This quick and easy Cherry Tomato Salad is light, fresh, and delicious. It is is one of the most intensely flavored side dishes, yet it only requires a few minutes of effort. Sweet cherry tomatoes are tossed with red onion, fresh basil, and feta cheese in a simple homemade vinaigrette that brings out every note of this simple tomato salad Save the recipe to make on repeat all summer long!
I'm always amazed by how much more flavor cherry tomatoes have than regular slicing tomatoes — plus they are even better when they are fresh in season. They're super sweet with a tangy acidity that stands out in salads, pastas, and more. Because of this, they only require a few simple garnishes to really bring them to life.
Why You'll Love This Cherry Tomato Salad
- Simple ingredients. This summery cherry tomato salad recipe only requires a handful of ingredients you can keep on hand to throw it together any time!
- Ready almost instantly. Few side dishes taste this good so quickly. Ripe cherry tomatoes are so flavorful that they require barely anything to make them pop. Just slice them in half, toss them with a few fresh ingredients, add the simple dressing, and serve. Done!
- Colorful summer side dish. The bright red color of the tomatoes is so eye-catching and pops on any table! Fortunately, it tastes even better than it looks. I always get lots of oohs and ahhs about this recipe. Make a double batch— it goes quickly!
- Great for entertaining. Since the salad contains mostly fresh ingredients, it can be placed on a serving table and enjoyed for hours without losing its color and texture. Plus, it's much lighter than many mayo-based salads while still being hearty enough to serve with your favorite Summer Grill Recipes including Balsamic Chicken Kabobs, Ribeye Steak, and more.
Ingredient Notes
To make this delicious Cherry Tomato Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- cherry tomatoes - for the best flavor, only use perfectly ripe tomatoes and slice each one in half so it can soak up the vinaigrette. Grape tomatoes work great, too.
- red onion - thinly sliced to add a savory bite.
- basil leaves - chop fresh basil into bite-sized pieces.
- feta cheese - crumble or cube some feta cheese for the salad.
- extra virgin olive oil - this forms the base of the dressing.
- white wine vinegar - I like to use a mild-tasting vinegar like white or red wine vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is a great way to bring out the tomatoes' sweetness, too.
- lemon juice - freshly squeezed gives the most potent flavor.
- freshly minced garlic - for a savory note.
- Italian seasoning
- ground black pepper
You will also need a measuring cups and spoons, large serving bowl, a small bowl, and serving utensils.
How to Make the Best Cherry Tomato Salad
- Combine. In a large serving dish, combine cherry tomatoes, onion, basil, and feta cheese.
- Make dressing. In a small mixing bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Toss. Add the dressing into the tomato salad. Toss well and serve immediately.
Recipe Variations
- Bake it. I know this is a salad, but roasted cherry tomatoes, onions, feta, and a tangy vinaigrette all taste amazing roasted in the oven and served over fresh pasta in my Baked Feta Pasta! This recipe is a nice way to keep the same flavors but bulk up the meal on those cooler end-of-summer nights.
- Add more veggies and herbs. This marinated tomato salad is easy to tweak with different veggies, herbs, and more. For a deeper layer of flavor, I like to add thinly sliced bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or roasted red peppers. An English cucumber and some green onions add a nice freshness, and fresh parsley is a good alternative to basil.
- Change the cheese. Tiny fresh mozzarella balls are a nice alternative to feta for a twist on my Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad.
- Use larger tomatoes. If you can find some really flavorful heirloom tomatoes, dice or slice them to use instead of cherry tomatoes. They usually won't have quite the same sweetness as cherry tomatoes, but they'll soak up that homemade dressing and taste wonderful!
- Serve as a pasta salad. To stretch the salad for a larger crowd, boil macaroni or penne until al dente, then rinse under cool running water. Add the veggies and feta and toss with a double (or triple) batch of the dressing as needed. Let it rest in the fridge for a few hours to let the flavors come together.
How to Serve
This Cherry Tomato Salad is delicious served on its own as a light lunch, or paired with some of my favorite summer dinners including:
- Pasta Primavera
- Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
- Spanish Tortilla (Tortilla de Patatas)
- Salmon Burgers
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Vegetable Orzo
For more recipes, see our 60+ Summer Dinner Ideas.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Quality matters. I recommend taking a trip to the farmer's market instead of buying your tomatoes from the grocery store. You want the freshest, most flavorful cherry tomatoes picked at peak freshness. Look for varieties like Sungold, Sweet Millions, and Lemon Drop, and don't be afraid to incorporate different colors of tomatoes for more visual appeal.
- Marinate for better flavor. You truly do not need to wait to eat this summer salad, but the onions and tomatoes will soak up even more flavor after 30 minutes to an hour. If you can make the salad and let it rest while you prepare the main dish, it'll be absolutely perfect by dinner time.
- Try the plate trick. Instead of individually slicing each tiny tomato, try this trick. Arrange as many tomatoes as you can in an even layer on a dinner plate. Then, cover that plate with another plate (flipping it upside down if needed). Using a sharp serrated knife in one hand and gently holding down the top plate in the other, saw through the space between the two plates to cut through the tomatoes. So easy!
Storing Instructions
This cherry tomato salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
FAQ
Tomatoes, in general, are great for you, and cherry tomatoes are no exception. Cherry tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which is essential for many functions, as well as lycopene, which can help reduce the likelihood of strokes and even support bone health! Incorporate them into your diet in these cherry tomato recipes, like my baked caprese chicken or baked Mediterranean pasta.
I usually prefer to pair cheeses with fresh tomatoes in one of two ways. Option 1: Something sI usually prefer to pair cheeses with fresh tomatoes in one of two ways. First, choose something salty and briny, like feta or ricotta salata (a dry, crumbly version of ricotta more like feta than standard ricotta). They're both salty enough to bring out the flavor of fresh tomatoes.
Or, consider cool, creamy cheeses, like fresh mozzarella or burrata. Of course, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese is a classic pairing used in everything from margherita pizza to my caprese pasta salad. But if you enjoy fresh mozzarella with tomatoes, do yourself a favor and try my tomato burrata salad. It has all the flavors you love but is extra buttery and creamy, thanks to the burrata's high-fat content. It's exceptional!
Yes! Cherry tomatoes' sweetness and intense flavor make them particularly wonderful in tomato salads. I recommend cutting them in half to make them easier to eat and to allow the tomatoes to soak up the dressing. I like to balance them with a little red onion, fresh herbs, and briny feta, but they're also fantastic on their own tossed in a little homemade vinaigrette.
More Salad Recipes with Cherry Tomatoes
- 40 Best Salad Recipes
- Tomato Burrata Salad
- Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese Salad
- Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
- Tortellini Salad
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad
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Recipe
Cherry Tomato Salad
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This quick and easy Cherry Tomato Salad is light, fresh, and delicious. It is is one of the most intensely flavored side dishes, yet it only requires a few minutes of effort. Sweet cherry tomatoes are tossed with red onion, fresh basil, and feta cheese in a simple homemade vinaigrette that brings out every note of this simple tomato salad Save the recipe to make on repeat all summer long!
Ingredients
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- ½ red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large serving dish, combine cherry tomatoes, onion, basil, and feta cheese.
- In a small mixing bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Add the dressing into the tomato salad. Toss well and serve immediately.
Notes
How to store: This cherry tomato salad should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Tossed
- Cuisine: American
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