EASY Caprese Pasta

Caprese Pasta combines cherry tomatoes, onions, and garlic in a tangy sauce with balsamic vinegar. It’s served with angel hair pasta, fresh basil, and mozzarella for a delicious meal the whole family will love!

If you’re a fan of Caprese flavors, don’t miss out on trying our OG Caprese Salad, skillet Caprese Chicken, or Caprese Quinoa Salad next!

Caprese Pasta Ready In A Flash!

The weather is warming up, and I’m craving fresh veggies and herbs. What better way to use fresh cherry tomatoes, sweet basil, and creamy mozzarella than in a Caprese-salad-inspired pasta dish?

To keep things light and fresh-tasting, I’m ditching the heavy cream sauce and using fresh ingredients instead. So, what’s the secret? Using pasta water helps the sauce cling perfectly to the pasta while also boosting the flavor! You won’t miss the cream here!

Caprese Pasta Ingredients

Below is a breakdown of the ingredients in this pasta dish, along with some tips:

• Olive oil: Choose extra-virgin for the best flavor. It’s the base of the sauce, so its flavor adds a lot!
• Red onion: Go for a firm, brightly colored onion. Dice it really finely so it will cook evenly and become part of the sauce nicely.
• Cherry tomatoes: Choose ripe but firm tomatoes for the best flavor. 
• Minced garlic: Fresh garlic will give a better flavor than pre-minced or powdered. 
• Italian seasoning: This blend of herbs adds really great flavor. 
• Red pepper flakes: This is optional, but a little heat can really bring out the other flavors in the dish. Plus, these flakes help balance the sweetness of the tomatoes. Adjust the amount to your personal heat preference.
• Balsamic vinegar: This adds a great acidity and sweetness. Choose a good quality vinegar for the best flavor!
• Honey: This natural sweetener helps balance the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar. 
• Angel hair pasta: Thin pasta works well because the sauce clings to it easily. Make sure it’s cooked al dente for the best texture.

The Finishing Touches

• Mozzarella pearls: If you can’t find pearls, you can cut a block of mozzarella into small cubes.
• Fresh basil: This adds a freshness that brightens the whole dish! Always add at the end so it stays looking fresh!
• Parmesan cheese: Use a block of Parmesan and grate it fresh for the best flavor. 
• Balsamic reduction: This is concentrated, so it offers a stronger flavor than regular balsamic vinegar. It’s optional, but adds a gourmet touch when drizzled on top of this Caprese Pasta just before serving.

Reserved Pasta Water…Let’s Talk About It

Using leftover pasta water is like a secret trick for making delicious pasta dishes, like this Caprese Pasta. This water, from boiling pasta, is starchy and a bit salty, perfect for making your pasta taste better.

Here’s why it’s useful:

1. Helps sauce stick: The starchy water makes the sauce cling to the pasta, so each bite is flavorful.
2. Thickens sauce: It helps make the sauce thicker, so you don’t need to add cream.

Also, if your sauce gets too thick, adding some pasta water can make it just right without losing taste.

TLDR? Using pasta water in your Caprese Pasta makes it more delicious and gives it a special touch, like restaurant food!

How To Make Caprese Pasta

1. Salt the pasta water: Make it as salty as sea water to flavor the pasta.
2. Use a big pot: A large pot helps pasta cook without sticking.
3. Cook pasta just right: Angel hair pasta cooks fast! Follow the package directions to cook it until it’s still a bit firm. Remember, it will cook more when we add it to the sauce.
4. Keep some pasta water: Save a cup before draining; it helps make the sauce stick to the pasta.
5. Sauté onions until golden: They should be soft and sweet.
6. Cook tomatoes carefully: They should be soft but not mushy.
7. Mix pasta with sauce: This lets pasta soak up the sauce, and adding pasta water thickens it.
8. Add basil and mozzarella last: This keeps basil bright and mozzarella melty but not stringy.
9. Taste and adjust: Before serving, check if it needs more salt, pepper, or a bit more heat.

What To Serve Alongside Caprese Pasta:

Here are some simple side dish ideas for the pasta:

• Garlic bread: Warm and crusty, it’s great for dipping in any leftover sauce.
• Green salad: A quick garden salad with lettuce, cucumber, and tomatoes helps balance the richness of the pasta.
• Grilled vegetables: Add zucchini, asparagus, or broccoli for some more veggies on the side.
• Chicken: A simple roast chicken or grilled chicken goes well with the pasta — especially if you’re looking for extra protein.
• Cucumber salad: A creamy cucumber salad adds some nice crunch and a fresh flavor!

More Easy Pasta Recipes You’ll Love:

• Instant Pot Baked Ziti this is my kids’ favorite pasta dish!
• Summer Pasta with corn, tomatoes, and basil.
• Pesto Pasta using store-bought pesto to keep things quick.
• Pasta Salad Recipe the best potluck addition!
• Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with a quick and easy dressing.

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5 from 2 votes

Caprese Pasta

By Chelsea Lords

Caprese Pasta combines cherry tomatoes, onions, and garlic in a tangy sauce with balsamic vinegar. It's served with angel hair pasta, fresh basil, and mozzarella for a delicious meal the whole family will love!

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 -4 servings

Ingredients 

USMetric

 

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1 large red onion, finely diced (1½ cups)
• ▢ 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved (4 cups)
• ▢ 2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)
• ▢ 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• ▢ 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon honey
• ▢ 8 oz (½ lb.) angel hair pasta, PLUS ½ cup cooking water (Note 1)
• ▢ ¾ cup mozzarella pearls (Note 2)
• ▢ ½ cup fresh ribboned basil (Note 3)
• ▢ For serving: block Parmesan cheese, balsamic reduction (Note 4)

Instructions 

• ONION: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the finely diced onion. Sauté until the onion is golden, about 3-4 minutes.
  
• TOMATOES: To the skillet, add the halved cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, optional red pepper flakes, balsamic vinegar, and honey. Season the mixture with ½ tsp of salt and ¼ tsp of pepper (or adjust to taste). Cook the mixture until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally. As the tomatoes soften, smash them with the back of a wooden spoon. Continue cooking for 2-4 more minutes or until the mixture forms a chunky sauce.
• PASTA: In the meantime, fill a large pot with 12 cups of water and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon of fine sea salt, and then 8 oz. angel hair pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining the pasta, remove 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set it aside.
• COMBINE AND FINISH: Remove the skillet from the heat. Transfer the drained pasta directly into the skillet with the tomato sauce. Add ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water and toss using tongs until the pasta is well coated with the sauce. If necessary, add more pasta water. Sprinkle in the ribboned fresh basil and mozzarella pearls, then toss gently to slightly soften the mozzarella. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
  
• SERVE: Plate the pasta and, if desired, drizzle each plate with balsamic reduction (to taste) and use a microplane to grate fresh Parmesan cheese over each serving. Enjoy while hot!

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Angel hair pasta: It's crucial to use only half of a 16-oz package, which is 8 ounces of pasta. The sauce proportions for this dish are tailored perfectly for this amount. Using more pasta would result in insufficient sauce to cover the pasta adequately.

Note 2: Mozzarella: If you can't find pearls, you can cut a block of mozzarella into small cubes.

Note 3: Basil: Ribboning the basil (also known as a chiffonade cut) helps distribute it evenly throughout the dish.

Note 4: Balsamic reduction: I usually opt for store-bought, conveniently found near the regular balsamic vinegar. This reduction lends a robust flavor profile with a hint of sweetness to the dish. Be sure to taste it first before generously drizzling it over your pasta!

• To make your own: Mix 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar with 1 tbsp of honey in a small pot. Allow the mixture to gently simmer on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. After around 15 minutes, the mixture should have thickened and reduced by a little more than half.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 858kcal | Carbohydrates: 109g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 1054mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1883IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 255mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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