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    Home » Diet » Vegan

    Published: Jul 28, 2022 · Modified: May 7, 2023 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Air Fryer Tomatoes

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    If you're looking for an easy way to enjoy delicious summer tomatoes without turning on the oven, these air fryer tomatoes are for you. Dusted with salt, spices, and garlic, they are savory, slightly sweet, tangy, and maintain their juiciness.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    Three red and purple heirloom roasted air fryer tomatoes sit on a black slate cooking stone on a butcher block cutting board.
    Jump to:
    • What You'll Need
    • How to Prepare
    • Variations
    • How to Store
    • FAQ
    • Expert Tips
    • How to Serve
    • More Air Fryer Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    I crave these tomatoes, so different variations are on our dinner table at least once a week. In the recipe card at the end of this post, you will see several different preparation options (including with breadcrumbs or cheese).

    One of my favorite things about this air fryer tomato recipe is its versatility. Try it with different spices and paired with everything from breakfast to grilled fish to see what you like best.

    One whole red heirloom tomato and one whole purple heirloom tomato sit next to three glass pinch bowls with two cloves of garlic, salt, dried thyme, and olive oil on a butcher block cutting board.

    What You'll Need

    Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

    • Fresh Tomatoes If you can find them, I like to use heirloom tomatoes because of their unusual and beautiful colors. Regular beefsteak tomatoes, roma tomatoes, and other varieties will also work well here. Canned tomatoes are not recommended.
    • Herbs Dried herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, or Herbs de Provence are all great in this recipe. You can use fresh thyme or oregano, too - I would use about half of the recommend amount in the recipe.
    • Garlic I used fresh minced garlic for this recipe. Garlic powder will work, too, if you are not using an Italian seasoning with garlic already present. Just add a light sprinkling.
    • Olive Oil Brushing a tiny bit of olive oil on the tomatoes adds a bit of flavor and helps prevent the garlic from burning.
    • Kosher Salt My recommendation is to use the brand Diamond Crystal because it allows you to easily adjust without oversalting. It is shaped in flakes as opposed to grains, which means it has a less concentrated salty flavor by volume.

    How to Prepare

    Step One Cut the tomatoes in half, remove the stem and thick part of the core and pat dry.

    One halved red heirloom tomato and one halved purple and red heirloom tomato sit on a white plate on a butcher block cutting board.

    Step Two Sprinkle herbs and salt on the cut side of the tomato.

    One halved red heirloom tomato and one halved purple and red heirloom tomato dusted with salt and dried thyme sit on a white plate on a butcher block cutting board.

    Step Three Brush olive oil and minced garlic over top.

    Minced garlic is spread on the cut side of a halved red heirloom tomato with a yellow silicone brush.

    Step Four Add parchment paper to the base of the fryer basket for easier cleaning. Place the tomatoes in the basket. Set air fryer to 350°F and cook for 10 to 12 minutes.

    One halved heirloom red tomato and one halved purple and red heirloom tomato coated in oil, spices, and minced garlic sit on a piece of parchment paper in an air fryer basket.

    Step Five Carefully remove from the air fryer basket and serve right away.

    A closeup of cooked red heirloom tomato sitting on black slate cooking stone

    Variations

    Sliced Tomatoes Instead of halved tomatoes, cut into slices. Cook for 6 minutes at 375°F.

    Cheesy Tomatoes Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of shredded cheese on top of each cut side of a tomato before cooking. Cook with the cheese side up at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes.

    I like mozzarella here, but honestly, you can use any shredded cheese you have on hand.

    Breaded Tomatoes Brush halved tomatoes with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with panko bread crumbs, dried herbs, and salt. Cook at 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes.

    How to Store

    Cooked tomatoes can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

    Store the tomatoes in an airtight container and be sure to get them in the fridge within 2 hours of cooking for food safety reasons.

    FAQ

    Can I make these in the oven?

    Yes you can! I usually put these in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes at 425°F. Oven temperatures can differ, though, so you may need slightly less or more time.

    Can I make these with cheese or breading?

    Absolutely. Add shredded cheese of your choice to the cut half of each tomato half before cooking. To add breading, sprinkle breadcrumbs (I like panko) and seasonings to the cut half of the tomato.

    Can I make these ahead of time?

    You can. Feel free to make them in advance and seal in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.

    How do I reheat these?

    I reheat these in the microwave most often for 1 to 2 minutes. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.

    Can I freeze these?

    Yes, but the texture may suffer. You can freeze these tomatoes for up to 4 months (without cheese or breading).

    Expert Tips

    • Store your tomatoes on the counter before cooking, not in the fridge. The texture of tomatoes is adversely affected by cold temperatures. Cold tomatoes may affect cook times as well.
    • Store tomatoes stem down prior to cooking. This helps prevent moisture loss and may prevent mold growth around the stem.
    • Instead of cutting tomatoes through the center lengthwise, cut through the center widthwise (see photos above). This way, you can cut out the thick bit of core under the stem that can be too tough to eat.

    How to Serve

    These tomatoes are an easy, adaptable side. Try some of the suggestions below to create a complete meal.

    Chicken - Serve these air fryer tomatoes with Italian Chicken Cutlets and rice or pilaf. You could also try these super easy and delicious Air Fryer Trader Joe's BBQ Teriyaki Chicken or these crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Thighs.

    Seafood - Try these tomatoes with a simply grilled, baked, or pan-seared piece of fish or shrimp and some potatoes, like these Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes or these Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes.

    Pork These tomatoes are fantastic with Italian Baked Pork Chops or pork tenderloin medallions.

    Breakfast - I love the idea of an English breakfast with these tomatoes, smoked sausage in air fryer, fried eggs and toast (and bacon or beans if you want them!) They would also be delicious with Sausage Spinach Quiche.

    Steak - Have these tomatoes alongside a seared or grilled steak.

    Bowls - Add these on top of a grain bowl or protein-based bowl of your choice, like this Warm Grain Bowl with Goat Cheese and Greens.

    Boards - Try adding these tomatoes to a cheese or charcuterie board.

    More Air Fryer Recipes

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      Easy Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash
    • A closeup side view is shown of an air fryer turkey burger on a light blue plate.
      The Best Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
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      Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
    • Roasted broccoli and cauliflower sit on a white plate with a decorative silver fork and a dusty pink linen on a white marble counter with a bunch of fresh thyme.
      Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower

    📖 Recipe

    Three red and purple heirloom roasted air fryer tomatoes sit on a black slate cooking stone on a butcher block cutting board.

    Air Fryer Tomatoes

    Juicy, savory tomatoes quickly prepared in the air fryer for an easy, versatile side dish ready in under 15 minutes
    5 from 14 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Air Fryer, Easy Side, Quick
    Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 118kcal
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    Equipment

    • Air Fryer
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    Tomatoes

    • 2 tomatoes medium to large, sliced in half
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
    • 1 teaspoon dried herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, Herbs de Provence, or Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

    For Cheesy Tomatoes

    • 2 tablespoons shredded cheese such as mozzarella, cheddar, jack, or others

    For Breaded Tomatoes

    • 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs panko

    Instructions

    Tomatoes

    • Slice tomatoes in half, remove stem, and cut out thick part of core (see photos in body of blog for reference).
    • Sprinkle with salt and herbs.
    • Mince garlic and add to olive oil. Brush on the cut side of the tomatoes.
    • Line basket of air fryer with parchment paper. Place tomatoes in basket cut side up.
    • Insert basket. Turn air fryer to 350°F and set for 10 to 12 minutes.

    For Cheesy Tomatoes

    • After steps 1 through 3 above, add shredded cheese to cut side of tomatoes and cook at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes.

    For Breaded Tomatoes

    • After steps 1 through 3 above, add panko breadcrumbs and cook at 375°F for 6 to 8 minutes.

    For Sliced Tomatoes

    • Instead of slicing tomatoes in half, create even, thick slices. Add salt, olive oil, garlic, and spices to the top side of the tomato.
    • Add parchment paper and tomatoes to basket and cook at 360°F for 6 minutes.

    For Oil Free Tomatoes

    • Follow steps 1 through 4 omitting the olive oil.

    Notes

    • Estimates calories are for two halves of a tomato with olive oil, herbs, and garlic. Calorie values will differ for added cheese or breadcrumbs.
    • Try different dried herbs to see what you like best.
    • Cooked tomatoes can be stored for 3 to 5 days in the fridge and reheated in the microwave or at 350°F in the oven.
    • It is possible to freeze cooked tomatoes for 4 months (without cheese or breadcrumbs), though the texture may be altered after defrosting. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 118kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 1233mg | Potassium: 309mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1072IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 1mg

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz says

      August 02, 2022 at 1:17 pm

      5 stars
      We've been getting lots of tomatoes from our garden and I was trying to find something new to do with them! These air fried tomatoes are so tasty!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 02, 2022 at 5:54 pm

        Garden tomatoes are the best. Thank you Liz!

        Reply
    2. Allyssa says

      August 02, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      Highly recommended! Super loved this very helpful recipe! Thanks a lot for this amazing and super easy to make air fryer tomatoes recipe! It's really tasty and very flavorful! Will surely have this again!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 02, 2022 at 5:53 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it - thank you!

        Reply
    3. Emily says

      August 02, 2022 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      I have so many tomatoes right now I'm looking for different recipes. This was perfect! They came out great. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 02, 2022 at 5:53 pm

        Thanks Emily!

        Reply
    4. Glenda says

      August 02, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      These were scrumptious! I made Denver Omelets and we had breakfast for dinner. I put these tomatoes alongside the omelet and they not only dressed up the plate, but I think they actually became the star. So good!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 02, 2022 at 5:53 pm

        That sounds so good - I'll have to make it! Thanks Glenda!

        Reply
    5. Shelby says

      August 03, 2022 at 12:25 am

      5 stars
      Such an easy way to use up extra tomatoes! I whipped some up and used them in pasta the next day- awesome flavor!

      Reply
      • Genevieve says

        August 04, 2022 at 4:12 am

        That’s another great idea I haven’t tried yet! Thanks, Shelby.

        Reply

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