Juicy, sun-ripened tomatoes are paired with creamy avocado slices and shaved Parmesan, all drizzled in a tangy Italian dressing that ties everything together with bold, herbaceous flavor.

This Garden Fresh Tomato Salad with Avocado and Parmesan is a celebration of simple, vibrant ingredients at their peak.
There’s nothing quite like the taste of ripe, garden-fresh tomatoes, and this Tomato Salad with Avocado and Parmesan captures their summery essence in every bite.
With creamy avocado adding richness and salty Parmesan bringing depth, this dish is beautifully balanced and bursting with flavor. I absolutely love how easily this salad comes together in a matter of minutes.
A splash of zesty Italian dressing enhances the natural sweetness of the tomatoes while infusing the salad with an herbed brightness that’s hard to resist.

How To Make A Fresh Tomato Summer Salad
I love vine-ripened tomatoes! They’re amazing! I came up with this recipe about 3 years ago, one Sunday, when the thought of washing and tearing lettuce was too much for me to handle! (Pathetic I know!)
There was a bowl full of garden ripe tomatoes and a couple of ripe avocados. I also had a tub full of fresh basil. A thought popped into my head…”I can do something with this!” (This was long before I knew what Caprese was! Sad…I know!)
What resulted is this amazingly simple yet beautiful salad. It’s not a true Caprese salad because of the lack of balsamic vinegar. You can, however, add it. This salad is a summer favorite at our Nest!
The Star-Tomatoes
You will need one or two large ripe “meaty” tomatoes! I found this beauty at the Farmer’s Market. Slice the tomatoes into nice even slices about a1/4 inch thick.

Slicing Avocados
Slice up two Hass avocados for this salad. You can never have too much “green” in my opinion!
Layer the slices in-between the tomatoes for a colorful display! One of the things I love about this salad…besides its amazing flavor… is its presentation! It really steals the show at the dinner table.

Once you have your tomatoes and avocado slices all arranged on your serving platter, sprinkle generously with cracked pepper and salt if you like.
Assembling the Salad
Now for some cheese! Let’s sprinkle, down the center of the salad, with grated mozzarella cheese!

Since this is an Italian salad, let’s add a little more cheese!!! How about shaved Parmesan cheese?
Can you have too much cheese? I think not! (Cheese is my passion! Pretty sure there will be cheese in heaven!)

To top it off … some fresh-cut basil! I love the smell of fresh-cut basil! Isn’t that beautiful? Yummy! Hang on…we have one more thing…
Salad Dressing
Now it’s ready for the final touch…remember my favorite dressing? Yep, that one! Time for a heavy drizzle of the Kraft Sun Dried Tomato dressing! BAM! That is it!!!
TIP: If you can’t find the Kraft dressing, just use your favorite Italian dressing or even Cheese Fantastico works wonders on this salad!

Recipe Wrap-up
I realize not everyone is a tomato and avocado fan. (We have non-tomato-loving birds at this Nest! I get it!… Okay, not really! )
If you are a fan of both… you will absolutely adore this salad! You really don’t need a recipe for this one, but I’m going to give you a printable below just in case.
Get creative with it. Throw on some olives or banana pepper rings! Even a little red onion would be good. Remember cooking is about personal taste and being creative! Go for it! This salad is a quick side salad that goes with any meal!
Other Favorite Summer Salad Recipes
- Grilled Salmon and Peach Salad
- Classic Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad
- Stake Fajita Taco Salad
- BLT Salad With Fresh Basil Dressing
- California Slaw with Avocado & Bacon
Thanks for stopping by! You are my favorite friends! I love sharing my Nest with all of you! Have a FANTASTIC day!
Happy Nesting!

Printable Recipe Card

Fresh Tomato and Avocado Italian Salad
Ingredients
- 1-2 large meaty vine ripe tomatoes sliced
- 2 ripe hass avocados sliced
- Cracked Black Pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shaved fresh Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh chopped Basil
- Kraft Sun Dried Tomato salad dressing or your favorite Italian dressing
Instructions
- Layer your tomatoes and avocado slices on a serving dish.
- Sprinkle with pepper to taste.
- Top with grated mozzarella cheese and Parmesan Cheese.
- Sprinkle with chopped fresh Basil.
- Drizzle with Kraft Sun Dried Tomato dressing or your favorite Italian Dressing.
- Serve immediately or can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours; covered.
Nutrition
About the Author
Meet The Author
Hi! I'm Norine, the cook, baker, and recipe creator behind Norine's Nest. I love sharing and creating recipes that invite family, friends, and neighbors to gather around the dinner table. Sharing good food and creating memories with those we love brings me happiness. Thanks for stopping by my Nest!