Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes are the best way to add flavor to your favorite recipes. It’s quick and easy to toss cherry or grape tomatoes with oil and garlic and then bake them in a single layer in the oven. Add these vegan and gluten-free bites to chicken and pasta dishes for an impressive meal.

Easy Oven-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

With tomato season in full swing right now there is an abundance of cherry and grape tomatoes available.

Whether you’re growing them in your own summer garden, find them at a farmer’s market, or purchasing ones on sale at the grocery store, the question still remains, “What recipes can I make with fresh tomatoes?”

Well, you can either make this Pomodoro Sauce recipe, this Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, or you can whip up these roasted tomatoes.

And in this current moment, my vote would be to try out the latter.

These little flavor bombs might just change your life.

Roasted grape tomatoes are BURSTING with juicy, savory goodness and are stupid easy to throw together.

After adding them to a Pesto Shrimp Pasta dish one evening, I needed more.

Next, they topped a toasted baguette along with a poached egg and avocado slices for breakfast. Then they garnished a grilled chicken breast… and each time they were shock-your-palate delicious! These are my current favorite ways to enjoy them, but the possibilities are endless.

Ingredients

The super simple ingredients to make this roasted cherry tomato recipe include:

• Tomatoes. Cherry or grape tomatoes can be used in this recipe. Read below for more information about the best types.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic is key! Minced garlic will help to disperse the flavor evenly.
• Olive Oil. A relatively good-quality extra virgin olive oil will have a big impact on the amount of flavor this fresh tomato recipe has.
• Salt and Pepper. You can use whatever salt or pepper you have on hand, but sea salt or kosher salt and crushed black pepper are recommended.
• Fresh Herbs. Fresh basil, rosemary, oregano, or thyme can be added to give this recipe even more pizzazz.

Best Tomatoes to Roast

The special part about these oven-roasted tomatoes is the burst of flavor you get when you bite into the individual tomatoes. Therefore, a smaller tomato that has only been cut in half, or not cut at all, will deliver this effect the best.

For this dish, there are a few tomato varieties that will work exceptionally well and others that are not recommended.

Best Tomato Varieties:

• Cherry – Small and full of flavor.
• Grape – Also small and still packed with flavor.
• Campari – A larger tomato but will still work well if cut into smaller pieces.

Would Not Recommend:

• Roma – These lack substantial flavor and will not give you the same result as the above varieties.
• Beefsteak or Vine-ripened – A little too large and have too much liquid to get the roasted texture that’s so great in this recipe.

How to Roast Cherry Tomatoes

The basic steps for making this roasted tomatoes recipe are simple to follow:

Slice the Tomatoes

Use a cutting board and a sharp chef’s knife to cut the fresh cherry tomatoes in half.

You can also leave them whole; you will just have to roast them a little longer.

Season with Garlic

Add the halved tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.

Use a wooden spoon to carefully stir until all of the pieces are coated.

Bake in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Arrange in a single, even layer on a rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan. To save time during cleanup, line the tray with parchment paper.

Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until the skin begins to shrivel. The roasting process breaks down the meat inside, releasing the juices.

Serve the Roasted Tomatoes

After baking, you can toss these tomatoes with fresh herbs for added flavor. Add them immediately to your favorite salad or pasta, or top a protein with them.

This basic recipe can be served:

• On a toasted baguette for a vegan bruschetta recipe,
• Atop a grilled chicken breast for the keto and low-carb conscious,
• Alongside poached eggs and avocado for an easy gluten-free breakfast,
• Or with this Pesto Shrimp Pasta for an elegant date night dinner in.

Meal Prep and Storage

• To Prep-Ahead: You can pre-slice and toss them in the olive oil mixture up to 24 hours in advance. Note that prepping them immediately before roasting will give you the best results.
• To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The tomatoes will begin to release even more juice as they sit in the refrigerator, thus naturally creating a really delicious sauce.
• To Freeze: Seal in a freezer-safe container for up to 4-6 months. After thawing and reheating they will have more of a sauce-like consistency.
• To Reheat: They can either be reheated in the microwave, in a 250°F-300°F oven, or in a skillet over low heat. The more they are reheated the more tomato juice they will naturally release.

Can I use wrinkled cherry tomatoes?

Yes, in fact this recipe is a great way to use up not-so-fresh tomatoes. Wrinkling is a sign of tomatoes that are starting to go bad. They’re still safe to eat but the flavor might not be as good when first picked.

Are roasted tomatoes good for you?

Yes! In fact, when tomatoes are cooked, their antioxidant properties are increased, making them even healthier.

What can I do with a bunch of cherry tomatoes?

If you’re looking for a delicious way to enjoy cherry tomatoes, the sky is the limit. You can roast them, use them for easy pastas, add them to salads, make salsa, mix them with mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar, or dip them in ranch or hummus for a snack.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Use fresh. Both whole garlic cloves and fresh herbs will give you the absolute best flavor.
• Find quality. While any ol’ salt and oil will do, higher-end options really do make a difference.
• Make extra. Because they create a sauce the longer they sit, leftovers can be used to make pasta sauce.
• Don’t toss them. If you have a bunch of tomatoes on the verge of going bad, roast them to improve the taste.
• Add pizzaz. After the tomatoes are roasted, mix in fresh herbs for even more flavor. If you like some spice, toss in some red pepper flake. Italian seasoning is a great way to enhance the tomatoes, as well.

Other Fresh Tomato Recipes:

If you have plenty of tomatoes on hand, these are some of the best recipes to help you use them up!

Chickpea Curry will steal the show as a main dish.

BLT Pasta Salad, Roasted Tomato Basil Soup, and Caprese Skewers are a delicious side dish or appetizer.

Or, make some Homemade Tortilla Chips to serve with Roasted Tomato Salsa or Easy Homemade Salsa.

More Roasted Vegetebles

If you love this Roasted Cherry Tomatoes recipe then you have to check these Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes, Roasted Butternut Squash and learn how to roast beets!