This STOVETOP CAPRESE PASTA BAKE is a one pot wonder! So simple, easy, and full of flavor. Our entire family loves this delicious Easy Pasta Bakeand it couldn’t be easier! It’s loaded with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
Easy Caprese Pasta Bake
I’ve always had a thing for caprese. There’s something magical about basil, tomato, mozzarella, and balsamic. It’s a flavor combination that I never seem to tire. Some of my favorite recipes have been composed of these ingredients. Chopped Caprese Salad, Stuffed Caprese Salmon, and Cheesy Caprese Dip just to name a few. I never got tired of the simple way the flavors go together like Henry and poofy hair. They just fit.
This delicious Caprese Pasta recipe is cheesy and chock-full of flavor!
Stovetop Caprese Pasta Casserole
This is one of those meals that you can keep as simple as you want, or dress up with add-ons. Chicken would be a great protein to toss in for a chicken caprese pastsa, or try adding sausage for a dressier dinner. You can serve this pasta caprese on its own in small portions or as a tasty side dish. It’s even great served cold as more of a caprese pasta salad.
It’s just so versatile and delicious! I am really in love with this Caprese Pasta Bake if you can’t tell! I love how everything melts together to create such a burst of flavor. Yum yum yum!
An Easy Pasta Bake recipe the whole family will love!
This rustic Stovetop Caprese Pasta Bake recipe is such an easy way to feed your family and make sure everyone is happy. Henry (who is 11 months) ate this up and could pick it up with his hands which was great. My picky eater husband (much pickier than my baby) even loved it and went back for seconds. That’s the true test of a good recipe. I LOVE the fresh basil. I can never decide if I love basil or cilantro more. If you ask me today…it’s basil.
How Do You Make Caprese Salad?
Caprese salad is a traditional and simple Italian dish made up of fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil leaves, usually dressed in olive oil. It’s easy to make and it’s such a simple dish to serve. It is a great side dish for any Italian meal, or a fun appetizer to serve in the summer or at parties. Try our Chopped Caprese Salad if you want a taste of this flavorful dish.
What is Caprese Pasta?
While a fresh caprese salad is delicious all on its own, mixing it up to create a caprese pasta bake really takes it up a notch. It’s a different spin on the traditional caprese salad. By adding in pasta, you can create a new dish, which makes a great family dinner. The mozzarella melts and all of the flavors intensify as they cook and that’s why I love this caprese pasta bake for the perfect meal!
I hope you give this easy pasta bake recipe a try. It’s sure to please and is completely fool proof. That’s my kind of recipe! The simple yet delicious flavors in this caprese pasta bake are perfect for the whole family or any dinner guests you might have. Save any leftovers for a cold caprese pasta salad to switch it up and make this dish last even longer.
More Pasta Recipes We Love
- Chicken Parmesan Pasta
- Southwest Chicken Alfredo Penne
- Creamy Pasta Primavera Bake
- Cheesy Bacon Gnocchi Bake
See the recipe card for details on how to make this Stovetop Caprese Pasta recipe. Enjoy!
More caprese recipes too
- White Caprese Chicken Lasagna
- Caprese Farro Salad
- Stuffed Caprese Chicken Sandwich
- Caprese Tarts
- Cheesy Caprese Dip
- Traditional Caprese Salad
- Pasta Pomodoro Recipe
Stovetop Caprese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pasta small or medium sized works best
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 jar 23.50 ounces marinara sauce or any tomato-based pasta sauce
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- 4 ounces mozzarella pearls divided
- 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes halved, divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil divided
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a 3-quart baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Fill a large pot with water and add 1-teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and dried basil. Bring water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain.
- While pasta cooks, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces mozzarella pearls, 1-cup cherry tomatoes and 2 tablespoons fresh basil in a large bowl and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 2 ounces mozzarella pearls and 1 cup grape tomatoes.
- Cook 30 minutes, or until hot throughout. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons fresh basil.
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Nutrition Information
If you add the mozzarella balls & bake, won’t they melt if in oven? I don’t even know when to drop mozzarella balls into pasta dish when cooking sauce on stove. If they stay in the ball shape, won’t they be cold yet? Thanks
Yes, the mozzarella balls will start to melt in the oven! It’s part of what makes this dish delicious!!
This is missing quite a few directions. When do we add the remaining Parmesan? I’m
Guessing you add the pasta after you combine the other ingredients? 2 oz is not enough mozzarella. Just too much lacking in these directions.
This has become a go-to meal for us! I literally make it every other week and it’s always a crowd pleaser. Thanks for this amazing recipe!
So happy to hear that!
Hi! This looks great! If I can’t find mozzarella pearls, can I buy a 16 oz mozzarella ball and just cut small size pieces from it or do i need fresh mozzarella?
Absolutely! That would work great :)
Hi. I’m getting ready to make this for dinner. i assume in step 4, you mix the mixture with the pasta, and then pour it into the baking dish? that’s what i’m going to do anyway lol. looks yummy, but we like our pasta really saucy so, from the pics, looks like i may need to 1.5 times the sauce. seems perfect for a buy weeknight. :)
yes that’s right!! I hope you enjoy it :)
Thank you. It was delicious! And it made a lot, so I don’t have to cook tonight! ;)