If you want the best way to celebrate tomato season, this Heirloom Tomato Flight is it. Inspired by the viral tomato board trend, this colorful appetizer features thick slices of peak‑season heirloom tomatoes topped with six creative toppings — from classic Caprese to peach and burrata, tuna salad, Greek, cottage cheese with za’atar, and an avocado “toast” with bacon. It’s bright, fresh, and perfect for summer entertaining or a light no‑cook meal on hot days.
This heirloom tomato flight is a fun and elegant way to enjoy summer tomatoes. Thick, juicy slices act as a base for different flavor combinations so guests can sample a variety of tastes in one beautiful spread.
Most toppings require no cooking, so you can prep components ahead and assemble right before serving. Aside from crisping the bacon if you choose the avocado‑and‑bacon topping, this board is essentially a no‑cook appetizer or light dinner.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Showcases ripe, peak‑season heirloom tomatoes in a visually stunning way.
- Offers six distinct, easy toppings so everyone can try something different.
- Mostly no‑cook — ideal for hot summer days and quick entertaining.
- Healthy, customizable, and easy to scale for a crowd.
Recipe ingredients
This tomato flight uses a range of fresh ingredients. Toppings can be prepared ahead or assembled with store‑bought components for a time‑saving shortcut.
- Heirloom tomatoes: 4 large tomatoes, varied colors if possible for the best presentation.
- Olive oil and flaky sea salt: A drizzle of good olive oil and flaky salt finishes each slice.
- Caprese topping: Fresh mozzarella slices, basil leaves, pesto (or plain olive oil), and optional balsamic glaze.
- Tuna salad: Dill pickle tuna salad or your favorite tuna mixture; dill pickle chips make a nice garnish.
- Greek topping: Tzatziki or hummus, cucumber slices, red onion, Kalamata olives and oregano or crumbled feta.
- Peach and burrata: Fresh peach slices, mini burrata or burratini, basil leaves and a sprinkle of tajin or chili‑lime seasoning.
- Cottage cheese: Dollop cottage cheese on a slice and top with za’atar or everything bagel seasoning.
- Avocado “toast”: Mashed avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper, topped with crumbled bacon or a fried egg.
See the instructions below for suggested quantities and assembly order.
How to make a summer tomato board
Most components can be prepared ahead of time; assemble the tomato flight just before serving so the tomato slices stay fresh and not soggy.
Pro tip: Blot tomato slices on paper towels to remove excess moisture, then season them before adding toppings.
Full assembly steps are listed in the recipe instructions below.
Prep the heirloom tomatoes
Slice tomatoes into thick rounds (about 1/4 inch thick). Place slices on paper towels and gently blot to remove surface moisture. Season each slice with flaky sea salt before topping.
Assemble the heirloom tomato flight
Arrange seasoned tomato slices on a large board or platter. Add each topping to two slices so you have six flavor variations. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil and a bit more flaky sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Recipe FAQs
A tomato flight is a sampler of heirloom tomato slices, each topped with different flavorful ingredients so guests can taste a variety of combinations.
Use ripe heirloom tomatoes—large slices work best to hold toppings. Choose multiple colors for the most attractive board.
Prep toppings ahead, but slice and assemble tomatoes just before serving to keep them fresh.
Be creative: chicken salad, smoked salmon, hummus, whipped cheeses, or simple deli meats and sliced cheese are all great choices.
Serving suggestions
Serve the tomato flight as an elegant shareable appetizer or as a light summer dinner. Ideas to round out the spread:
- Offer toasted bread, crostini or crackers alongside for scooping and building bites.
- Pair with grilled chicken, shrimp, or a simple green salad for a fuller meal.
- Provide extra bowls of toppings so guests can customize more freely.
Recipe notes
- Best practice: Assemble and serve immediately for peak texture and flavor.
- Swap tuna salad for canned salmon, chicken salad, or other prepared spreads if preferred.
- Sub tzatziki with hummus or crumbled feta for a quick Greek switch.
- Scale easily to feed larger groups—double or triple quantities as needed.
More tomato recipes you’ll love
- Caprese salad
- Creamy roasted tomato soup
- Oven roasted cherry tomatoes
- Pico de gallo
- Small batch cherry tomato jam
Did you try this recipe? If so, leave a review and share photos of your tomato flight — it’s always inspiring to see how others assemble their boards.
Heirloom Tomato Flight
A fresh, colorful tomato board featuring six simple toppings that highlight the best of heirloom tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 4 large heirloom tomatoes
- Flaky sea salt and olive oil for finishing
Caprese
- 2 tablespoons pesto (or olive oil)
- 2 slices fresh mozzarella
- 2 large basil leaves
- Balsamic glaze, optional
Tuna salad
- 4 dill pickle chips
- 1/2 cup tuna salad (dill pickle tuna salad works great)
Greek
- 6 cucumber slices
- 6 tablespoons tzatziki or hummus
- 1 tablespoon chopped red onion
- 4 Kalamata olives, halved
Peach burrata
- 6 peach slices
- 1 mini burrata (burratini)
- Fresh basil and a sprinkle of tajin
Cottage cheese
- 6 tablespoons cottage cheese
- Za’atar or everything bagel seasoning
Avocado “toast” with bacon
- 1/2 large avocado, mashed
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
Instructions
- Slice the top off each tomato and cut into three thick slices each (about 12 slices total). Blot slices dry and season generously with flaky sea salt.
- For the Caprese: top two slices with 1 tablespoon pesto each, a slice of mozzarella and basil; drizzle with olive oil or balsamic glaze and season to taste.
- For the tuna salad: place dill pickle chips on two slices, spoon tuna salad on top, and finish with chopped herbs or pepper.
- For the Greek topping: layer cucumber slices, tzatziki, red onion, olives and oregano on two slices.
- For the peach burrata: arrange peach slices, divide the mini burrata across the two slices, sprinkle with tajin and add basil.
- For the cottage cheese: dollop cottage cheese, sprinkle za’atar and drizzle olive oil if desired.
- For the avocado toast: mash avocado with lime juice, salt and pepper. Spread on remaining slices and top with crumbled bacon.
- Arrange all topped tomato slices on a platter, drizzle lightly with olive oil, add extra flaky salt and fresh cracked pepper, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Assemble just before serving for best texture. Most components can be prepped ahead to make assembly quick.
- Swap toppings freely—smoked salmon, chicken salad, whipped goat cheese, or hummus are all excellent options.
- Easy to scale up for larger gatherings.
Nutrition
Serving suggestion: about 3 tomato slices per person. Nutrition varies by toppings and quantities used.