Can my cherry tomato recover after a hornworm stripped it?

There’s a good chance, especially if the main stem and some growing points are still intact. Tomato plants can put out new growth after losing leaves, though how quickly depends on the plant’s condition and the weather. Keep watering as usual and give it time before deciding it’s done for.

Check the plant again over the next few days. Hornworms can blend in surprisingly well, and fresh droppings or newly chewed leaves are clues that another one may still be around. Once the caterpillar is gone, steady care is better than trying to force recovery with a lot of fertilizer.

It may look rough for a while, but don’t write it off just because most of the leaves are gone. If the stem is still alive, watch for fresh shoots. If the damage reaches the main stem or the plant keeps declining, recovery is less certain, so I’d treat it as a wait-and-see situation.