If you are following along with me on Instagram, you'll know that Julian and I welcomed our baby girl last month! While I was pregnant, I had major cravings for Caprese salads. To say I was obsessed would be an understatement. What is not to love with a bowl of fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, and sweet and tangy balsamic vinegar on a hot summer day?

Eventually, to avoid overwhelming Julian with making a Caprese salad for us day in and day out, I started weaving the signature flavors into different forms. Soon, we were having Caprese paninis, Caprese pasta salad, and even a Caprese frittata! This pasta twist on a classic Caprese salad was one of my best creations out of this phase, which I have still been enjoying through the end of the summer.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

The classic flavors of a Caprese salad come together in this recipe with simple, fresh ingredients. It is quick and easy to put together on a busy weeknight, but is also delicious enough to serve for date night!

Slowly cooking the tomatoes with olive oil enhances the sweetness and reduces the acidity of the cherry tomatoes, allowing their juices to form the most beautiful sauce with the olive oil and reserved pasta water. It also helps to soften the skins so they blend in with the sauce. It is an incredibly quick and easy way to make a sauce that tastes like it has been simmering for hours.

Caprese Pasta Ingredients

Fresh produce is what makes an insalata Caprese shine, and this pasta is no different!

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh cherry or grape tomatoes
• Spaghetti
• Mozzarella pearls
• Fresh basil leaves
• Balsamic reduction

Substitutions Variations and Tips

Since this Caprese pasta recipe is so simple, having fresh, high quality ingredients is important. If you don't have any of these ingredients, it is you can easily substitute for what you have available to you.

• If you do not have sweet cherry tomatoes available, you can easily substitute for any ripe tomatoes. Simply cut the larger tomatoes into smaller pieces to allow them to break down easier while cooking.
• If you are not a fan of spaghetti, you can substitute for any short pasta shape that you like. If you still prefer a noodle, angel hair pasta is a great alternative.
• Mozzarella pearls are basically mini mozzarella balls. If you do not have them available to you, you can use any other mozzarella cheese you would like. One variation I love to do with this recipe is to use fresh mozzarella on top of the cooked pasta and bake the pasta to get it all nicely browned and bubbly.
• No fresh basil? No problem! Simply add some dried basil in its place to get that delicious flavor.
• Instead of balsamic reduction, you can easily use a small amount of regular balsamic vinegar or white balsamic vinegar instead!

While this recipe stays fairly true to a traditional Caprese salad, you can also add other ingredients such as:

• To add some protein, you can add some shrimp or chicken to this dish.
• If you want more cheesy goodness in your meal, you can easily add some parmesan cheese.
• If you want to bring the heat, red pepper flakes or Calabrian chilis are a great way to incorporate spice.

Some key tips for you when making this recipe are:

• Low and slow is the best approach to cooking the tomatoes down. This is important because it will let the tomatoes break down and the skins to reduce to form the perfect jammy tomato sauce for your pasta!
• Reserve your pasta water! This is such a key step in the process, because the starch in the water helps to make your sauce nice and smooth, and to adhere to the pasta noodles when you add them to the pan.

How to Make This Simple Tomato Mozzarella Caprese Pasta

While the full recipe instructions are available on the recipe card below, here are some tips to make this the best of pasta dishes!

• Add your olive oil to a large skillet or Dutch oven and turn the heat to medium-low. As the pan starts to heat up, add your tomatoes to the pan and let them cook down. I love how the juicy tomatoes break down to create their own delicious sauce with the olive oil and pasta water.
• As the tomatoes cook down, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta to just before al dente. Once the tomatoes have cooked down to form a sauce and the pasta is ready, add the al dente pasta to the skillet with the tomatoes. Make sure to reserve some of the pasta water! Stir the spaghetti in with the tomatoes until well coated, adding some pasta water to get a smooth sauce.
• Remove the pan from heat, stir in your mozzarella pearls and fresh sliced basil. Serve in bowls and top with some extra mozzarella and sliced basil and drizzle with balsamic. Serve right away and enjoy!

How to Serve

This dish is best served immediately. The hot pasta and cheese combine as you eat it to create the perfect oozy texture to complement the tomatoes and basil! If you're looking for ideas to serve with this pasta, here are some options:

• Green salad - a simple way to add more veggies to your dinner.
• Grilled chicken, fish, or prawns - will complement the bright flavors in this pasta perfectly.
• Crusty bread or garlic bread - always a great addition to any pasta dish!
• Caesar salad - for a complete Italian meal.

Storage Tips

Leftovers are one of my favorite things about cooking, and this pasta is no exception! Store your extra Caprese pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, you can either

• Use the microwave and stir to make sure it is consistently heated throughout, or
• Heat in a non-stick skillet with the stove on low. If the sauce gets too thick, simply add some water or chicken broth to loosen it to your liking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make Caprese pasta ahead of time?

‍Since this recipe is best served immediately, it is not the best candidate to make ahead of time. However, it comes together very quickly! If you want to make this for guests and reduce the amount of time it takes to put together, you can prepare the sauce and noodles and keep it on the stove in your pan with the lid on and the heat off. Keep extra pasta water on the side. When you are ready to serve, heat the pasta and sauce on the stove and add some reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency. Once the pasta and sauce is heated through, remove from the heat and serve with the mozzarella, basil and balsamic. Enjoy!

Can I add protein?

Of course! I recommend adding some chicken or prawns. I like these proteins for this recipe because they won't overpower the deliciousness of this pasta.

What other vegetables can I add?

This pasta would be delicious with some spinach wilted into it, or bell peppers added to the sauce!

How can I make this pasta creamy?

Making this pasta creamy is super easy. Simply add some cream to the tomatoes as they cook down. Be sure to keep the heat low to make sure the cream doesn't separate in the pan. Another way to make this a creamy delight is to add some plain cream cheese with the noodles and stir it in as it melts.

Is Caprese pasta vegan?

Caprese pasta is vegetarian and can easily be made vegan! Simply either eliminate the mozzarella or swap for your favorite vegan cheese.

How can I make this gluten free?

This recipe can easily be made gluten free by using your favorite gluten free pasta.

Can you freeze leftover Caprese pasta?

Since the beauty in this recipe comes from the use of vibrant, fresh ingredients, it does not freeze particularly well. I would not recommend freezing and then thawing this dish as it won't have the same great flavor or texture as when it is fresh.

Other Pasta Recipes You Will Love

Caprese Pasta Salad

Creamy Pasta with Salmon and Asparagus

Pasta with Pumpkin and Whipped Ricotta

Creamy Pasta with Chanterelle Mushrooms

Classic Penne Alla Vodka

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