Air Fryer Tomatoes

Name: Air Fryer Tomatoes
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 14 min
Ingredients: 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; 2 tablespoons shredded cheese (such as mozzarella, cheddar, jack, or others); 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (panko)

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.

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

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What You'll Need
How to Prepare
Variations
How to Store
FAQ
Expert Tips
How to Serve
Recipes You'll Love
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💬 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

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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.

Seafood - Try these tomatoes with a simply grilled, baked, or pan-seared piece of fish or shrimp and some simple green salad.

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

Breakfast - I love the idea of an English breakfast, but to make it simple at home, try just having these tomatoes with some fried eggs and toast (and bacon if you want it!)

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.

Recipes You'll Love

If you're in the mood for more tomatoes, try these recipes:

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

Penne al Salmone (Penne with Salmon and Cherry Tomatoes)

Tomato and Mascarpone Sauce

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