The BEST Stewed Tomatoes Ever recipe! This easy to make recipe simmers tomatoes for 30 minutes to make homemade stewed tomatoes that can be served as a dinner side dish or can be canned. This how to make recipe shows you how easy they are to make! Find out why everyone considers them THE BEST! We always use this as a canning recipe for our Summer garden tomatoes!
Homemade Stewed Tomatoes Recipe
Stewed tomatoes, sigh.
Our tomatoes are turning red faster than I can pick them! So, naturally, my kitchen has turned into a full-blown tomato factory. Between roasted cherry tomato sauce and homemade diced tomatoes I’ve been cooking up every tomato dish imaginable. Oh, and let’s not forget fresh tomato salsa—because August always means fresh salsa!
These stewed tomatoes are the best, and I’m not fibbing either. If you’ve got a tomato harvest coming up—or if you just want to ditch the canned stuff—please, please, please make these! You won’t regret it.
If you love tomatoes as much as I do, get excited—I have so many favorite garden tomato recipes to share with you. But for now… let’s talk about these stewed tomatoes.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy them? Macaroni noodles and stewed tomatoes—it’s simple, cozy, and one of those dishes that instantly takes you back home. Or, if you’re craving something ultra-comforting, stir them into crockpot mac and cheese for an extra boost of flavor.
And because no tomato-filled meal is complete without a side of something warm and buttery, I highly recommend serving it with a slice of sweet cornbread. That perfect balance of sweet and savory? YUM!
These stewed tomatoes are the best, I’m not fibbing either. If you are having a tomato harvest soon or would like to make your own instead of the canned version, please please please please please make these!
How to Make Stewed Tomatoes Video
These are really the best stewed tomatoes ever!
This is a recipe that might cause you to faint, I’m warning you now. I was expecting average stewed tomatoes, but I ended up sitting at the counter with a spoon eating them out of the pot when they were done. Matthew was in another room, so I knocked on the door.
”Matthew? Are you there?”
”What? What’s wrong”
”Can you come here?”
”Why are you crying?”
”I just made the best stewed tomatoes.”
”Are you crying?”
”Yes”
”Why?”
”Because they are so good.”
This was a actual conversation over stewed tomatoes. Seriously, they are that good!
How to Make Stewed Tomatoes From Scratch
So what kind of tomatoes work best for stewed tomatoes? I find that beef and roma/plum both work well. Don’t worry about mixing them if you have to either. I do it all the time.
Don’t be scared of this quick boil tomatoes, it will be over quickly!
And look at that.. now you’re in a ice bath! Think of it as a pool and relax.
Because of the quick boil, the skins will peel right off.
Discard the skins (compost!), or come up with something to do with them. I like to use the skins to make tomato powder which can be sprinkled in soups, casseroles, sandwiches, etc.
So now we have all our tomatoes, naked and bashful! Throw them in a large pot.
Add all our ingredients, stir and put on the stove. Simmer for about 30 minutes, until the consistency is how you prefer your stewed tomatoes. Be sure not to boil off all the juices, that’s one of the joys of stewed tomatoes.
When the stewed tomatoes are done, serve them up right away if you’d like…
They are quite pretty and delicious so they compliment so many dishes nicely!
Or throw them in a mason jar in the refrigerator for tomorrow…
Or throw them in a freezer bag and freeze them for dinner in December. How fun is it to grab homemade garden stewed tomatoes to add to a meal while it’s snowing out?
ENJOY!
Pin for later:
The Best Stewed Tomatoes Ever
PrintIngredients
- 10 tomatoes beef or roma variety
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to boil, plunge tomatoes in for 30 seconds. Remove, put immediately in a ice bath.
- Peel the tomatoes. Discard the skins.
- Dice the tomatoes up to desired size.
- In a large pot on medium heat, combine all ingredients.
- Simmer for 30 minutes.
- Then serve fresh or you can freeze them.
Sandy says
I goofted up my comment but I think you’ll get the drift..
Sandy says
We loved screwed tomatoes but always ate or gave away extra ones in
passed…Looked this up by accident n could not believe what we were missing out on..Sounds so easy n good just looking at recipe…Not giving
any away this year we are going to eat stewed ones in so many ways as
well as plain…THANK YOU for posting recipe.. tomorrow [email protected] I’ll have a
few ready for a batch…No time to can but freeze YES!! 🤗 🍅
Doris says
This is my 2nd batch, my last crop of tomatoes for now. Love them, recipe is perfect.
Pamela says
So happy to hear you’re making these stewed tomatoes with your garden tomatoes! 🙂 Enjoy Doris!
tom desaulniers says
A friend gave me a bunch of tomatoes from his garden so I needed to save them for later. So, I found your site and peeled them and removed most of the seeds. Cooked like you said but it only needed to cook 10 minutes to get them like I wanted. SOOOO GOOD. Thanks
Pamela says
So happy to hear you liked these stewed tomatoes! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Fran Sidwell says
I love this recipe. This is my third summer to make double batches and freeze. We love to heat and blend with immersion blender until smooth and add a little heavy whipping cream for creamy tomato soup!
Diann says
Can you bottle these in bottle bath and if so how long?
Kimberly Fry says
Excellent! My Grandma would be proud of me!!
Yvonne says
I live making this recipe! These are the best stewed tomatoes!
C says
I’m looking forward to my second year of canning stewed tomatoes using this recipe! Excellent for eating with bread in a bowl, with mac & cheese or just eating with a spoon. I do water bath can these. I use Ball’s canning manual recommendation for 40 minutes per quart. That works well. Thank you so much for an great canning experience!!
Billy Fields says
I did see any reference to whether any water or oil was needed to cook the ingredients
Pamela says
No additional liquid is needed, the tomatoes will break down and provide the juices.
Tammy says
Could someone who has used this recipe for canning tell me if they used canning salt or lemon juice and how much?
Maurice Tucker says
I want to preserve stewed tomatoes
Cindy's Mom says
I was looking for a recipe for the excess garden tomatoes we had this season. We thought you had to have celery in our stewed tomatoes. We all liked these. Will make this way from now on!
Ellen G says
the green peppers mentioned are bell peppers, right?
Pamela says
Yup!
Kellye Gallant says
Just tried it and tweeked the recipe. Mushrooms, banana peppers with garlic and balsamic vinegar, saffron and oregano. Can’t wait until it is done.
Jenny says
I’m wondering, do you remove the seeds or leave them in?
Pamela says
Leave them in. Enjoy the recipe!
Diane Parent says
Can you put diced celery and onions in this recipe?
Lisa says
This recipe was what I was looking for, so delicious. When we were kids my Mother used to make tomato soup with stewed tomatoes. I tried it with this recipe and it was amazing. All you do is take the stewed tomatoes, add 1tsp of baking soda per quart of tomatoes, to take out the acid. When the foaming has subsided add a little butter and stir in warmed heavy cream to desired consistency. Thank you for a great recipe.
Pamela says
Hey Lisa, that sound absolutely delicious! I’m going to try it on a chilly Fall night! 🙂 Thanks for commenting and stopping by!
Elise G says
What’s the yield on this recipe?
Elise G says
Oops I just saw where it says serves 6.
Disregard my question lol thanks!
debra beutler says
I’m wondering the same thing as Judy… To can them, Do you cook them the same way and then still process for 40 minutes?
DARRYL VICKERS says
Can you please answer the question about how long do you water process these delicious tomatoes?? Please
MaryAnna Bigelow says
Much easier than I thought. Well written recipe.
Maryann says
Easy no fuss way to use all extra tomatoes from the garden
Pamela says
Thanks for commenting Maryann, glad to hear you liked these stewed tomatoes! 🙂
Kate Eckert says
Best ever….i also added fresh basil the second time I made them..I Love them as a fresh sauce over pasta.
Pamela says
Thanks for commenting Kate! Aren’t they delicious over pasta? YUM!
Dana says
Help! I need details about canning these!!!!
Jessica K says
Dana, I just put them in sterilized jars and process for about 40 minutes.
Judy says
Do you cook them before canning them?
Deena says
Do you water bath or pressure can them for 40 minutes? Thanks! I have 50 tomatoes on my counter now.
Yvonne S. Royer says
What is processing definition for canning? Could you walk me through process? Thank-you, I am anxious to make your recipe but need to know exact method for canning them.
Trish says
This looks so good! Considering that you use 5-7 # of tomatoes, about how many quarts of tomatoes does your recipe make?
Jessica K says
This is my second year canning these. I couldn’t wait to do it again! They are terrific! Easy to add to hot dishes and soups.
Pamela says
So happy you’re back to make more stewed tomatoes! Thanks for commenting Jessica! 🙂
B. H. says
After freezing do they get so mushy they are more sauce than stewed?
Pamela says
No, they still have the stewed tomatoes texture to them. I use them just like I’d use them if they were fresh after freezing. Hope this helps!
Kristin says
This is such a good recipe! My garden went crazy this year and I have made several batches. I have about 50 tomatoes prepared and simmering as I type this. I have made pasta sauce with these and it is AMAZING. Thanks so much for the recipe.
Pamela says
Hey Kristin, I’m so happy to hear you liked these stewed tomatoes. Congrats on a great garden season! Thank you for commenting and stopping by! 🙂
Shannon Lepper says
This was a very easy and yummy way to make stewed tomatoes!! I did add some dried onion a tiny bit of extra sugar (like another teaspoon). So easy and so good!
Pamela says
So happy to hear you liked these stewed tomatoes! Thanks for commenting Shannon!
Julie Henry says
Growing up Mother put bread in her stewed tomatoes. Is that a Southern addition? With eight children perhaps it is just a way to stretch the dish?
Pamela says
Crusty bread is great too, the stewed tomatoes juices soften it right up! YUM!