My new favorite breakfast, Avocado Toast with Tomatoes, is the perfect blend of creamy, tangy, and crunchy goodness!
This easy recipe features mashed avocados, juicy cherry tomatoes marinated in a balsamic vinegar dressing, and fresh basil on crispy toasted sourdough bread.

Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast, a light lunch, or a healthy snack, this simple dish delivers big flavors in minutes.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredient Notes and Easy Substitutions
- How to Make the Best Avocado Toast with Tomatoes
- Shortcut to Supper (Time-Saving Tips)
- What to Serve with Avocado Toast with Tomatoes
- Recipe Variations and Twists
- Storing, Reheating, and Freezing Tips
- Make It Ahead (Meal Prep and Tricks)
- How to choose the perfect avocado
- Recipe FAQs (Your Questions Answered)
- Pro Tips for Perfect Results Every Time
- More easy grab-and-go breakfast recipes
- 📋 Recipe:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh and Flavorful – The combination of creamy avocado and bright, juicy tomatoes makes this toast irresistibly delicious.
- Quick and Easy – Ready in just 20 minutes with simple pantry staples.
- Versatile – Perfect for breakfast, lunch, or even a snack, with plenty of ways to customize!
Ingredient Notes and Easy Substitutions
Below are my notes (including substitutions) for the main ingredients. The recipe card below provides a complete list of all ingredients and measurements. Here’s what you need to make the best avocado toast with tomatoes:
- Avocados – Use ripe Hass avocados for the best creamy texture. If they’re slightly firm, let them ripen at room temperature for a day or two.
- Bread—I like sourdough 5-grain bread, but whole wheat or any sturdy rustic bread works well too. Toasting with butter in a skillet adds the perfect crunch!
- Cherry Tomatoes – Sweet and juicy! Grape tomatoes or diced Roma tomatoes work as well.
- Lime Juice – Adds a zesty freshness while preventing the avocado from browning. You can substitute lemon juice.
- Garlic and Olive Oil – Provide a deep, savory flavor to the tomatoes.
- Balsamic Vinegar – Enhances the tomatoes with a subtle tangy sweetness.
- Butter – Used for toasting the bread to golden perfection.
- Goat Cheese (Optional) – Adds a creamy, tangy element. You can swap with feta or leave it out.
- Fresh Basil – A fragrant finishing touch!
How to Make the Best Avocado Toast with Tomatoes
Follow these simple steps to whip up this delicious avocado toast in minutes!
- Infuse the Olive Oil: In a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn it! Remove from heat and let it cool.
- Prepare the Avocados: Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds, and scoop out the flesh. Mash with lime juice, salt, and pepper to your desired consistency (smooth or chunky). Set aside.
- Make the Tomato Mixture: Toss halved cherry tomatoes with the garlic-infused oil and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toast the Bread: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Toast each bread slice until golden brown on both sides.
- Assemble the Toast – Spread mashed avocado on each slice of toast. Top with the tomato mixture, crumbled goat cheese (if using), and fresh basil.
- Serve Immediately – Enjoy right away for the best texture and flavor!
Shortcut to Supper (Time-Saving Tips)
- Use store-bought bruschetta topping or even pico de gallo instead of making the tomato mixture from scratch.
- Swap fresh garlic for garlic powder to skip the sautéing step.
- Make the mashed avocado mixture ahead of time and store it in an airtight container with plastic wrap pressed against the surface to prevent browning.
- Purchase store-bought prepared guacamole instead of making your own.
What to Serve with Avocado Toast with Tomatoes
This fresh and flavorful toast pairs well with:
- For a hearty breakfast, I like to serve this dish with my Fruit Salad Cocktail, Crustless Ham and Cheese Quiche, or my all-time favorite Ambrosia.
- It pairs well with a bowl of Roasted Tomato Soup for lunch, or you can add a side of Roasted Shrimp or Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for a protein boost.
Recipe Variations and Twists
- Add a fried or poached egg – Top your toast with a runny egg for extra richness.
- Make it spicy – Sprinkle red pepper flakes or drizzle hot honey for a little heat.
- Swap the cheese – Use feta, ricotta, or shredded Parmesan instead of goat cheese, or try making burrata toast.
- Use different bread – Try ciabatta, rye, or even toasted Texas Toast Garlic Bread.
- Add even more protein – Spread a layer of cottage cheese on the toast before adding the avocado mixture.
- Serve as an appetizer – Slice a baguette and toast the slices to make smaller bite-size appetizers.
Storing, Reheating, and Freezing Tips
Storing leftovers – Avocado toast is best enjoyed fresh. However, you can store the tomato topping separately in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating – Toast the bread again in a dry skillet or air fryer to crisp it up before adding the toppings.
Freezing – Not recommended, as avocados do not freeze well.
Make It Ahead (Meal Prep and Tricks)
- Prep the tomatoes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Toast the bread in advance and store it at room temperature, then reheat in the toaster or skillet.
- Mash the avocados, add lime juice, and store them for a short time with a layer of plastic wrap pressed against the surface to prevent browning.
How to choose the perfect avocado
Picking the perfect avocado can be tricky, and if I am serving company or taking a dish to someone’s house, I always buy twice as many as I think I need as insurance. But here’s my best advice to make sure you get a ripe, creamy one every time:
- Check the Color – Darker avocados (deep green to almost black) tend to be riper. Bright green avocados usually need more time to ripen.
- Give It a Gentle Squeeze – Hold the avocado in your palm and apply gentle pressure. A ripe avocado should yield slightly but not feel mushy. If it’s rock hard, it’s not ready yet. If it’s too soft, it may be overripe.
- Look at the Stem End. Peel back the small nub at the top (where the stem was). Green underneath? It’s perfectly ripe! Brown underneath? It’s overripe and likely brown inside. Hard to remove? It needs more time to ripen.
I hope this helps you find the best avocados!
Recipe FAQs (Your Questions Answered)
Yes, but a sturdy rustic bread like sourdough holds up better to the toppings and stays crunchy longer.
Adding lime or lemon juice helps slow oxidation. If storing mashed avocado, press plastic wrap directly against its surface to reduce air exposure.
Absolutely! Omit the goat cheese or use a dairy-free cheese alternative, and toast the bread with olive oil or avocado oil.
Pro Tips for Perfect Results Every Time
Choose ripe avocados – They should be slightly soft when squeezed. If they’re too firm, let them ripen on the counter.
Don’t burn the garlic – Cook just until fragrant to avoid a bitter taste.
Toasting the bread – A crispy base prevents the toast from getting soggy too quickly. And while you can toast the bread in the toaster or under the broiler, toasting it in a skillet with butter is part of what makes this recipe so good.
More easy grab-and-go breakfast recipes
⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐⭐Did you make this recipe? I’d be thrilled to hear what you thought! Did you add your own twist or have a tip to share? Drop a comment below—I read every one—and don’t forget to leave a star rating. Your feedback not only makes my day but also helps others find and perfect this recipe.
Thanks for stopping by Grits and Pinecones! Your visit means the world to me. I hope you’ll swing back soon for more Southern-inspired goodness.
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Avocado Toast with Tomatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ripe Hass avocados
- 4 slices sturdy thick rustic bread ex. sourdough or 12-grain
- 1 lime
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes rinsed and cut in half
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced or grated
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons goat cheese crumbled
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the avocados and dry them. Cut it in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Scoop out the inner flesh of the avocados and place them in a medium-sized bowl along with the juice of one lime (may substitute lemon juice) and salt and pepper. Mash with a potato masher or a fork until everything is incorporated. You can either mash it smooth or leave it chunky. Set aside.
- Add the olive oil and garlic to a small skillet over medium heat. Saute for a minute or so, until the garlic flavor infuses the oil. Stir often and watch carefully, do not let the garlic burn. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
- Place the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and garlic-infused oil into a medium bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet, and toast the bread over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
- To assemble, spread a quarter of the avocado mixture on each piece of toast. Top with a quarter of the tomato mixture and a quarter of the goat cheese crumbles. Garnish with the chopped basil and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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