Stuffed cherry tomatoes take your appetizer game to another level, transforming them into irresistible little bites of pure bliss. These flavorful gems are perfect for any cocktail or dinner party. For more starter ideas, explore my appetizer recipes.
With a wonderful crab meat filling, stuffed cherry tomatoes will make a great addition to your party. They're unbelievably tasty and dangerously addictive.
Cherry tomatoes are like little juicy bites of joy. Pick them off the vine and pop them in your mouth for a taste explosion. How do you make cherry stuffed tomatoes? Read on to find out.
Items you'll need for this stuffed cherry tomatoes recipe
- Mixing bowl – you'll need a small bowl to mix all the ingredients before making each of the stuffed cherry tomatoes.
- Wooden spoon – invest in a wooden spoon and it'll be your best friend in the kitchen.
- Paper towels – once you've cored each one, set them upside down on kitchen paper so they can dry out.
- Slicing knife – you'll need a nice sharp knife for the delicate task of coring each one before it's stuffed.
- Watermelon carving knife – you could also use the knife from a melon baller set. It's kind of like a scalper and will bring extra precision to the job of coring.
- Appetizer plates – serve up this sumptuous recipe on these appetizer plates.
- Chili powder – chili powder is a great way to add a spicy dimension to your stuffed cherry tomatoes.
- Chives – 2 tablespoons of chives give these stuffed cherry tomatoes a nice oniony taste.
Stuffed cherry tomatoes recipe
An elegant yet simple dish, these stuffed cherry tomatoes are a guaranteed crowd pleaser. They're so moreish that they'll be gone in sixty seconds. So, prepare a big batch of stuffed cherry tomatoes and savor every bite.
These stuffed cherry tomatoes are so simple to make, with hardly any prep time – it's just a case of mixing the crab meat with mayonnaise, chili, chives and pinch of salt and pepper. Then comes the clever bit.
You'll cut a small piece off each end of the tomatoes (this helps them stay upright), then scoop out the pulp and seeds. Then comes the stuffed filling ... voilà! You have a super tasty little snack that looks the part.
Are stuffed cherry tomatoes healthy?
Tomatoes are packed full of vitamins – especially vitamin A and vitamin C. These are essential for maintaining healthy skin, a strong immune system and a healthy heart. They are also rich in lycopene – which can help protect the body against cancer.
The other main ingredient in this recipe – crab – is very good for you. It's high in phosphorous, which helps maintain healthy bones and teeth. It's also full of omega-3 fatty acids, which help you keep a balanced cholesterol level, increase your immune system and help blood circulation.
Crab is also an amazing source of protein. It contains as much protein as many types of meat, with a lot less saturated fat.
Is there a difference between grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes?
The main difference is their shape. Grape tomatoes are shaped like a grape – a much longer, more oval shape. On the other hand, cherries are perfectly round.
They do have similar tastes, with a few key differences. Grape tomatoes have a great sugar to acidity balance, giving them a nice subtle sweetness. They also have a satisfying crunch and a meaty freshness.
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Cherries tend to be a lot sweeter. They are incredibly juicy – fruitier that grape tomatoes – and have a crisp, fresh bite.
Of course, if you can't find cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes will work just as well in this recipe.
Can cherry tomatoes be frozen?
Freezing them is easy – just wash them, dry with paper towels, place on a cookie tray and put them in the freezer. After an hour, take them out and put them in an airtight freezer bag or container.
Take them out the day before you want to use them, letting them defrost overnight in the fridge.
They'll keep in the freezer for about a year, but they'll keep their flavour will remain intact for around six months. They'll be best used in cooking rather than eating fresh.
How do you core a cherry tomato?
Use a sharp serrated knife to carefully slice either end. This will help it to stand. Then, using the end of a teaspoon, scoop out the pulp. Be careful not to tear it, otherwise it won't keep its shape when stuffed. Bigger tomatoes are easier to handle.
Can you eat overripe tomatoes?
Overripe ones are sweet and delicious. They aren't always the best ingredient in salad recipes or to eat raw, as they go a little too soft. So, drizzle with a little oil, sprinkle over a pinch of salt and place them in the oven until they begin to burst. They'll taste like heaven!
What can I do with surplus cherry tomatoes?
You can always make sauce recipes – something like this simmered fresh tomato sauce recipe would be a great way to use up the excess.
Other great recipes
Aside from this one, there are some great recipes for appetizers with cherry tomatoes. Have a look at these simple, quick recipes that all taste fantastic.
- Cherry tomatoes salad –simple, fresh and full of flavor, this healthy salad is perfect for an easy midweek lunch and a great way to use up all those extras tomatoes. Appetizers don't come tastier or easier.
- Bruschetta with tomato and parma ham – when it comes to appetizers, this recipe is great! The first bite of this crunchy, tasty dish will win you over immediately. A simple little dish, this Italian classic that makes a perfect starter or appetizer come the holiday season. Add cream cheese for extra decadence.
- Mediterranean salad – a fresh summer salad – although it's fantastic all year round – this recipe is very easy to make and is a great way to use up those extras.
- Tomatoes, feta & basil kebabs – these healthy kebabs are super simple to make and taste terrific. A great way to use up surplus tomatoes, with three ingredients that work so well together.
- Salmon Terrine - another classy seafood starter that will complement this crab recipe wonderfully.
What are your favourite appetizer recipes to make over the holiday season? Let me know in the comments below.
Competition Question: What is your favourite way to use cherry tomatoes?
Print📖 Recipe
Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
These Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes have a luxurious crab filling and are super simple and quick to prepare. Perfect for cocktail parties!
Ingredients
- 115g (4 oz) crab meat
- 30ml (2 tbsp) mayonnaise
- ⅛ tsp dried chili powder
- 30ml (2 tbsp) chives, finely chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 16 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the crab meat, mayonnaise, chili and chives. Mix well. Season to taste, then cover and refrigerate until needed.
- Using a serrated knife, cut a very thin slice from the stem end of each tomato. Carefully scoop out the pulp and seeds with the tip of a teaspoon.
- Sprinkle the insides of the tomato shells lightly with salt. Invert them on kitchen paper and let them drain for 15 minutes.
- Using a small spoon or your fingers, stuff the tomatoes with the crab, mounding the filling slightly on top. Serve cold.
Notes
- Tomatoes have a tendency to roll over thanks to their rounded bottoms. To tackle this issue, thinly slice the base of the tomato, to form a flat surface so that the tomato is stabilised.
- Why not use different coloured cherry tomatoes for maximum visual impact?
- In this recipe, 4 cherry tomatoes serve as a canape portion per person.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Starter
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 179
- Sugar: 15.7 g
- Sodium: 190.3 mg
- Fat: 6.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23.3 g
- Fiber: 7.2 g
- Protein: 10.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30.8 mg
Darren Bourne
I like making a tasty pasta sauce with them.
Aileen
Roasted and mixed through pasta
Tammy Neal
In a salad x
Joanne
As a quick, healthy snack!
Violet Phillippo
I eat them as a snack but they are also lovely in a tomato sauce.
Jennifer Toal
Olive oil, sea salt and mozzarella
Mandy Betts
In a salad topped with salmon and a honey and ginger sauce - delicious!
Joyce W
I love garlic roasted cherry tomatoes
MERYL Thomas
I love them in a green salad - you can really taste them
Patricia Bowley
I love them baked as it brings out the sweetness of the tomatoes. Perfect for salads or chicken dishes.
Janine Hann
Roasted in the oven with a little olive oil
Ian Campbell
Chopped in half, mixed with salad cream and used in a salad with potatoes, boiled eggs and lettuce - utterly delish!
Ross Leech
In a nice salad.
Daphne Monk
I like mine best in a salad, but also put those passed there best in my speghetti sauce
Heli L
I like cherry tomatoes in a simple salad with rocket and cucumber drizzled with olive oil or roasted together with sausages and potatoes
Amy Stevens
I put them in salad as they are awesome
Hazel Rea
I just love using them in a salad - they are so sweet!
Sandra Fortune
Love them as they are I can eat them like sweets
Ritchie Dee
Roasted then used in a pasta sauce.
Magsd
I love baked cherry tomatoes they are so sweet
Thomas Perry
I love to bake them in the oven with cheese, garlic and a bit of basil. It is the perfect snack
janine atkin
i like to use them in a salad
Leslie Evans
Wash under tap, put in my mouth, Chew
Carolyn E
I like a passata from fresh cherry tomatoes drizzled on bread or fish. So deliciously sweet
Tracy Barber
I like to eat cherry tomatoes freshly picked from the bush, in a salad or lightly roasted with some fish
SUSAN L HALL
I make a Tuna and Cherry tomato pasta - not my idea ( Jamie's) but its really tasty.
Sheri Darby
I just love them as hey are, I eat them like sweets
Rachel B
I like them whole in a salad best.
Emma Davison
Roasted with onions, garlic and basil to make into pasta sauce.
A.E. ADKINS
We eat them fresh and raw in salads/snacks but also throw them halved into any pasta dishes but usually spaghetti vongole or prawn linguine
Carolynn Woodland
I love them lightly roasted as it really brings out a flavour.
Also just popping them in my mouth whole with a salad.
Anthea Holloway
I have grown many of them this year and, apart from popping the straight into my mouth when I have picked them, I use them in salads and sandwiches.
Kim Carberry
I do like them in a salad x
Sammi McSporran
I love putting cherry tomatoes into risottos or pasta dishes. Theyre so yummy and vibrant!
julie Jones
We always use Cherry toms in Anti pasta
James Travis
In a chicken salad
Anne Plumb
I like to use them as a base for my courgetti spaghetti
Jennifer Rhymer
I love cherry tomatoes in a salad as they are bitesize and it saves a lot of chopping (anything to save time as a busy mum) x
Ruth Harwood
I don't like tomatoes lol!! But my son likes them in a salad xx
Bridget Johnson
Those stuffed cherry tomatoes look delicious I can’t wait to try them
Mary Baldwin
I love just to snack on cherry tomatoes straigt out of the fridge. To cook with however I like to add them whole to pasta and rice dishes right at the end of cooking to add that little touch of acidity.
Margaret Mccaffery
I love to eat them whole in salads.
Mark Mccaffery
I like them scattered over a pizza.
Sarah Hanson
Just simply in a salad
Heather Crowe
In a mozzarella and pesto pasta, so yummy!
Zoey H
Do try and have a hand full each day, esp at mo as we have them growing in our garden. Recently made green tomato relish which was delish
Erica Hughes
In a summer salad or just with some bread and butter.
Karen R
I love them roasted as an accompaniment to chicken breasts in puff pastry and pesto
Diane Duggan
I like to use them to make a pasta sauce.
Laura Pritchard
Fresh in a salad!
Mark R
I love my cherry tomatoes straight from the greenhouse whilst they are warm from the sun and at their tastiest.
Tim Woolfenden
i love them in a nice healthy salad
Joanne Holmes
In a simple salad
Adrian Bold
I use them in salads or for home made soups.
Christine Caple
I love them in a traybake, but usually add them half way through to avoid them disintegrating.
Susan Hoggett
I love them simply cut up with a salad or tossed through a pasta as they go so sweet when they are warm!
Rachael
I love roasting them whole and adding to pasta dishes, delicious!
Fiona jk42
I like to use cherry tomatoes to make home-made pasta sauce. They are much sweeter than normal tomatoes and make a lovely sauce.
lynn neal
I like them in a cheese and chive omlette!
claire woods
In a salad.
pete c
mine is in a salad with some cucumber and spinach
Keith Hunt
Hot on top of a cheese pie.
Angela Kelly
Basic, but I love them in a cheese and tomato panini.
Tammy Tudor
In a yummy salad! They add a yummy summer flavour
Lucy
I would have them with burrata as a starter before a meal 🙂
Victoria Prince
I love them halved and mixed in with couscous or rice (though the absolute best way is straight off the plant when you've grown your own!)
fiona waterworth
We add them to spaghetti bolognaise they are suprisingly nice like this
Claire Driver
We eat a portion a day with lunch and extra with dinner if we roast them
Patricia Avery
My favourite way to eat cherry tomatoes is as a healthy snack just as they come on my way out of the greenhouse after picking them!
Mel Pennie
We use them mainly in salads but as they get a little soft we sauté them with garlic and put them on bruschetta
MJ
In my 5 Tom Soup
Kim M
In a salad, maybe with a bit of fresh basil and salt and cider vinegar
Joo Dee
eat them like sweets!
Susan B
As part of a Greek salad with feta and olives.
Bryan Murphy
In a nice Greek Salad
Chris Andrews
What is your favourite way to use cherry tomatoes?
roasted as an accompaniment to so many dishes, quick and easy
Isabell Whitenstall
I like to grill my cherry tomatoes to have along side bacon and eggs. At the moment I have plenty from my greenhouse so I am mainly using them when I make bolognese sauce
cat
love them baked whole to serve as a side
Louise A
Sliced on top of pizza
Karen Barrett
I like to make a sauce using cherry tomatoes, so sweet! I use for pizza base, spag bol and pasta
Paul Brown
this is a good idea for the tomatoes from my garden
William Gould
We have cherry tomatoes most weeks, but usually just as part of a salad...
Tracy Nixon
On a salad with a jacket potato!
Brad Start
My favourite way is on top of a homemade pizza
Peter Watson
I like to use them in a Spaghetti Bolognese.
Peter Nickson
Grow my own tomatoes, was amazed by it.
Marie Rungaadiachy
I love to roast them slowly in the oven with garlic, herbs and olive oil and make sunblushed tomatoes.
Cydney Webster
Roasted with garlic and pesto
Ollie
I love mixing them with a little extra virgin olive oil and mozzarella.
Sheena Batey
Stuffed with cream cheese and chives
Mrs Helen Markham
The best way to use cherry tomatoes is to use them to stuff peppers with lots of fresh herbs, Parmesan and rice!
Christina Palmer
I love them sliced on top of cheese on toast and popped back under the grill till they are piping hot.
Charlotte isobelle
I love roasting them in the oven with oil and salt
Iain maciver
a chicken pasta salad
Alice Dixon
With chicken and over vegetables on skewers
Jane
Halved and on top of a homemade pizza base with plenty of basil, olive oil and mozzarella
Jane Willis
I use cherry tomatoes in a dish we call "Marudi Pork", my own version of a dish we ate in the jungle village of Marudi in Sarawak. It was a simple stir-fry of pork, spring onions and cherry tomatoes in a tomatoey, slightly sweet-sour sauce.
sharon martin
in a chicken pasta salad
Jo m welsh
We like them in a simple pesto pasta with mozzarella
Margaret Gallagher
Love as a snack or salads - love them anyway
Tayla Morris
In a salad!
melanie stirling
I eat tomatoes everyday and I usually just eat cherry tomatoes raw in salad but I do like them roasted too with peppers and courgettes.
sam
i love cherry tomatoes in a healthy style full english
Michelle
Hillary - It is amazing but I have to warn you it's a bit fiddly. You do need a bit of patience, but it definitely pays off.
Thanks, Jaden!
Andreea - It sure is! 🙂
andreea
this looks like a party pleaser 🙂
steamy kitchen
beautiful photo!
Hillary
Those are beautiful! It's amazing you can scoop out and stuff such a small tomato. Nice work.