• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Free Email Series!

5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Free Email Series!

    5 Time and Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

    Free email series of my best tips!

  • Visit my other Site: Pancake Recipes

Rachel Cooks®

Easy Healthy-ish Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Popular
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans
    • Green Beans with Bacon
    • Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
    • Roasted Sugar Snap Peas
    • Beef Stew Seasoning
    • Chili Seasoning Recipe
    • Thousand Island Dressing
    • Poppy Seed Dressing
    • Copycat Panera Squash Soup
    • Chocolate Chip Blondies
    • Instant Pot Pork Loin Roast
    • Frosé
    • Best Chocolate Cake
    • Dill Vegetable Dip
    • Instant Pot Jasmine Rice
    • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Learn to Cook
    • All The Basics
    • Crostini
    • Delicata Squash
    • Butternut Squash
    • Kabocha Squash
    • Spaghetti Squash
    • Guacamole
    • Croutons
    • Snap Peas
    • Baked Potatoes
    • Baked Bacon
    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
    • Simple Syrup
    • Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Toasted Pine Nuts
    • Roasted bone-in Chicken Breasts
    • Poached Chicken
    • Roasted Whole Chicken
    • Easy Cheese Sauce

Dinner Made Easy:

Slow Cooker

5 Ingredients

Grilling

Make Ahead

Sheet Pan

Tacos

Pizza

Home Recipes by Diet Dairy-Free
GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free VG Vegetarian

Marinated Tomatoes

5
/5
3 hrs 15 mins
2 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 08/09/2021Updated: 06/20/2022

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Tomatoes in a jar, text overlay reads "the best marinated tomatoes."
Tomatoes in a jar, text overlay reads "the best marinated tomatoes."
Tomatoes in a jar, text overlay reads "marinated tomatoes with fresh herbs and garlic."
Tomatoes in a jar, text overlay reads "delicious marinated tomatoes."

Marinated tomatoes need to be in everyone’s kitchen at all times. Simply bursting with flavor, these tomatoes take everything to the top.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: This recipe is a kitchen essential!

How long it takes: 15 minutes to make, a few hours to marinate
Equipment you’ll need: sharp knife, bowl
Servings: 8

Tomatoes with olive oil and herbs in a small glass jar. Fresh tomatoes in the foreground.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 Recipe Overview
  • 2 About these tomatoes
  • 3 What you’ll need
  • 4 How to make marinated tomatoes
  • 5 FAQs
  • 6 make It your own
  • 7 Cooking Tip
  • 8 Make-Ahead Ideas
  • 9 Storage Suggestions
  • 10 Leftover Love
  • 11 More tomato recipes
  • 12 Get the Recipe: Marinated Tomatoes

Marinated tomatoes are what you’ve been dreaming of. Or maybe just food bloggers dream about stuff like that.

While a plain tomato is good for sandwiches, salad, or for pizza, it’s not super exciting. Tomatoes add juiciness, or a bit of tang and acid maybe, but when you think about it, they don’t have a ton of flavor unless you happen to have a super good tomato.

Enter marinated tomatoes. A tangy vinaigrette with garlic, herbs, and shallot bathes the tomatoes, soaking into and permeating every cell, turning the tomatoes into flavor bombs.

Close up of marinated tomatoes, filling image.

Recently one of my favorite local restaurants began serving this really fantastic flank steak salad, featuring harvest greens, mushrooms, red onions, parmesan cheese, balsamic vinaigrette … and marinated tomatoes. I can’t get enough of this salad! It got me to thinking what else would benefit from the addition of these succulent tomatoes.

Looking for a quick appetizer? Marinated tomatoes! Serve them with toasted crostini or crackers. Add a creamy cheese spread, homemade hummus or edamame spread, if you like.

Heap them on avocado toast! Marinated chicken! Scrambled eggs! Fish tacos! Air fryer salmon! Air fryer pork chops! Eat them by the spoonful right out of the dish!

No excuses, people, you need to make these tomatoes! You’ll thank me when you’re piling them on a sandwich, or jazzing up your grilled pizza, or simply tossing a few fresh mozzarella balls with the tomatoes for a quick salad.

About these tomatoes

This is a very easy no-cook recipe which makes it perfect for the hot summer months. Not to mention, tomatoes are abundant this time of year. Another plus: This tomato salad is best if it’s made ahead and it keeps for a week in the fridge.

I bet you can’t wait to get started. I’ll show you how with a few extra tips and ideas thrown in, too.

Look for the printable recipe card for instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.

What you’ll need

  • Tomatoes: Almost any type of tomato can be marinated. If using grape or cherry tomatoes, halve them first so they can really soak up all the great flavors.
  • Shallots: Thinly sliced shallots add a more delicate flavor than onions but any type of onion can be used.
  • Garlic: One clove of garlic imparts plenty of garlicky goodness to these marinated tomatoes. Add more if you like or omit the garlic if you’re not a fan.
  • Fresh Parsley and Chives: Parsley has a mild herbal flavor and chives add more intensity to the garlic/onion profile.
  • Vinaigrette/Marinade: This simple dressing is composed of extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, and salt and pepper.
Overhead view of ingredients needed for recipe.

How to make marinated tomatoes

Begin by finely mincing shallot and garlic. You may want to grate or press the garlic if you don’t like big pieces.

Next up, the chives and parsley. Maybe you can even raid your herb garden for these easy to grow herbs. Chop, chop, chop! You only need a tablespoon of each.

Mix up the vinaigrette, including the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, shallots, herbs, and season with salt and pepper.

Chopped shallots, garlic, and fresh herbs mixed with oil and vinegar.

Add the tomatoes to the vinaigrette and gently stir. If you’re using larger sliced tomatoes, arrange the tomatoes in a shallow dish and pour the vinaigrette over the slices to preserve their shape.

Tomatoes being marinated in a clear glass bowl.

Marinate. Let the tomatoes soak in all that lovely goodness for about three hours. They’re okay sooner than that if you don’t want to wait but really, the longer the better.

Tomatoes, surrounded with fresh herbs, oil, and a wooden spoon.

Serve as desired. Those three words say so much. You’ll find that you desire marinated tomatoes quite a lot.

FAQs

Are tomatoes and olive oil good for you?

Tomatoes contain lots of antioxidants, in particular, lycopene, which is thought to be one of the most effective carotenoids. Combining tomatoes with olive oil actually increases your body’s absorption of lycopene (WebMD).

What is the most flavorful tomato?

Tomato lovers pretty unanimously agree that heirloom tomatoes taste the best: sweet juicy perfection. Personally, I think any homegrown tomato is way more flavorful than grocery store tomatoes, which are engineered to withstand shipping and have a longer shelf life.
However, if heirloom or homegrown tomatoes aren’t available, I like cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or Campari tomatoes for these marinated tomatoes.

How long will tomatoes last in vinegar?

It depends on the type of preparation. Marinated tomatoes are made with less vinegar and will last in the fridge for a week, tightly covered. Pickled tomatoes are made with brine (like these quick pickled red onions) and will keep up to two months because the ratio of vinegar is higher. Try these pickled cherry tomatoes by Kitchn.

Tomatoes in a jar surrounded by fresh herbs.

make It your own

  • Try different varieties of tomatoes. Larger tomatoes can be sliced or cut into wedges before bathing in the marinade. Peel them first if you like (although it’s not necessary).

Cooking Tip

To easily peel tomatoes, make a shallow X on the bottoms, place in boiling water about 30 seconds or until skin begins to crack, and then place in ice water. The skins should come off very easily.

  • If you enjoy balsamic vinegar, use it instead of white wine vinegar but remember that balsamic vinegar will deepen the color of the marinated tomatoes. White balsamic vinegar is a good choice, too.
  • Change up the herbs. Try fresh basil, thyme, oregano, sage, or lemon balm, just to name a few. Dried herbs are okay, too, but remember to use less (1 teaspoon dried = 1 tablespoon fresh).

Make-Ahead Ideas

Marinated tomatoes are best made ahead! They really benefit from marinating a few hours on the counter or overnight in the fridge. If the tomatoes are chilled, take them out an hour or so before serving. Sometimes the oil congeals a bit in the fridge and the tomatoes just taste better at room temperature.

Storage Suggestions

Marinated tomatoes should be tightly covered and will keep in the fridge for up to one week.

Leftover Love

There are so many ways to use marinated tomatoes that I’d hesitate to ever call them leftover. I’d love to hear your favorite ways to enjoy them. Try stirring them into cooked pasta and topping with grilled chicken for a quick dinner!

More tomato recipes

Maybe you have a surplus of garden tomatoes or maybe you just love tomatoes as much as we do! Here’s a sampling of delicious ways to eat them:

  • Fresh Tomato Tart with herbed ricotta
  • The Best Pico de Gallo – easy recipe
  • Panzanella Salad Recipe – perfect summer salad!
  • Tomato Bruschetta Recipe – Learn how to make bruschetta.
  • The Best Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Smoky Roasted Tomato Soup – the best tomato soup!
  • Roasted Tomato and Ricotta Crostini Recipe
  • Hot Caprese Dip Recipe
  • Baked Feta Pasta Recipe (with vegan option)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Tomatoes with olive oil and herbs in a small glass jar. Fresh tomatoes in the foreground.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Marinated Tomatoes

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Additional Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
8 servings
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Marinated tomatoes need to be in everyone's kitchen at all times. Simply bursting with flavor, these tomatoes take everything to the top.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
  • 1 clove garlic, finely grated
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly minced parsley
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 pound cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine shallots, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
  • Stir in tomatoes. Cover and let stand at room temperature 3 hours before serving, stirring 2-3 times so tomatoes get evenly marinated.

Notes

  • Serving Suggestions: bruschetta, pasta salad, steak salad, avocado toast, tacos, pizzas, salmon, grilled chicken, etc. Make a simple salad with tomatoes, greens, and fresh mozzarella – no need for dressing.
  • Make Ahead: Marinated tomatoes can be made up to a week in advance and refrigerated. Remove tomatoes from refrigerator about an hour before serving, if possible, so they come to room temperature.
  • Substitutions: Replace white wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar. Use sliced tomatoes instead of grape or cherry tomatoes. Substitute or add fresh herbs like oregano, tarragon, dill, etc. If using basil, add just before serving.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 44kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 152mg, Potassium: 139mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 336IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It

Free email series

5 Time & Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

FREE BONUS!

You May Also Like...

  • Close up partial view of a bowl of pasta salad with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onion, and fresh basil.
    The Best Caprese Pasta Salad Recipe
  • Image of the best tomato bruschetta recipe in a bowl served with crostini.
    Tomato Bruschetta Recipe - How to Make Bruschetta
  • Pasta with pancetta and tomato sauce in white bowl.
    Pasta with Pancetta in a Smoky Tomato Sauce
  • Overhead view of a panzanella salad on a large white and blue platter. Salad includes chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs, red onion, torn bread, and capers.
    Panzanella Salad Recipe - perfect summer salad!
Close up of martini glass with bright red cocktail garnished with blood orange.
Previous Post
Blood Orange Gin Fizz with Elderflower
Stack of three frosted oreo cookie bars.
Next Post
Frosted Oreo Cookie Bars

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

  1. Gabriela says

    August 9, 2021 at 2:26 pm

    Okay this recipe is a game changer. I’ve made this twice and have been adding it to pizza, pasta, and even eggs! So delicious – thank you!

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      August 18, 2021 at 11:58 am

      Aren’t they yummy? I have to try them on eggs ASAP!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

Air Fryer Instant Pot 30 Minutes One Pan Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Vegetarian 5 Ingredients

Trending

Cooked salmon fillet on a grey-toned plate with cooked asparagus spears. The salmon is being flaked with a fork.

Air Fryer Salmon – easy and delicious!

Pizza pasta being scooped from a pan with a wooden spoon.

Pizza Pasta – 1 pan, 20 minutes

Image of a giant bowl of spaghetti with turkey meatballs.

Baked Turkey Meatballs

Asparagus Panzanella Salad

Seasonal

Beef and vegetable stir fry in a black wok.

Beef Stir Fry With Vegetables

Hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner with honey being drizzled on.

Hot Honey Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Sweet and sour shrimp lettuce wrap garnished with green onion.

Sweet and Sour Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

BBQ Chicken burrito bowl with avocado and sour cream.

BBQ Chicken Bowl

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window
Free Bonus!

5 Cooking Secrets to Save Time & Stress

Free email series of my best tips and recipes!

Featured On:

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Work with Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2023 Rachel Cooks®
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled