Simple Roasted Tomato Jam

Turn ripe summer tomatoes into a sticky, savory slow-roasted tomato jam. Serve it with crostini appetizers, enjoy it at breakfast with eggs, or slather it on a sandwich. It’s so versatile and requires just a few simple ingredients – you’ll absolutely love it!

Whether you have a bounty of ripe summer (Roma or Plum!) tomatoes or are looking for a way to enjoy tomatoes in the dead of winter, turning them into jam is your answer! And you know roasting tomatoes results in something magical.

This roasted tomato jam is really easy to make, it just requires some extra roasting time in the oven to let the juices caramelize and to break down those plump tomatoes.

Then it’s time to serve it as an appetizer on top of crostini (ok, you know how I love my crostini appetizers). Or pair it with a cheeseboard, make a bagel and egg sandwich, put it in an omelet… there are truly so many ways to enjoy it. Naturally, you can also slather it on a sandwich for a new take on the classic tomato slice. Upgraded BLT, anyone?!

This recipe is a fridge jam, not a canning jam. It’s one you’ll get to enjoy right away, and trust me, you’ll want to!

Ingredients for Roasted Tomato Jam

Lucky for all of us, we don’t need many ingredients to make this sweet and savory tomato jam!

• Roma Tomatoes – sometimes referred to as plum tomatoes, these tomatoes are not very juicy and are what is used for sauces and tomato paste. It’s an excellent tomato to use for the jam because cooking intensifies the flavor of roma tomatoes. I don’t recommend using another kind of tomato, as it will likely be too juicy and result in a watery jam.
• Sugar – it’s not just to sweeten the jam, although it does that too! Sugar also helps the jam set up and thicken by drawing water away from the pectins.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – acid is key in making jam as it helps the jam set properly and balances out the sweetness in this recipe. It also helps the tomatoes break down the sugar. You could also substitute with lemon juice if needed.
• Cinnamon – a little unique, yes, but adding cinnamon to this tomato jam adds a wonderfully subtle warmness to the jam.
• Red Pepper Flakes – because I have a hard time not adding them to whatever I’m making. Red pepper flakes bring a hint of spice and add to the savory aspect of the jam.

Roasting Tomatoes for Jam

This is a very hands-off recipe because the oven does most of the work (YES!), but it’s not really a quick recipe. We are slow-roasting the tomatoes for the most incredible, rich flavor. You know what happens when you roast vegetables and they become caramelized and too amazing? Yeah, these tomatoes caramelize and turn into a sticky, sweet-and-savory magical jam.

Originally, I made this recipe using a sheet pan. However, after receiving feedback from readers and further testing myself, I’ve since updated my recommended method for roasting the tomatoes. There were too many size variables in using a sheet pan, and the larger the pan, the more likely the sugars were to burn.

That being said, I now recommend using an oven-safe dutch oven or braising pan to roast the jam. This reduces any risk for sugars over caramelizing and makes it overall more fool-proof to replicate in any kitchen.

With that out of the way, let’s make the jam! First, dice the tomatoes into approximately 1-inch pieces (photo 1). I like to halve the tomato, then halve each side, and then cut into 3 or 4 chunks depending on the size of the tomato. No need to stress over the exact size, just make sure they’re roughly the same.

Then, combine all the ingredients in your dutch oven, coating the tomatoes with the ingredients (photo 2). All that’s left to do is pop it all straight into the oven to start the slow roasting process.

From there, I recommend stirring the jam approximately every 30 minutes, checking it more often after about an hour and a half to ensure it doesn’t cook too quickly, and that you achieve the consistency you’re after.

After about two hours of roasting, the jam will be thick, sticky, and ready to spread away on toast or be squeezed into a sandwich. It will thicken slightly as it cools, so keep that in mind.

A good rule of thumb to see if the jam is ready is to run a spoon down the middle, if the line holds, then the jam is ready! If the liquid seeps back into itself immediately, give it more time as you continue checking it.

Simple Roasted Tomato Jam turns out to be a slightly sweet mixture with a surprising amount of texture. The skins are left on the tomatoes, but they still break down and become soft, adding volume and to the jam, too.

How to Use Tomato Jam

I’ve already mentioned a few of my favorites, but it’s definitely worth listing the best ways to use roasted tomato jam. This is definitely not an exhaustive list, as there are so many delicious, versatile ways to use it! Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your favorite way!

• Make this Burrata Appetizer with Pesto and Tomato Jam
• Slather it in a sandwich – like in an ultimate BLT or grilled cheese!
• Add it to a cheese board and serve with crostini
• Put it in an omelet, or enjoy it with scrambled eggs and toast like this breakfast board
• Use it in a bagel sandwich