Cherry Tomato Salad is a vibrant, juicy salad that can be made in minutes! Made with fresh ingredients and tossed in a homemade balsamic dressing, this salad goes great with grilled chicken for dinner or on its own for a light lunch!
Cherry Tomato Salad
Looking for something a little more fresh and a little less heavy after all the summer burgers and hot dogs? This summery tomato salad is the perfect pick-me-up when you’re craving fresh flavor. I make it with what I call a “pantry staple” dressing that I almost always have the ingredients on hand for. Some tangy tomatoes, a little light dressing, and of course a pile of parmesan cheese makes this dish a quick and easy option for a summertime snack. Whether you grow your own tomatoes or use store-bought, this is a perfect salad to utilize tomato season. Enjoy it as an appetizer or a side dish and dig in!
Let’s make use of tomato season while we can! Try out Roasted Tomato Pesto Pasta for a flavorful dinner, or Easy Chopped Greek Salad for lunch!
What are the best tomatoes to use in a salad?
My preference, if you couldn’t tell by the title, are cherry or grape tomatoes. I like the size of them and how juicy they are. Sliced in half they make the perfect bite. However, you can use any kind of tomato you like. Beefsteak, Roma, Heirloom, all are great options. If you’ve got a green thumb you may have your own garden fresh tomatoes to use! If you aren’t using the cherry variety you will need 3-4 medium sized tomatoes diced into bite sized chunks.
How To Make Cherry Tomato Salad
- Prep. Start by washing your tomatoes. If using the cherry variety, slice them in half and place them in a large serving bowl. Set aside. If opting for larger tomatoes, dice into bite sized chunks.
- Make the dressing. You can use a small bowl or a mason jar with a tight fitting lid (this option is perfect if you’re making the dressing ahead of time or just want to keep extra on hand). Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir or shake until fully combined. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.
- Stir. Drizzle the dressing over the tomatoes and gently stir to coat.
- Serve. Grate fresh parmesan cheese over top, sprinkle a little parsley as a garnish, and enjoy!
Storing Cherry Tomato Salad
You can store the fully dressed tomato salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The dressing can actually be made in advance and stored up to a week in the fridge before making the salad.
Ingredient Notes for Cherry Tomato Salad
- Tomatoes – I prefer cherry tomatoes for this salad but you can use any you have on hand. You’ll need 3-4 medium tomatoes.
- Olive Oil –This acts as the base for our dressing. You can swap it with avocado oil if preferred.
- Balsamic Vinegar – I love the flavor the balsamic vinegar adds. A little sweet, a little tangy, it’s the perfect combo.
- Garlic – One clove minced will do but of course you can always add more if you’re a big garlic fan.
- Dijon Mustard – This thickens the dressing just a tad and adds flavor. Don’t swap it with regular yellow mustard!
- Italian Seasoning – How can you not add Italian seasoning to a tomato salad? Greek seasoning may work here as well.
- Salt and Pepper – Enough to taste but not overpower. We want to keep things light. Also, keep in mind that kosher or flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper works best.
- Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated if you can get it. Although a bag of shredded parmesan will do in a pinch.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Cherry Tomato Salad
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes** SEE NOTE
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Clove Garlic Minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Salt & Pepper To Taste
- 1/4 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Wash the cherry tomatoes. Slice them in half, and place in a large serving bowl.
- In a small bowl or mason jar with a tight fitting lid, shake together the oiive oil, balsamic, garlic, mustard, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste until well combined.
- Stir the dressing into the cherry tomatoes.
- Top with parmesan cheese as desired.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is a great side salad, especially if you some cherry tomatoes you need to use up. I am putting this on on the list for this summer when tomatoes are ripe.
Perfect indeed! This looks vibrant and delicious…perfect summer side 😀
These tomatoes are better than candies! That dressing is truly delicious and would make the cherry tomatoes shine.
I also think cherry tomatoes are the best, and when they’re in season they’re like candies! I just eat them directly, not even salt added. Beautiful salad!
I’m not a big fan of tomatoes, but my husband is always sneaking them into my meals to get me to eat them. I’m going to make this specifically for him as a surprise, he’ll love it!
Every time I go to Costco I pick up a tray of their grape tomatoes. We love them and they are so versatile. You can cook with them and they’re great in salads. I’ve never tried just starring them in their own salad roll. Your salad looks like just what we want to go along with our rotisserie chicken tonight.
What a beautifully simple salad, and a great way to use up fresh tomatoes. This would be perfect as a side dish for a summer BBQ
I used to hate tomatoes but as an adult, my taste buds have changed! I’m loving dishes like this now! Love that you used a Dijon Mustard and Balsamic. All the ingredients sound amazing! Can’t wait to dig into this one!
Love your presentation to this salad. Awesome on a decorative table. Love the flavors infused to this yummy salad.
Oh my gosh, easy and delicious! Your tomato salad looks so incredibly scrumptious that I’m going to bring these to my sister’s party this weekend!!