These quick marinated tomatoes are so nice to have on hand and easy to make. Add them to your favorite pasta salads and sandwiches or serve them as a snack!

These marinated tomatoes have a great texture and never turn out mushy like most other pickled tomatoes. Plus, they are skinless — which makes them even more enjoyable to eat right out of the jar! You’re going to just love the tangy, tomatoey marinade…
Best Tomatoes to Use For This Recipe
Truth be told, you can use any firm tomato for this recipe. Typically, Romas work the best. Cherry tomatoes can work well too. Just remember that you will have to peel each tomato before you marinate them. Depending on how long you want to spend peeling, choose wisely!

How To Make Marinated Tomatoes
Simple, tasty and healthy, these easy tangy tomatoes require minimal ingredients and will soon take up permanent real estate in your refrigerator.
- Slice the Tomatoes: First, take a sharp knife to the end of each tomato and slice it crosswise.
- Soak the Tomatoes: Next, place the tomatoes into a large bowl and cover them with boiled water. Allow them to soak for a few minutes and drain the water out.
- Peel & Slice the Tomatoes: Peel the skins off the tomatoes and cut them into fourths.
- Marinate the Tomatoes: Place the tomatoes into a bowl and mix in the dill and fresh garlic cloves. Next, whisk the water, ketchup, salt, and sugar together. Pour the marinade over the tomatoes and let them marinate for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator. Serve and enjoy!




Tips for the Best Marinated Tomatoes
A couple of handy tips will help you make marinated tomatoes better than any store bought jar.
- Opt for ripe tomatoes. While you don’t have to wait for tomato season to find vine fresh tomatoes, you will want to use the ripest tomatoes you can find for this recipe for the brightest flavor.
- Swap in different fresh herbs. Exchange the dill for fresh basil, fresh parsley, or fresh chives.
- Keep the tomato slices thick. You’ll want to marinate thick slices of tomatoes to prevent them from turning soggy and falling apart.

Serving Marinated Tomatoes
These tangy tomatoes make for an awesome side dish to just about any protein. But, if you’re looking for more interesting ways to use them, check out some ideas here.
- Serve these them atop creamy mashed potatoes
- Substitute the tomatoes in your next caprese pasta salad
- Serve them over grilled tilapia or grilled chicken for a refreshing pop of flavor
- Add them to a Cuban sandwich for a hearty weekend lunch
- Swap them in for fresh tomatoes for appetizer bruschetta
- Pop them on top of a margherita flatbread pizza
Storage Best Practices
It’s worth noting that these marinated tomatoes don’t have the same shelf life as pickled tomatoes. This means they will stay fresh for up to two weeks tops when stored in your fridge. Keep them in airtight canning jars for the best results.
FAQ
Should marinated tomatoes be stored in the refrigerator?
Yes, marinated tomatoes should be refrigerated. Unlike canned tomatoes, they aren’t prepared to be stored long-term at room temperature and are perishable.
Can you use tomato paste instead of ketchup for marinated tomatoes?
Yes, you can use tomato paste instead of ketchup for marinated tomatoes. However, the flavor will not be the same and it won’t add the same amount of sweetness or tang.
What other kinds of tomatoes are good for marinated tomatoes?
If you don’t like Roma tomatoes, you can use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or heirloom tomatoes. That said, be conscious of the fact that you can’t peel cherry or grape tomatoes, so they will be a bit more fibrous to the bite.

More Tomato Salad Recipes
- Classic Garden Salad – Fresh side salad
- Corn Tomato Avocado Salad – Southwestern-style salad
- Arugula, Avocado, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad – Peppery and fresh arugula salad
- Canned Green Tomato Salad – Stewed green tomatoes
Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Slice the skins of the tomatoes crosswise. Next, place all of them into a large bowl and cover them with boiled water. Allow them to soak in the water for 3 minutes. Drain out the water.
- Peel the skins off the tomatoes and cut them into fourths.
- Place the tomatoes into a bowl and mix in the dill and garlic.
- Whisk the water, ketchup, salt, and sugar together.
- Pour the marinade over the tomatoes and let them sit for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator. Serve the marinated tomatoes cold and right out of the fridge. Enjoy!
My favorite! I make sure to have them on the menu regularly when I’m hosting, always a hit! People always ask for a recipe. Thank you!
Hi Valentina, I am so happy to hear this. My sister Valya also made them this week so I got to enjoy some without labor. Thanks for sharing!
Made it for thanksgiving and everyone loved it , thank you for the recipe! Also it’s very easy to make
Thank you for sharing this feedback. My sister made them for Thanksgiving as well, such a good one!
This looks really good! I’m going to try tomorrow!
Thank you!
Hello Arta- I think you will love them! Especially now, when tomatoes are at their best. Enjoy 😀
So fresh and delicious and loaded with flavor!! Great recipe!
Thank you, Diane! These tomatoes are one of my favorites 🙂
Delicious on their own or on so many dishes!! They are juicy & so full of flavor!
Kristyn- I so agree! Come summertime, I absolutely crave these tomatoes!
Hi, Could I halve this recipe?
Hi Olga- Yes, you definitely can! Enjoy.
Wow, this salad is soooooo good. Everyone in the family loved it. I like it that is so simple to make and sooo good.
Thank you, Olga! Glad it was crazy easy for you - just the way we like it! We can't get enough of this recipe throughout the holidays. It's such the perfect complement to all the savory, heavy meats. Thank you for the kind words!
Hi, my name is Ben and I'm an octogenarian ans I perused your website and I think that you are marvelous. You make each dish that I looked at very simple to make. I love your baguettes method of making them. Thank you so much for being there for all of us that appreciate good tasting and healthy foods. Ben
Hi Ben, welcome 😊 I am so glad you have found recipes you enjoyed and that you find them super easy to follow! I would love to hear back on any variations of the recipes you have made, please feel free to share your tips, I think it will be helpful for me and all the readers 😊
You say to pour boiling water over tomatoes and leave for 3 min
Will that not cook the tomatoes
How do the tomatoes taste after having boiling water over them.
I count to thirty seconds then dunk in cold water. The skin slips off easier than if they stay in the boiling water any longer
Thank you for your tips, Jane!
The point of using boiled water is to be able to remove the skin easily. It doesn't affect the taste.
Can I use tomato paste instead of ketchup?
Hi Katya, the flavor would not be the same but you can. Enjoy
What a beautiful and delicious recipe! Thanks for another idea for how to use up my garden bounty. Can't wait to enjoy these on a salad.
Lisalia, good to hear! Enjoy 🙂
This is awesome! My family loves tomatoes! It was so good!
Toni, I am so happy to hear this!
This looks so yummy! Can't wait to make this!
Hey Beth, I hope you love it. It has been a hit around here. 🙂
What type of tomatoes are best for this recipe? If not Roma tomatoes!
Roma tomatoes would be the best.
Hey, will baby tomato’s work in this recipe?
I know a few people made it with baby tomatoes. You cant remove skins form them so the results wouldn't be the same. Please tell me how this turns out for you.
hello Natalya, just wondering, will the tomatoes really last a couple of weeks in the refrigerator? my husband's birthday in 5 days and I would be very happy if I can make something 5 days in advance! ?
Yes, they can stay great for a few weeks. I wouldnt push it passed two week period. I dont think they would last that long, lol 🙂
Can I use roma tomatoes or it wont be as tasty?
I think it would work. The only thing is that they are more watery so when you will cut them the liquids will come out. Maybe try only cutting them in half or keeping them whole.
I made these last week, so delicious! Gonna make them again right now
Wow! Awesome. I love that we have tomatoes year around. I miss this salad, this to make it!
These are incredibly delicious! I can see how 4 pounds can disappear very quickly. Do you think that using tomato juice instead of ketchup and water might work?
So I personally haven't tried this. I am sure the flavor will be different but it would work. Just don't add any water to it because juices are already watered down.
Maybe I'll try a very small batch.
Let me know how it turns out, I want to know. 🙂
Thanks for the tasty recipe,we loved this..Can't wait till summer!
Thank you! We love using up endless tomatoes from mamas garden with this recipe.
Hi! If i were to put them in cans and refrigerate them, how long will they last? At least 2 weeks?
They will last couple weeks. I usually make a huge jar and leave it to use over a period of a few weeks.
So if I do it in a large jar, can I just marinate them in there right away?
Yes for sure, you can marinade them in a jar if you have a large enough of a jar.
This looks so good...will! Try them today
My sister made this and I couldnt stop eating loveeeeeddd it. Ill try and make it myself 😉
Hey! I am so happy you loved them. I can't wait for my moms garden tomatoes to get ripe so I can make some again 🙂
Would these be used as a side dish and how long will they keep? They look delicious and something I'd like to try with our garden tomatoes this summer.
Yes, they are perfect as a side dish or a salad. I have been spotting sale on tomatoes so I can make them again. This 4lb were gone in a few days. 🙂
Where do you get your tomatoes from? They look homegrown..(from wa too 🙂
Hey Nella, Russian store called Marvel foods. They have one in Tacoma and Auburn.
Oh ya I go there all the time...will have to get next visit. This recipe looks very good. I tried to do marinated tomatoes recipe in summer but they didn't turn out 🙁
Our 4 lb were gone a few days later. I plan to make more next week 🙂
REALLY WANT TO TRY THIS LOOKS REALLY GOOD =)
Its really really good, I just had some with eggs for breakfast.