Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Total Time
Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Updated Oct. 02, 2024

Cream-cheese-stuffed cherry tomatoes are a simple yet delicious vegetarian appetizer that's an excellent accompaniment to a party spread of charcuterie and crudités.

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Cream-cheese-stuffed cherry tomatoes are a simple yet elegant vegetarian appetizer that’s ideal for a spread of snacks or a charcuterie board. They’re so easy to make, and the flavors are simple and sophisticated. The creamy, cheesy filling, with its hint of dill and a touch of crunch from the cucumber, is the perfect complement to the sweet and juicy tomatoes. It’s a delightful make-ahead appetizer that’s sure to please.

Ingredients for Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

  • Cherry tomatoes: Tangy, sweet tomatoes contrast with rich, creamy filling in these party appetizers. Look for large grape or cherry tomatoes that are about the size of a walnut in its shell. Grape tomatoes will work too, but they’re so small that it may be tedious to fill them!
  • Cream cheese: Softened cream cheese adds a creamy and tangy richness to the filling, providing a luxurious mouthfeel.
  • Mayonnaise: Another creamy and slightly tangy element of the filling, mayonnaise helps bind the ingredients together.
  • Cucumber: Peeled and finely chopped cucumber provides a fresh crispness that complements the creamy base.
  • Green onion: Just a little green onion adds a burst of savory flavor to the cheese filling.
  • Dill: Minced fresh dill gives the filling a flavor reminiscent of ranch dressing. You can substitute parsley, chives or cilantro, if you prefer them to dill.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the tomatoes

Taste of Home Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes photo of prepping the tomatoes.ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out and discard the pulp, then invert the tomatoes onto paper towels to drain.

Step 2: Mix the filling

Taste of Home Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes photo of the filling.ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth, then stir in the cucumber, onion and dill.

Step 3: Fill the tomatoes

Taste of Home Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes photo filling the tomatoes.ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Spoon the filling into the tomatoes. Refrigerate until serving.

Editor’s Tip: Transferring the filling to a piping bag, or a zip-top bag with a corner cut off, will make it easier and faster to stuff the tomatoes.

Taste of Home Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes photo of the finished recipe on a serving platter.ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

Stuffed Cherry Tomato Variations

  • Try more seasoning: Boost the flavor of the filling by adding a clove of grated garlic, or a dry seasoning blend such as our all-around seasoning or everything bagel seasoning.
  • Add some seafood: The flavors of fresh tomato, cream cheese and herbs are particularly good with seafood. Add some elegance to these party bites by placing a tiny cooked bay shrimp on top of each one, or fold some lump crab meat or flaked hot smoked salmon or trout into the filling.
  • Give it brunch vibes: Replace the cream cheese with mashed ripe avocado for a version of this dish with flavors reminiscent of avocado toast.

How to Store Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Store leftover stuffed cherry tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. It’s best to serve them within a day or two for optimal flavor and texture.

Can you make this recipe for stuffed cherry tomatoes ahead of time?

Yes. You can fill the tomatoes up to a day in advance and store them in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve them.

Stuffed Cherry Tomato Tips

Taste of Home Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes photo of the finished recipe on a serving platter.ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME

What’s the best way to hollow out the tomatoes?

A tomato stem corer, sometimes called a tomato shark, is a toothy tool designed for removing the stems and seeds from tomatoes with ease. Unless you’re regularly canning tomatoes or cooking big batches of fresh tomatoes down into sauce, this probably isn’t a tool you have on hand. In that case, a small metal measuring spoon or melon baller is the best tool we’ve found to make hollowing out tomatoes into quick work for something like stuffed cherry tomato recipes.

Is there anything you can do with the tomato tops and insides?

Absolutely. Save the tomato tops and insides in a container and stash them in the freezer. The next time you cook up a batch of chili or marinara sauce, you can add them.

Can I use different vegetables in the filling?

Sure! You can experiment with other vegetables, like diced bell peppers, shredded carrots or finely chopped spinach.

Cucumber-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Prep Time 25 min
Yield 2 dozen

Ingredients

  • 24 cherry tomatoes
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped peeled cucumber
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped green onion
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill

Directions

  1. Cut a thin slice off the top of each tomato. Scoop out and discard pulp; invert tomatoes onto paper towels to drain.
  2. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth; stir in the cucumber, onion and dill. Spoon into tomatoes. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 stuffed tomato: 25 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 18mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 fat.

Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada
Recipe Creator
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