• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog
  • Contact

Brooklyn Farm Girl

Cooking And Gardening in NYC

PopularStewed Tomatoes
let's be friends
join my free recipe club!
  • New? Start Here
  • recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Desserts
      • Dinner
      • Drinks
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
    • Type
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Breads
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes
      • Casseroles
      • Cheesy
      • Cookies
      • Dips
      • Donuts
      • Holidays
      • Kid Friendly
      • Mac and Cheese
      • Muffins
      • Pasta
      • Pizza
      • Potluck
      • Salads
      • Smoothies
      • Sneaky Vegetables
      • Soups
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Method
      • Baked
      • Canning
      • Drying & Storing
      • Freezing
      • Instant Pot
      • Roasted
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
  • Vegetable Index
  • Urban Gardening
    • Let’s Harvest
    • Tutorials
    • Seed Calendar
    • Compost in Brooklyn
  • About Me
    • About Pamela
    • Our Garden
    • Editorial Guidelines
  • Life & motherhood
    • Journal
    • Motherhood
    • Our Upstate Adventure
    • Cats, Cats, Cats
    • Crafts
  • Videos
  • PopularStewed Tomatoes
Home » Recipe Type » Dinner
4.7 from 30 reviews

Diced Tomatoes Recipe

15 minutes
basiltomato
By: Pamela Reed
Posted:8/10/18
Updated:4/24/25
Jump to Recipe

HOW TO MAKE diced tomatoes recipe from fresh tomatoes.  Step by step instructions walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing or canning them. This is a great way to preserve your garden tomatoes!

Diced Tomatoes Recipe

How to Make Diced Tomatoes

It’s raining tomatoes in the garden! So many tomatoes! It’s time to make my favorite Diced Tomatoes Recipe!

Right now we have a explosion of cherry tomatoes (hello cherry tomato sauce and pickled cherry tomatoes) roma tomatoes (hello roma tomato sauce and fresh tomato salsa!) and beef tomatoes (hello tomato pie) of all sizes currently occupying our counter.    I love seeing a kitchen full of fresh vegetables but it also gives me a slight overwhelming fear of anxiety because I know I have to go to work on them and start preparing our tomatoes to last the next few months.

We pretty much only buy tomato sauce or tomato products during the months of May and June.   July, August and September gives us fresh tomatoes by the basket full while October-April supplies us tomatoes that were canned or frozen months prior.  

It’s always a special feeling when its a cold Wintry day and you can still enjoy some fresh tomatoes you grew months prior when the garden wasn’t covered in snow.

Homemade Diced Tomatoes

I tend to use a ton of diced tomatoes in recipes.  Before having the garden I would buy a few cans of diced tomatoes a week to throw in casseroles, pasta dishes and soups.  Since having the garden there is no more diced tomato can buying as now it’s all homemade. 

Not only is it incredibly easy to make homemade diced tomatoes but it’s just as easy to make them last.  I tend to freeze my diced tomatoes (like I do our stewed tomatoes) instead of canning.  That means if you are still a bit fearful of that pressure cooker you can still preserve and save your tomatoes to last months!

I have been meaning to make a Diced Tomatoes walk through for ages but somehow I always forget.  This year I wasn’t going to let it happen.  With a big supply of tomatoes I put a afternoon aside to make a few batches of diced tomatoes and document it for you step by step (no matter how dirty my camera got!).

I hope this helps you both make diced tomatoes and preserve them!  I think after you see how easy and delicious this recipe is you won’t be buying the cans anymore!

Diced Tomatoes Ingredients

You will need 4 simple ingredients for diced tomatoes: tomatoes, salt, pepper and basil. 

Diced tomatoes recipe

Step 1.  You will need one pound of tomatoes for 1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes.  The best tomatoes to use are roma, plum and beef tomatoes.  I always weigh my tomatoes to get a accurate amount.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them.

 I was making multiple batches below so that’s why it says 3 pounds.  And yes, that’ a USPS scale.  It’s very fancy in my kitchen! 😉

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them.

 
I almost always prefer using roma tomatoes for diced tomatoes for my diced tomatoes recipe.  I think they are best for cutting and aren’t overly juicy.  Every now and then I will also throw a beef with them if there are some other tomatoes I need to get rid of.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them.

 
Step 2.   Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Drop in your tomatoes very carefully to not splash.  Let boil for 2 minutes.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


The water and tomatoes will be extremely hot.  Please be careful not to burn yourself.  Even though I say this I usually always splash myself at least once. 

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


You will notice the tomato skins are starting to peel open. That’s a good thing and exactly what we want.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


Step 3:  Prepare a large container of cold water with ice cubes in.  This container can be a pot or a bowl, it doesn’t matter.  Very carefully drop your hot tomatoes into this ice cold water.  

You are giving them a ice bath to shock them and stop them from cooking.  Let them sit in this water for a few minutes until you can touch them.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

How to Dice Tomatoes

Step 4:  Place tomato on cutting board.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

Step 5: Carefully pinch the top of the tomato skin.  You will notice it feels lose on the tomato.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

Step 6: Peel the skin down on all sides of the tomatoes. 

how to dice tomatoes

Continue to do this to all your tomatoes.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!
Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


Step 7:   Twist or cut off the peels where it meets at the other top.  Now you will have a pile of tomatoes and a pile of skins.  You can set aside the skins to compost them.  

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!
Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

Step 8:  Dice the tomatoes up into small sizes.  I cut them to about the same size as they would be in cans.   Do you see all the juices that came out of the tomatoes?  Make sure you keep all these juices and put them in the saucepan below.   These juices are like gold!

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


Step 9:  Add your tomatoes and spices to a large saucepan.   Now you’re going to cook them over medium high heat to a boil.  Then you will simmer then for 10 more minutes.

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!


Step 10: The diced tomatoes are done! Remove from heat.  

Now you have a few options.  You can eat them right away, throw them in a mason jar and refrigerate to serve tomorrow, or freeze them to use in a few months.

If you’re going to eat them right away, then serve them on up however you plan on using them! 

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!
diced tomatoes recipe

Canning and Freezing Diced Tomatoes

If you’re going to freeze them, then put them in a freezer bag, label and put in freezer. I like to equal each freezer bag to a 15 oz can so I can easily grab a bag every time a recipe calls for a can.    

To defrost the tomatoes run under warm water, then heat accordingly. 

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

Here’s 4 bags ready to be frozen!

Easy step by step instructions with pictures on how to make diced tomatoes from fresh tomatoes. Steps walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve garden tomatoes if you're picking a lot of them!

Enjoy this diced tomatoes recipe!

HOW TO MAKE diced tomatoes recipe from fresh tomatoes.  Step by step instructions walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing them. This is a great way to preserve your garden tomatoes!
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
Free Recipe Club
4.70 from 30 reviews

Diced Tomatoes Recipe

Print
HOW TO MAKE diced tomatoes recipe from fresh tomatoes.  Step by step instructions walk you through the beginning all the way up to freezing or canning them. This is a great way to preserve your garden tomatoes!
By: Pamela Reed
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 15 minutes minutes
serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tomatoes roma, plum or beef
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  • Add tomatoes to boiling water and let boil for 2 minutes.
  • Prepare large pot of cold water with ice cubes in to sit on your counter or in sink.
  • With slotted spoon remove tomatoes carefully from the boiling water and put in the pot of ice water.
  • Once you can touch tomatoes, pull their skins off.
  • Dice the tomatoes up into preferred size.
  • Put in sauce pan over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper and basil.  Stir. 
  • Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Enjoy immediately or freeze for later.
  • If freezing place in freezer safe bag and put in freezer. This will last for months.

Video:

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 20kcal (1%)
Course: Main Course
Keyword: diced tomatoes, homemade, how to make diced tomatoes
Summer
Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

Similar Recipes

  • Marinated Overnight Italian Diced Tomatoes
  • 2-Ingredient Tomato Juice with Fresh Tomatoes
  • Tomato Cages for Tall Tomato Plants
  • How to Dehydrate Cherry Tomatoes

Reader Interactions

join the free recipe club

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

4.70 from 30 votes (26 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:





  1. Rose says

    September 18, 2024 at 10:07 am

    Can you use fresh basil instead of dried basil for this recipe?

    Reply
    • Pamela Reed says

      September 18, 2024 at 11:57 am

      Sure you can Rose!

      Reply
  2. Casandra says

    April 1, 2024 at 12:31 am

    i was just wondering if i cook them before i put them in bottles or let them cook in the water bath…… And also how long do they stay in the water bath for

    Reply
  3. Brenda says

    August 28, 2023 at 6:02 pm

    Can I hot water bath this recipe

    Reply
    • Pamela Reed says

      August 29, 2023 at 9:12 am

      Yes you can!

      Reply
  4. Sowlin Spinney says

    November 14, 2022 at 5:27 am

    I’ve learnt something very very useful today. Now I can stop buying all those can tomatoes that are full of preservatives and sugars! Thank you so very much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      November 14, 2022 at 9:38 am

      Awesome, happy to help Sowlin! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Liz says

    April 7, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    The 1/2 teaspoon of pepper seemed like so much. I used a little less and it’s still very overpowering. Is that the correct measurement?

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      April 7, 2022 at 2:49 pm

      Hey Liz, yes, this is the correct measurement. If it’s still too much for your taste, next time try 1/4 teaspoon.

      Reply
  6. Steve K says

    October 10, 2021 at 4:46 am

    Very good. I use a combination of Roma, BeefSteak and BetterBoy for this recipe. It gives a good mix of flavors and the right amount of juice. 4 lbs worth usually yields about 50 ounces.

    Reply
  7. Diana says

    September 22, 2021 at 12:01 pm

    Thank you for the tips…it made the process so easy and I don’t feel guilty having to throw out my extra tomatoes. I used reg tomatoes (that’s all I had left) and followed your advice and it worked out perfect for me.

    Reply
  8. Terence says

    September 8, 2021 at 2:50 am

    Great recipe for our glut of tomatoes from the garden
    Thank you

    Reply
Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

Read More

join the free
recipe club!

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight to Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

TOP POSTS

Half Sour Pickles

The Best Stewed Tomatoes Ever

Unstuffed Bell Pepper Casserole with Ground Beef

Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce

Recipe Index
Vegetable Index
Follow On Facebook
Follow On Instagram
Free Recipe Club

fresh this week view all

How to Store and Freeze Fresh Blueberries

Irish Potato Candy (Pennsylvania Dutch)

Classic Stuffed Peppers

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

As Featured On
free recipe club!
Get weekly recipes, videos, and gardening tips to your inbox!
join the club!
EST. 2013
let's be friends
  • Recipe Index
  • Veggie Index
  • Urban Gardening
  • Web Stories
Back To Top
© 2025 - All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy & Terms
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

join the recipe club!

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight to Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

5.5K shares

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.