These Oven Roasted Cherry Tomatoes offer the perfect balance of fresh yet rich, sweet yet savory. Combined with aromatic roasted garlic and fresh thyme they become the perfect ingredient combo for gourmet flavors with only 5 minutes of prep and one pan dirtied!
These Blistered Tomatoes are exceeding any and all veggie expectations. You can skip the pan sear, cause cooking cherry tomatoes in the oven will not disappoint. On top of how easy this recipe is, incorporating tomatoes into your diet can help to protect your skin, lower risks of cancer, and promote healthier eyes!
Hands down, our favorite way to enjoy this recipe is to let the tomatoes shine! We serve it as an appetizer, alongside toasted baguette slices and it is absolutely amazing. Elevate fried eggs and toast first thing in the morning, or serve at dinnertime alongside a hot and juicy steak or lemon garlic salmon. These also make an excellent topping for a pesto pizza.
HOW TO MAKE MAKE ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES
Alright, it's time to get into this Roasted Cherry Tomato Recipe. We are going to cover all the bases. Which tomatoes to buy, how to prep them, seasonings, and of course, roasting. Plus, you'll learn how to cook your tomatoes on the vine for an extra impressive presentation.
GRAPE VS. CHERRY TOMATOES
First, let's talk tomatoes... You can use grape or cherry tomatoes. The flavor is very similar, and the difference lies mainly in the shape and density of the tomato. Cherry tomatoes are a bit "squishier" in texture and have a softer skin, while grape tomatoes are more firm, with a thicker skin. If you prefer your roasted vegetables more on the al dente side, I recommend using grape tomatoes over cherry.
PREPPING FOR YOUR TOMATOES
The first thing you'll want to do is preheat your oven to 400°F and prepare your pan. You'll want to have a rimmed baking sheet for this recipe, as plenty of juices are going to escape during the roasting process.
Next, line the pan with either parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. There's no point in making an irresistible batch of Roasted Cherry Tomatoes if you can't get them off the pan!
RINSE AND DRY
Place your cherry or grape tomatoes in a colander and rinse. Dry them well, and place them on the prepared pan.
If you are roasting cherry tomatoes on the vine, you must handle them with extra, extra care at this point. After you've got your tomatoes rinsed, transfer them to a clean dish towel, and top with another clean dish towel. Press down gently, allowing the towels to absorb the water, and try your best not to roll the tomatoes around!
DRESS THEM UP
Once you've got your cherry tomatoes down, add the minced garlic cloves and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle the tomatoes with Kosher salt and black pepper and toss until evenly coated.
Again, if you're wanting to keep your Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on the vine, you'll have to do things a bit differently and reach for the olive oil cooking spray, rather than a bottle of olive oil. A cooking spray allows you to coat the tomatoes on the vine without rolling them at all. The less jostling, the more likely the tomatoes are to stay attached!
And, if you're spritzing rather than drizzling, you'll also want to take care to spritz your pan with the cooking spray as well. This way the bottom of the tomatoes also come in contact with the oil.
It's a lot of talk about oil for a tomato recipe -- we know -- but, oil helps with even cooking and browning, especially when it comes to roasting!
ROAST
Next, add in your sprigs of thyme and transfer to the preheated oven to bake for 20 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft.
After the 20 minutes is up, your kitchen will smell absolutely amazing, remove them from the oven and serve hot or at room temperature.
SERVING ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES
These Roasted Cherry Tomatoes are absolutely amazing as a side dish or on top of your favorite pasta dish! And, we can't express how truly delicious they are on top of toasty bread with a quick pinch of salt and pepper and a simple drizzle of balsamic vinegar reduction.
Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
6 MORE TOMATO RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Wedge Salad
- Shrimp and Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes
- Easy Fried Green Tomatoes
- Fried Green Tomato Salad
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Simple Shrimp and Tomato Salad
Wedge Salad
Shrimp and Pasta with Fresh Tomatoes and Capers
Easy Fried Green Tomatoes Recipe
Fried Green Tomato Salad
Creamy Tomato Soup | Recipe
Shrimp and Tomato Salad
It's time to take that simple dish to the next level with these juicy and delicious Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.
- 2 (12-ounce) packages cherry or grape tomatoes
- 6-8 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or olive oil cooking spray if leaving tomatoes on the vine)
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- generous ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 6-8 sprigs of thyme
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Preheat the oven to 400°F and have ready a rimmed baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. Rinse the tomatoes and pat dry. See notes for leaving tomatoes on the vine.
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Place the tomatoes and garlic cloves on the baking sheet and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss until the tomatoes are evenly coated in the seasoning.
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Place the thyme sprigs on the baking sheet, in between the tomatoes, and bake for 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and enjoy!
If leaving the tomatoes on the vine, be extra delicate when handling them for washing and drying.
Rather than drizzling with oil, spritz the baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray, place the tomatoes on the baking sheet and spritz them from all angles generously with cooking spray. Sprinkle with the seasoning and proceed with the recipe as directed above!
Sources: Health Benefits of Tomatoes
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