31 Tomato Recipes You Can Pile on Toast, Dump on Pasta, or Eat Straight From the Cutting Board

There’s a tomato recipe in here for every kind of mood: rushed, lazy, picky, or just really hungry. These 31 options range from things you smear on toast to sauces that don’t need measuring cups. Most of them require less effort than finding the lid to your blender. If you’ve got tomatoes and a vague plan, this list has you covered.

Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

These are the kind of meatballs you don’t have to babysit. Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs let the tomatoes handle the heavy lifting while you do literally anything else. They hold up well, make enough for leftovers, and don’t ask for fancy sides. Whether it’s game night or meal prep, they fit in. Not much to clean up, either.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

Ricotta Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

These go beyond your average meatball situation. With Ricotta Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, you’re getting soft texture, rich flavor, and a tomato base that doesn’t play second fiddle. Scoop them onto pasta, polenta, or just eat them straight from the pan. Whatever plan you had, these improve it. Extra sauce recommended, but not required.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Meatballs with Tomato Sauce

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This one leans bold without needing a long list of steps. Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala lets the tomato bring a smooth base that holds everything together. It tastes like something you’d get out, not something you forgot about until dinner. You can pile it on rice or just mop it up with whatever bread’s nearby. Set it, ignore it, enjoy it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Mediterranean Salmon

You’ll feel like you made something expensive, even if it came together fast. Mediterranean Salmon puts tomato right on top without overdoing it. Great when you want dinner that feels different but still skips the stress. Serve it up or flake it into salad—no wrong moves here. And it works just as well cold the next day.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Salmon

Summery Caponata

It’s chunky, tangy, and borderline impossible to stop picking at once it’s on the cutting board. Summery Caponata brings just enough chaos to keep things interesting without needing a full plan. Pile it on crackers, toast, or just use a spoon—no judgment. It works cold, warm, or straight from the fridge, which makes it good at adapting to however lazy the day is. If your goal is “snack that feels like a meal,” this gets it done.
Get the Recipe: Summery Caponata

Old Fashioned Tomato Soup

This is the kind of recipe that makes rainy afternoons feel more like a plan than a problem. With Old Fashioned Tomato Soup, everything slows down in the right way without dragging. It’s basic in the best way possible and doesn’t need anything fancy to hold attention. Use it as an excuse to bring out toast or a grilled something if you’re feeling extra. It’s proof that tomato and comfort still go hand in hand.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Tomato Soup

Texas BLT

If your sandwich habits need a reset, this one’s the answer. The Texas BLT leans into tomato like it’s the star, not a sidekick, and that’s exactly what makes it worth repeating. Crunch, salt, and just enough mess to make it feel like a real meal—this isn’t a dainty situation. It’s what happens when a classic gets upgraded without turning into a project. You’ll want napkins and maybe a second one ready.
Get the Recipe: Texas BLT

Pork Chops with Tomato & Green Onion Relish

You’re getting dinner and something to talk about in one move here. Pork Chops with Tomato & Green Onion Relish isn’t fussy, but it’s sharp, fast, and somehow still feels like you knew what you were doing. The tomato part pulls double duty: flavor and texture, no extras needed. There’s enough going on that you won’t need sides unless you’re trying to show off. One plate, one fork, and everyone’s happy.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops with Tomato & Green Onion Relish

Easy Mexican Rice

This one’s built for big batches and second helpings. Easy Mexican Rice doesn’t hide the tomato; it lets it run the show. It’s the side dish that turns into the main event when you realize you keep going back for more. It holds up on its own, but doesn’t complain when piled high with whatever else you’ve got. Put it in a bowl and call it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Mexican Rice

Horiatiki Salad

This one checks all the boxes when you’re not trying to cook but still want something that feels like a real meal. The bold hit from Horiatiki Salad gives your plate crunch, salt, and all the tomato you could ask for. It doesn’t try to do too much, which is exactly the point. Grab a fork or just scoop it onto bread—either way, it works. It’s a smart choice when fridge digging turns up tomatoes and not much else.
Get the Recipe: Horiatiki Salad

Shipwreck Casserole

It’s got layers, it’s hearty, and it doesn’t pretend to be fancy. Shipwreck Casserole puts tomatoes right where they belong—front and center in something warm, filling, and unexpectedly comforting. This is the kind of thing you make when you’re tired of thinking about what to make. There’s no wrong way to eat it, and no one’s going to ask questions when it disappears fast. Call it dinner or leftovers, but don’t expect it to last long.
Get the Recipe: Shipwreck Casserole

A Southern Classic Tomato Pie

At first glance, it seems like a repeat—but A Southern Classic Tomato Pie has its own thing going on. It leans in with full tomato flavor and a texture that holds up even when sliced thick. It’s built to share, but you might not want to. Pile it onto a plate or sneak a forkful standing at the fridge. Either way, it doesn’t disappoint.
Get the Recipe: A Southern Classic Tomato Pie

BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!

Some recipes feel like summer in a bowl, and this is one of them. BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon! doesn’t overcomplicate things but still manages to bring big payoff in every bite. It’s perfect for days when you’re not in the mood for anything hot or fussy. The tomato shows up loud and clear without stealing all the attention. If you’ve got a cookout or a solo dinner, it doesn’t matter—this one works.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad – With Bacon!

Easy Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

Some soups exist for cold weather, but this one shows up whenever you want something fast and bold. With Easy Red Pepper and Tomato Soup, you’re getting something that works just as well solo or with whatever bread situation is within reach. It’s smooth, sharp, and doesn’t require extra explanation. Spoon optional but recommended. You’ll probably finish it faster than expected.
Get the Recipe: Easy Red Pepper and Tomato Soup

Tomato Bruschetta

It’s simple, messy, and somehow still feels like an occasion. Tomato Bruschetta brings just enough punch to wake up whatever bread you’ve got lying around. It’s less about the steps and more about what happens when tomatoes hit the right texture. You don’t need a party for this, just a reason to snack with zero guilt. Consider it lunch, dinner, or both.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Bruschetta

Baked Feta Pasta

This one took over the internet for a reason, but it’s not all hype. Baked Feta Pasta delivers tomato-heavy satisfaction without asking for a lot of attention. It’s the kind of dinner that looks like you made an effort, even if you didn’t. It works on the busiest weeknights or when friends drop by unannounced. No leftovers is usually the goal, and that checks out here.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta

Smoked Tomato Soup with Mascarpone

You don’t need to understand soup technique to enjoy this. Smoked Tomato Soup with Mascarpone goes big on flavor without crossing into complicated territory. It hits with a smoky twist that turns a regular bowl into something you’d think came from a restaurant. It’s cozy but not boring. Perfect for spooning straight from the pot if you’re not trying to impress anyone.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomato Soup with Mascarpone

Baked Spanish Rice

There’s nothing delicate about this dish, and that’s the point. Baked Spanish Rice goes heavy on the tomato and doesn’t hold back on being a full plate by itself. It’s the kind of thing that tastes even better the second time around—if you have any left. No extra sides needed unless you’re feeding a crowd. Put a lid on it and call it lunch all week.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spanish Rice

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

When you want something between soup and stew, this is what you reach for. Pasta e Fagioli Soup is thick, tomato-forward, and feels like a complete meal even without any extras. It’s flexible enough to work for both slow Sundays and midweek chaos. You won’t need to explain what it is—just hand someone a bowl and move on. It checks all the boxes.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

This one skips the bun but still gives you everything you’d want in a sandwich. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken keeps tomatoes in the spotlight while adding just enough bite to feel like a full meal. It works if you’re avoiding carbs or just forgot to buy bread. Either way, it holds its own on the plate. Worth making more than once.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad

If you’ve got stale bread and tomatoes, you’re already halfway there. Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad turns leftovers into something you’ll want to eat again and again. It’s chewy, juicy, and a little messy in the best way possible. Great for feeding a group or making solo lunch feel like less of an afterthought. Nothing fancy, but nothing boring either.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad

Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce

There’s a reason this one gets repeated—it doesn’t ask much but still delivers. Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce keeps things loose and forgiving, especially if your pantry situation is a bit chaotic. It lands somewhere between “I cooked” and “I threw stuff together,” and honestly, that’s the sweet spot. It’s fast, full of tomato, and doesn’t leave you with dishes you’ll avoid for days. Toss, eat, repeat.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce

Fasolakia Lathera

Sometimes you need something you can just simmer and forget for a while. That’s where Fasolakia Lathera comes in—it’s mellow, tomato-rich, and easy to eat by the bowl or with bread. It doesn’t try to be complicated, and that’s why it works. Perfect for evenings that need less effort and more payoff. Keep it casual, or serve it up like you had a plan.
Get the Recipe: Fasolakia Lathera

Mediterranean Chicken Bake

When the oven’s on and you want something that feels like a full meal, this is it. Mediterranean Chicken Bake pulls tomatoes into the spotlight without making things heavy. It lands somewhere between weeknight dinner and “I cooked something real” without tipping too far either way. One pan, big flavor, done deal. Leftovers might not make it to tomorrow.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken Bake

Smoked Tomatoes

These don’t need much to stand out. Smoked Tomatoes are one of those things that make you wonder why you haven’t been doing this all along. Put them on toast, mix them into pasta, or just eat them like candy—you’ve got options. It’s tomato with attitude, plain and simple. Don’t be surprised if they disappear faster than expected.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomatoes

White Bean Salad

Don’t overthink this one—it’s low effort and hits all the right notes. White Bean Salad gives tomatoes just enough backup to make every bite balanced without being boring. Works for lunch, dinner, or whatever meal you pretend counts between the two. You can eat it standing at the counter or sitting down like an adult. Both approaches work.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Salad

Tomato Bruschetta Board

This isn’t just a snack, it’s a strategy. With the Tomato Bruschetta Board, you can go full-on dinner mode or just graze your way through the fridge without breaking a sweat. It’s all about piling things high and letting the tomatoes do most of the work. It’s also great when you don’t want to cook but still want to feel like you did something. Keep it on the board or steal bites straight off the counter.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Bruschetta Board

Southern Tomato Pie

This is the kind of dish that makes you rethink what a pie can be. Southern Tomato Pie isn’t dessert, but it still hits all the right comfort notes in every slice. It’s sturdy, packed with flavor, and feels like something someone’s grandma perfected a long time ago. It’s easy to eat hot, cold, or somewhere in between. Definitely not the kind of thing you serve in small portions.
Get the Recipe: Southern Tomato Pie

Pico de Gallo

Technically it’s a topping, but let’s not pretend anyone’s not eating it with a spoon. Pico de Gallo does exactly what you want a tomato dish to do: hit sharp, fast, and keep you coming back. Throw it on anything or nothing—either way, it works. Once it’s on the table, it’s not sticking around. Good thing it’s quick to restock.
Get the Recipe: Pico de Gallo

Smoked Tomato Salsa

This isn’t your average salsa. Smoked Tomato Salsa has just enough bite and depth to make it impossible to ignore once it hits the chips. You’ll find yourself building whole meals just to have an excuse to spoon this on top. It works straight from the fridge or right off the stove. Multipurpose and dangerously snackable.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Tomato Salsa

Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes

There’s a lot going on here, but it all works. In Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes, the tomatoes bring the punch that holds everything together without needing too much seasoning. It’s one of those dishes that feels like more effort than it actually takes. Great cold or room temp, so don’t stress about timing. It disappears fast at any table.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes