This Simple Marinated Tomato Salad is the epitome of fresh, vibrant flavor with minimal effort! It features juicy cherry or grape tomatoes tossed in a tangy and slightly sweet dressing made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Italian seasoning, and honey. I absolutely adore making this Marinated Tomato Salad, especially during the spring and summer months (like right now, late April!) when tomatoes are bursting with flavor. This recipe is incredibly easy, requires no cooking, and delivers a punch of flavor that’s perfect as a side dish or appetizer all season long!
Why You’ll Love This Marinated Tomato Salad
- Incredibly Simple & Quick: Just chop, whisk the dressing, and toss! Ready in about 10 minutes plus marinating time.
- Bursting with Fresh Flavor: Highlights the delicious taste of ripe tomatoes, enhanced by a tangy dressing and fresh basil.
- No-Cook Recipe: Perfect for warm weather when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.
- Versatile Side Dish: Pairs beautifully with grilled meats, chicken, fish, pasta, or serves as a light appetizer.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors actually improve as the tomatoes marinate!
Ingredients for Marinated Tomato Salad
Here’s what you’ll need to make this simple and flavorful salad. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Tomatoes
- Cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered (Vegetable/Fruit)
Dressing & Garnish
- Vegetable or extra virgin olive oil (Oil)
- Apple cider vinegar (Acid)
- Italian seasoning (Spice Blend)
- Salt (Seasoning) (Added based on standard practice)
- Honey or sugar (Sweetener)
- Fresh chopped basil (Herb)
- Fresh cracked black pepper (Spice) (Added based on standard practice)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the bright simplicity of this Marinated Tomato Salad, but feel free to customize it:
- Add Mozzarella: Toss in some fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini) or cubed fresh mozzarella for a Caprese-style salad.
- Include Onion or Garlic: Add finely minced red onion, shallot, or a clove of garlic to the dressing for more bite.
- Different Vinegar: Use red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
- Different Herbs: Substitute fresh parsley, oregano, or thyme for the basil.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Add Cucumber or Bell Pepper: Mix in some diced cucumber or bell pepper for extra crunch and veggies.
How to Make Marinated Tomato Salad
Let me show you how incredibly easy it is to make this fresh Marinated Tomato Salad:
Make the Dressing
- In a small bowl (or a jar with a lid), I combine the olive oil (or vegetable oil), apple cider vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and the honey or sugar.
- I whisk these ingredients together well (or shake the jar vigorously) until the dressing is combined and slightly emulsified.
Combine and Marinate
- (Completing the instructions) In a medium or large serving bowl, I place the quartered cherry or grape tomatoes.
- I pour the prepared dressing over the tomatoes.
- I add the fresh chopped basil.
- Gently, I toss everything together until the tomatoes are evenly coated with the dressing and herbs.
- For the best flavor, I cover the bowl and let the Marinated Tomato Salad sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (or chill in the refrigerator for longer storage) to allow the tomatoes to soak up the delicious marinade flavors.
Serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Marinated Tomatoes
Here are my secrets for making this simple Marinated Tomato Salad truly exceptional:
- Use Ripe, Flavorful Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes work wonderfully because they are often sweeter and hold their shape well. Choose tomatoes that smell fragrant and are vibrant in color.
- Fresh Basil is Key: Use fresh basil for that classic, summery flavor. Dried basil won’t have the same impact.
- Let it Marinate: Don’t skip the marinating time! Even 30 minutes at room temperature allows the flavors to meld significantly.
- Good Quality Oil & Vinegar: Since the dressing is simple, using good quality extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar makes a difference.
- Season to Taste: Tomatoes love salt! Taste the salad after marinating and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
How to Serve
This Marinated Tomato Salad is incredibly versatile! Serve it as:
- A Simple Side Dish: Perfect alongside grilled chicken, fish, steak, pork chops, or burgers.
- An Appetizer: Serve with crusty bread or crostini for scooping.
- A Topping: Spoon over grilled bread (bruschetta), add to sandwiches or wraps, or top simple pasta dishes.
- Part of an Antipasto Platter: A bright addition alongside cheeses, olives, and cured meats.
- A Salad Addition: Toss it into larger green salads for extra flavor.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Make Ahead and Storage
This salad is fantastic for making ahead!
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad completely and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors will continue to develop!
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Bring towards room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving for the best flavor, as olive oil can solidify when chilled.
FAQs about Marinated Tomato Salad
- Can I use large tomatoes instead of cherry/grape tomatoes?
- Yes! Use ripe Roma or vine-ripened tomatoes. Dice them into bite-sized pieces and consider removing the watery seeds first to prevent the salad from becoming too liquidy.
- Can I make this oil-free?
- The olive oil is key to the dressing’s flavor and texture. You could try omitting it and increasing the vinegar/lemon juice slightly, but it will result in a much tangier, less traditional marinade.
- How long does this salad need to marinate?
- Allow at least 30 minutes at room temperature for the flavors to start melding. Marinating longer in the refrigerator (up to 24 hours) develops even deeper flavor for this Marinated Tomato Salad.
Enjoy this incredibly simple, fresh, and flavorful Easy Marinated Tomato Salad! It’s a perfect taste of sunshine.
Print
Marinated Tomato Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Appetizer, Vegan (if using sugar/maple syrup), Gluten-Free
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Description
This marinated tomato salad recipe is super simple, with a punch of flavor! Featuring cherry or grape tomatoes tossed in an easy vinaigrette, it’s ready to serve all Summer long!
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey (or granulated sugar, or maple syrup)
- Fresh cracked black pepper (optional, to taste)
- Fresh chopped basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Tomatoes: Wash the cherry or grape tomatoes. Cut them in half or quarters, depending on their size. Place the prepared tomatoes in a large bowl.
- Make Marinade: In a small bowl or a jar with a lid, combine the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and honey (or sugar). Whisk well or seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified. Season with black pepper, if desired.
- Combine and Marinate: Pour the prepared marinade over the tomatoes in the large bowl. Toss gently to coat the tomatoes evenly.
- Marinate: Let the tomato salad marinate at room temperature for at least 15-30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. For deeper flavor, you can cover and refrigerate for longer (up to a few hours), but bring back closer to room temperature before serving.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped basil just before serving.
Notes
- Tomatoes: Use ripe, sweet cherry or grape tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar provides a nice tang. Red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar can be substituted.
- Sweetener: Honey or sugar balances the acidity. Adjust the amount based on the sweetness of your tomatoes and your preference. Maple syrup can also be used.
- Marinating Time: Allowing the tomatoes to marinate enhances their flavor as they absorb the dressing.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve as a side dish with grilled meats, chicken, or fish. It’s also great as a topping for bruschetta, salads, or grain bowls.
- Storage: Store leftover marinated tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. The texture may soften slightly over time.