliar spray or direct watering is a great way of boosting micronutrient absorption. This helps your tomato plant produce large, juicy, and very sweet fruits. Remember that a little bit goes a long way and too much can cause more problem than it fixes.

Can I freeze cherry tomatoes raw? ›

Tomatoes may be frozen raw or cooked, whole, sliced, chopped, or puréed. Tomatoes do not need to be blanched before freezing. Frozen tomatoes are best used in cooked foods such as soups, sauces and stews as they become mushy when they're thawed.

Is it OK to eat a lot of cherry tomatoes? ›

Eating too many cherry tomatoes can give you acid reflux and other negative digestive side effects. This may be due to the malic acid in cherry tomatoes.

Do cherry tomatoes last longer in the refrigerator or on the counter? ›

Ripe Tomatoes

And unless you're eating them immediately, ripe, locally grown tomatoes will also last longer in the fridge; eat within a few days. Store ripe tomatoes in your fridge stress-free and enjoy them within a couple days of purchasing.

How many cherry tomatoes is 1 serve? ›

Salad vegetables

A portion is 3 celery sticks, a 5cm piece of cucumber, 1 medium tomato or 7 cherry tomatoes.

Can you store cherry tomatoes in mason jars? ›

Cherry Tomatoes

I take them out of their plastic containers and store them in quart-sized, wide-mouth mason jars in the fridge. They will last for about a month if stored this way and washed using the process mentioned above. If you have garden tomatoes, those can be kept whole, on the counter, at room temperature.

How do you store cherry tomatoes long term? ›

Once fully ripe, place tomatoes in a bag and store them in the refrigerator to prolong shelf life. For the best flavor, bring tomatoes back to room temperature before serving. The same rules apply to cherry tomatoes. Keep them on the counter in a bowl if possible.

What neutralizes tomato taste? ›

If your tomato sauce is too acidic and verging on bitter, turn to baking soda, not sugar. Yes, sugar might make the sauce taste better, but good old baking soda is an alkaline that will help balance the excess acid. A little pinch should do the trick.

How do you make store bought tomatoes sweeter? ›

Brown or granulated sugar is often used for this, but you can also use honey or maple syrup in its place. All that's left to do is drizzle some of the sweet goodness over a few slices of tomatoes.

How to make store tomatoes taste better? ›

Drizzle on vinegar and season with a big pinch of salt and chile flakes. Toss thoroughly. Cut tomatoes in half and add to a separate bowl, along with any juices. Season with a pinch of salt.

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