Craving an easy way to make flavor-packed sun dried tomatoes at home? Ditch the oven and let your air fryer work its magic! With just 5 ingredients and a few easy steps, you’ll have these irresistible tomatoes ready in no time.
We’ll share tips on choosing the right tomatoes, flavoring the oil, perfect prep steps, monitoring as they cook, and storing once they’re done. Whether enjoyed as a snack, chopped into salads and pastas, or stored in olive oil, this simple recipe yields the tastiest results.
Read on to transform fresh grapes tomatoes into concentrated, chewy-crisp sun dried tomato perfection!
💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
1. Healthy – They make a perfect healthy snack or salad topping. With just two ingredients – tomatoes and a touch of salt and olive oil – these are a guilt-free treat. Pop one in your mouth for a burst of summer whenever you want.
2. Full of Flavor– Air frying makes the tomatoes shrivel up into little flavor bombs. There’s something so fun about their shriveled yet intensely tasty appearance. It will make you smile every time you eat one.
3. The Perfect Addition– They make an amazing addition to pasta, pizza, bruschetta, sandwiches, omelets, salads, cheese boards – you name it! Their concentrated, tangy sweetness takes these dishes to the next level.
4. Perfect Texture- You can control the texture – make them as chewy or crispy as you like. Follow the recipe for a nice balance of both.
✨ Recipe Ingredients
For this sun dried tomatoes air fryer recipe you will need:
- 5.5oz (155g) Red Grape Tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Olive Oil
👨🍳 How To Make
Easily make the perfect air fryer dried tomatoes! Follow these steps:
Step 1
Start by preheating your air fryer to 240F (115c). Then, place the tomatoes in a bowl with olive oil and salt, mixing them together.
Step 2
Place the tomato halves in the air fryer basket with the skin side down
Step 3
Air fry them for 40 minutes.
Step 4
Use a spatula to smash them, and air fry for 35 more minutes.
Step 5
To finish, transfer the tomatoes to a plate lined with a paper towel. Let them cool for at least 50 minutes. That’s it! Enjoy these amazing air fryer sun dried tomatoes!
💡Tips
1. Choose the Right Tomatoes
The best tomatoes to use for air fryer sun dried tomatoes are grape or cherry tomatoes. They are small and easy to halve or quarter, which allows them to dry effectively in the air fryer.
Look for bright red, ripe grape or cherry tomatoes at the market for peak flavor and texture. Avoid larger varieties like beefsteak which may not fully dehydrate.
2. Make Your Own Oil Mix
In addition to olive oil called for in the base recipe, you can experiment with special oil mixes. Create your own signature oil blend by combining olive oil with herbs, garlic, citrus zest, red pepper flakes or other aromatics. Brush this flavored oil onto the halved tomatoes before air frying.
3. Store in Olive Oil
After the sun dried tomatoes cool, transfer them to clean jars and cover completely with extra virgin olive oil. The oil helps preserve freshness and shelf life while also enhancing flavor. For best quality, store the sealed jars in the refrigerator and use within 2 weeks.
4. Monitoring and Adjusting
Every air fryer is different, and it might take a few attempts to perfect your sun-dried tomatoes. Monitor the tomatoes closely towards the end of the cooking time.
If they seem to be drying out too quickly, lower the temperature slightly or reduce the cooking time. On the other hand, if they’re not as dry as you’d like, extend the cooking time in small increments.
5. Preheat Properly
Be sure to fully preheat your model to the 240F called for. Not allowing it to come up to temp before adding tomatoes can lead to uneven drying. Give your specific fryer the suggested preheat minutes in its manual for best outcome.
Variations
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto– In a classic pesto genovese, basil leaves, Parmesan, garlic, olive oil and pine nuts are blended into a textured condiment for pastas and bruschettas.
For a twist, try replacing the basil with rehydrated sun dried tomatoes for a sweet, umami-rich pesto. Toast pine nuts and smash rehydrated tomatoes into a paste. Stream in high quality extra virgin olive oil and blend. Mix in grated Parmesan, garlic, salt and pepper.
Sun Dried Tomatoes, Olive and Goat Cheese Quiche– Gather your ingredients: store-bought or homemade pie crust, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup creme fraiche or heavy cream, 1 cup crumbled goat cheese, 5-6 chopped sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil, 1/4 cup kalamata olives, thyme and salt.
Line a pie dish with pie crust and Blind bake for 15 minutes at 375°F. In a blender, combine eggs, milk, creme fraiche. Pour into the par-baked crust, top with cheese, tomatoes, olives and sprinkle with thyme and salt. Bake at 325°F for 40-50 minutes until just set.
Greek Panzanella with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Feta and Oregano– Gather day old crusty bread and cube into 1 inch pieces. Soak in water briefly and squeeze out excess.
Toss with sun dried tomatoes, chopped red onion, bell pepper, cucumber, feta cheese, kalamata olives, oregano, olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt. Allow the flavors to meld for 30 minutes before serving this fresh Mediterranean bread salad.
Storage
Store the sun dried tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the tomatoes for longer term storage. To freeze, place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
Transfer to an airtight freezer bag or container, removing as much air as possible. Properly stored, the frozen tomatoes will keep for 6-8 months.
You’ll Love These Recipes Too
If you liked my sun dried tomatoes in air fryer recipe, make sure to check out these excellent air fryer recipes too:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I know when the tomatoes are done drying?
The tomatoes are fully dried when they have shrunken in size substantially, are chewy in texture, and most of the moisture has evaporated. They should not feel squishy or wet. The timing guidelines provide a good estimate.
2. What are some good ways to use the finished sun dried tomatoes?
These air fryer sun dried tomatoes are delicious in pastas, pizzas, savory tarts, antipasto, chicken dishes, roasted vegetables, salads, sandwiches, tapenades and more. They add a concentrated flavor and texture.
I hope you enjoy these delightfully sweet and tangy air fryer sun dried tomatoes! They are perfect for pasta, pizza, salads, cheese boards, and more. Be sure to experiment with different herb and spice combinations to put your own signature twist on this recipe.
Let me know in the comments how they turned out and what unique flavors you tried! For even more easy air fryer recipes, check out the rest of the recipes on my website. Thanks for reading and happy frying!
Air Fryer Sun Dried Tomatoes
- 5.5 oz Red Grape Tomatoes (155g) (halved)
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Olive Oil
- Start by preheating your air fryer to 240F (115c). Then, place the tomatoes in a bowl with olive oil and salt, mixing them together.
- Place the tomato halves in the air fryer basket with the skin side down
- Air fry them for 40 minutes.
- Use a spatula to mash them (gently), and air fry for 35 more minutes.
- Transfer the tomatoes to a plate lined with a paper towel. Let them cool for at least 50 minutes.
