Sweet cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs collide in this summery cherry tomato salad that’s tossed in a creamy homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Easiest-ever summer salad alert! Featuring the MVP of all summer produce which is of course, cherry tomatoes.
This ain’t your typical cookout salad since the solo star is tomatoes and we’re dressing them in a creamy homemade buttermilk ranch giving them an indulgent flair.
It’s a little different but dang, if you’re not gonna want to eat these every day…
The fact that this salad is SO minimal on the ingredient list and comes together in a snap with no cooking just ticks all the salad boxes.
Pretty much the best thing you could ever do to cherry tomatoes.
This Tomato Salad features…
- Sweet, juicy cherry tomatoes
- Flavorful oregano, parsley, and basil
- A creamy, tangy buttermilk ranch dressing
- Minutes to make and a great side dish for any gathering
Making the Cherry Tomato Salad
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Cherry tomatoes
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Basil
- Red onion
- Capers
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Buttermilk
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Can I Use Different Tomatoes?
Yes, absolutely! This recipe works great with a variety of tomatoes including heirloom, on-the-vine, beefsteak, romas, or grape tomatoes. For bigger tomatoes, we recommend cutting them into 1-inch cubes.
Tips for Perfect Tomato Salad
- Half tomatoes – this makes the salad easier to eat and helps all the fresh herbs cover every inch of the tomatoes.
- Use fresh herbs – the fresh oregano, parsley, and basil gives this salad a HUGE boost of flavor!
- Serve salad immediately after dressing – this helps all the ingredients stay fresh.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this salad.
- Add veggies to salad – try adding fresh cucumber, sweet pepper, avocado, or sautéed zucchini.
- Make it spicy – for a salad with some kick, try adding a minced jalapeno or a few shakes of red pepper flakes.
- Add cheese – add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, asiago, or sharp cheddar.
- Try a different dressing – you can replace the homemade buttermilk ranch with 1/2 cup of your favorite bottled creamy dressing or vinaigrette.
Make Ahead Options
Follow these instructions for time-saving make ahead options.
- Make the dressing – mix up the buttermilk ranch dressing and store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
- Prep salad – the salad portion of this recipe can be made and stored in refrigerator up to 2 days.
This salad is just such a nice change-up from your standard summer salads! The herby cherry tomatoes go so well with the cool, creamy buttermilk ranch and are amazing served alongside any main meal.
Put those little tomato gems to good use and make this salad!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
Watch this salad made step-by-step on Google web stories.
More killer summer salads to try next!
Herbed Cherry Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
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Ingredients
Cherry Tomato Salad
- 3 pints cherry tomatoes, halved (about 6 cups)
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup minced fresh basil
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 tablespoon minced capers
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 3 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Cherry Tomato Salad
- In a medium bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- When ready to serve, drizzle dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated. Season salad with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe adjustments and photos on 8/4/23.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Cherry tomatoes are my weakness! I could just pop ’em into my mouth like I do popcorn, they’re just so good! And this salad looks absolutely amazing, Sarah! Like it’s calling my name! I love all of the herbs and spices you used to flavor this. And that ranch dressing looks so tasty!
Sarah says
Oh, cherry tomatoes are SO poppable. I eat ’em like candy. 😉 Thanks so much, Gayle!
Karen @ Lushious Eats says
You’re damn right my lunch needs this salad. I need that ranch dressing! omg! Looks AH-Mazing! I’m dying for fresh tomatoes, the weather here blows and my tomatoes are still pretty small….dun…dun…dunnnnnn. What time can I come over? 😉
Sarah says
Awww…too bad about your tomatoes, Karen! I will totally give you ALL of mine. 😉
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
This salad looks amazing! So delicious, packed full of flavour with all those herbs!
Sarah says
Thanks, Jess! It’s definitely one of my new fav lunch salads that’s for sure! 😉
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
I just love cherry tomatoes! I’m so jealous that you have your own home grown tomatoes! That buttermilk ranch sounds perfect with them. Except I might just want to drink the ranch. It’s one of my weaknesses!
Sarah says
Hahaha! I TOTALLY get wanting to drink ranch dressing—one of my biggest weaknesses too! 😉
Annie @Maebells says
This is just lovely! I can’t get enough tomatoes right now! And the dressing sounds fantastic!
Sarah says
Thanks, Annie! 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Haha, you sis is funny. Sounds like my daughter, she’ll say whatever those things are I don’t like them. If she just taste them she’d like them. Crazy kid. Your salad looks delicious I have so many tomatoes I am eating them by the handful.
Sarah says
Hahaha! Kids..they’re just waaaay to picky for their own good. And I eat tomatoes by the handful too–kinda like candy. LOL. Thanks, Cindy!
Danielle says
Those cherry tomatoes look so juicy and delicious! I’m beginning to think I need to plant a garden next year. Love the dressing for this recipe, talk about delicious!
Sarah says
Thanks, Danielle! And oh, girl you SO need a garden next year! It’s a bit of work, but I promise you won’t regret it! 🙂
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
You are 100% right: my lunchtime needs that salad! That is a lot of cherry tomatoes! I’m totally jealous. If you live near Atlanta, I’ll be by tomorrow. mmkay?
Sarah says
I’ll have a few boxfuls of tomatoes ready for you to pick up, Lindsey! 😀
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Do you really live near Atlanta?!
Sarah says
Haha! I wish. I’m all the way up in freezing Wisconsin. If I did live closer I would totally be sharing all my tomatoes with you!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
{heart sinks} Oh. That’s far away. And really cold….how do you do it!?
Monet says
I so wish I could take some of those tomatoes off your hands! This salad looks delicious and I love the dressing!
Sarah says
I would totally give you some of my tomatoes, Monet! What time will you be over to pick them up? Oh, and you might need a truck to carry them all. LOL. 😀
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Wow, this is one gorgeous salad girl! Love cherry tomatoes, they’re so good right now and they sound even better in this salad! Oh my and that buttermilk ranch dressing sounds amazing!
Sarah says
Thank you, Kelly! And right?! Cherry tomatoes are the best thing EVER. 😀
Allison says
I’m seriously in love with those teardrop-shaped yellow tomatoes. I adore cute food! I know what you mean about the kitchen counter being a farmer’s market! It can actually get a bit overwhelming to use it all before it goes “off.” I’m eating tomatoes left right and centre… but no complaints here. Definitely trying this. I LOVE Tomatoes and creamy dressing together. The tang of the buttermilk with the sweet tomatoes. SWOON. You go girl! Another stellar recipe, Sarah! PS. Your photos are so inviting! Really have been admiring them lately 🙂
Sarah says
We actually planted 3 different kinds of cherry tomatoes this year, but the yellow ones are my fav! Probably because of the cuteness factor, like you said. 😉 And oh my gosh, Allison you are SO sweet! Thanks so much for the kind compliments, girlfriend! Right backatcha! 😀
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Beautiful salad! We always have so many cherry tomatoes – this is a great way to eat them!
Sarah says
Thanks, Kelly! This salad is by far my favorite way to use up cherry tomatoes! 🙂
Isadora says
I would be happy to face plant into this salad anyday!! I’ll send you my address because I could really use some fresh cherry tomatoes, haha! I have a few on my plant, but they don’t look nearly as good as these ones. It is so hot here that I think mine are roasting while they are still on the plant! Seriously, this is so my kind of salad and I could go for a big bowl of it right now! As someone who is pretty obsessed with ranch, I’m also loving this dressing! Yum, yum, yum!! And beautiful photos too! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Izzy! I will totally send you ALL of my tomatoes—it sounds like you NEED them in your life. 😀
Jodee Weiland says
This looks so good…what a great idea! I love the herbs and the dressing…thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
Thanks, Jodee! 😉
Bri | Bites of Bri says
This salad looks outrageous and perfect for all my tomatoes too! My garden is seriously exploding with cherry tomatoes! I actually blanched some and froze them in whole form for this winter sometime!
Sarah says
Thanks, Bri! and oh, gosh it sounds like BOTH of our gardens are going nutso with the cherry tomatoes—they’re so dang good though, you won’t find me complaining! 😉