Garden Fresh Cherry Tomato Jam with Thyme

Because my garden cherry tomato plant has gotten massive this year, I have a plethora of little golden globes to enjoy! I felt like having some “garden to kitchen” fun and came up with the fresh cherry tomato jam with thyme!

I also have plenty of thyme in my garden as well, so I thought pairing the tomatoes and thyme together in a tasty “slightly” savory cherry tomato jam would be so delicious. My sun sugar tomatoes are very true to their name, so very sugary sweet! Don’t get me wrong, while a tomato is technically a “fruit” I still consider this a savory jam.

The best part? Any variety of cherry tomato works beautifully here. Sun sugars are my personal garden favorite, but red cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or whatever is overflowing in your garden or at your farmers market will all make a stunning jam. The key is that sweet, concentrated cherry tomato flavor that comes through once everything cooks down.

Just a few simple ingredients and I had this jam coming together in no time and it’s truly a new garden delight that I will be making year after year. I happen to also have a few vintage Kerr jam jars that were my grandma’s so I of course had to use them to store this cherry tomato jam in. Any smaller glass jar or standard small canning jar would also work great!

I’ve used my garden thyme honey that I came up with earlier this year, but if you haven’t made it (why not?) you can sub in your favorite standard honey. Since there is also added thyme in this recipe, depending on how much “thyme” flavor you want to come through, you can always add a pinch more thyme leaves into the jam.

Why You’ll Love This Cherry Tomato Jam

• Made with just 5 simple, real-food ingredients
• Works with any variety of cherry tomato you have on hand
• No canning equipment or special skills required
• That garden-fresh flavor captured in a jar
• Naturally gluten-free and paleo-friendly

What You’ll Need

Grab these simple ingredients and you’re ready to go:

Ingredient Notes

• Cherry tomatoes: Sun sugars, red cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes — any sweet cherry variety works! About 16 oz (roughly 2 heaping cups) halved.
• Thyme honey: My garden thyme honey is the star here, but any good quality honey works. The thyme flavor will still come through from the fresh sprigs.
• Fresh thyme: A few sprigs goes a long way. The leaves cook right into the jam and the woody stems get removed at the end.
• Sea salt: I use my am.NICCOLI Signature Salt — a little goes a long way and really brings out the tomato flavor, use standard salt as needed.
• Fresh lemon or lime juice: Just a small squeeze brightens everything up and balances the sweetness.

How to Make Cherry Tomato Jam

This jam comes together in one pan with minimal effort. Here’s the quick overview before you get to the full recipe card below:

Step-by-Step Overview

Everything goes into the pan together over medium heat. As the tomatoes warm up, you’ll gently mash them to release their juices. From there it’s just a matter of letting the jam simmer low and slow until it turns glossy and thick. The whole process takes about 40 minutes but most of that is hands-off time.

Tips for Success

• Stir frequently once the jam starts to thicken so the honey doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan.
• You’ll know it’s ready when most of the liquid has evaporated and the jam coats the back of a spoon with a glossy sheen.
• Don’t forget to fish out those thyme stems before jarring! The leaves will have cooked right in.
• Let it cool completely before sealing in your jar.

Ways to Use This Cherry Tomato Jam

Once you make a jar of this, you’ll find yourself reaching for it constantly. It walks that beautiful line between sweet and savory, which makes it incredibly versatile. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

• Paired with goat cheese: Honestly, this might be the combination. Spread soft goat cheese (or even cream cheese) on a cracker or crostini and spoon this jam right on top. Simple, stunning, done.
• Spread on crusty bread: A thick schmear of this on a good slice of sourdough or grain-free bread is an easy snack or appetizer that feels a little fancy.
• Served alongside grilled chicken: The sweetness plays so well against something savory off the grill. Spoon it right over the top or serve it on the side for dipping.
• On a charcuterie board: Tuck a little jar right onto your next board alongside cheeses, meats, and crackers. It pulls everything together.

Storage Notes

Since this is a recipe without a full canning process, it needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It will keep beautifully for a couple of weeks in a sealed jar — though in my house it never lasts that long! If you want to make a larger batch, it scales up easily.