A delicious caprese pasta bake covered in creamy tomato sauce and bubbly mozzarella. This easy 30-minute meal is the perfect way to use up fresh tomatoes and basil from the garden!
This pasta recipe reminds me of my baked ziti, baked feta pasta or baked mostaccioli, but with a caprese twist!
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Cheesy Baked Caprese Pasta
Today I’m going to share a super yummy recipe with you…a caprese pasta bake! Caprese salad is my absolute favorite and this dish combines those delicious flavors with my love of pasta recipes. It’s creamy, cheesy and full of flavor from the fresh tomatoes and basil.
Just like pasta primavera, this is a great vegetarian dish to make for Meatless Monday, although you could absolutely add ground beef or sausage if you want like I do in my baked rigatoni pasta. My family doesn’t even miss the meat and always raves over this meal.
Tips + Variations
- Salt the water. Add a teaspoon of kosher salt to the pot of water when boiling the pasta. It’s a simple way to pack in a little more flavor and trust me, it makes a difference!
- Cook noodles al dente. I usually boil the noodles until they are cooked al dente. This way they don’t get too mushy after baking in the oven. They come out perfectly tender and delicious!
- Add meat. Add 1/2 pound cooked ground beef, chicken or Italian sausage to add more heartiness to this meal.
- Lighten it up. Swap the heavy cream for half and half, or leave it out all together.
- Homemade marinara. If you have the time, making a homemade marinara sauce can really take this dish up a notch. It tastes so fresh and delicious!
- Finish it off. For the ultimate caprese flavor, add a drizzle of balsamic glaze right before serving.
FAQs
Sure! A few Tablespoons of basil pesto would another layer of flavor to the Caprese pasta
Fresh mozzarella cut into cubes is best! You can find a large ball of fresh mozzarella usually in the produce department of most grocery stores.
Spinach leaves would add a bright pop of color and nutrition!
Any hollow pasta in the shape of a tube works great to soak up all the sauce! Penne, ziti and rigatoni would all work best.
How to Freeze Pasta Caprese
Similar to other baked pasta dishes like lasagna or baked spaghetti, this recipe is a great freezer meal. Because it makes a lot, I usually always freeze half to pull out for an easy dinner.
This recipe works best when frozen before baking. Simply boil the noodles, then mix with the sauce and prepare in the baking dish as directed. Let cool completely, then cover the dish tightly with foil. Place in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake in the oven according to the instructions.
Need more easy pasta recipes? Try this pasta carbonara recipe or chicken parmesan recipe next!
More Delicious Pasta Dishes
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Caprese Pasta Bake
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta , penne or rigatoni
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 2-5 ounces mozzarella cheese , cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 cup grape tomatoes , halved
- fresh basil leaves , chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×9" baking dish with nonstick spray. Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot of water with 1 teaspoon salt. Once pasta is fully cooked, drain and place back in pot.
- Once noodles are done cooking, add in the sauce, heavy cream and parmesan cheese.
- Stir in mozzarella and tomatoes (saving some for the top). Then pour pasta mixture into baking dish and top with remaining cheese and tomatoes.
- Bake in oven for 20-30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. Top with freshly chopped basil. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, Casseroles, Dinner, Freezer-Friendly, Freezer-Friendly, Italian, Nut-Free, Pasta, Vegetarian, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
My favorite recipe is strawberry lemonade cupcakes. They are delicious and take forever to make….Resulting in every baking tool I own used, and my kitchen a disaster.
I made a chicken pot pie the other day that tasted great but bubbled over onto the bottom of my stove.
My messiest meals tend to be anything Italian, cheesy lasagna or cheesy chicken alfredo, or homemade pizzas.
My favorite recipe that messes up my oven every time would be Lasagna.
My fovorite recipe that I always end up with a massive mess of bowls and utensils with is Cinnabon Cheesecake: http://www.food.com/recipe/cinnabon-cheesecake-like-tgi-fridays-294698
As far as messes in the oven (though mine broke a week ago) ? Well, nothing I’ve made has done so but pretty much anything my boyfriend makes is a mess. He once spilled a pasta meal similar to this one while getting it out of the oven. Yes, the entire dish of it.
Family mini pizzas! Soo messy but, the kids love it!
My favorite messy recipe would have to be cherry pie! Wish I had some now!
Lasagna is a family fav that always makes a mess in my oven ( and on my flour and counters- lol!)
I seem to make a mess no matter what I make. But when I make lasagna, it gets pretty messy since I make a homemade sauce first on top of constructing and cooking all the other ingredients. Worth every bit though.
Cherry pie always makes a mess in my oven, but it’s worth it.
Has to be monkey bread.. my kitchen is a disaster after I make that!
The better question is what don’t I make that doesn’t make a huge mess!!!
I never make anything messy!… But sometimes I put too much batter in my cupcake pan and it overflows.
The messiest food that makes my oven less than fun to clean are mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar, granola, and marshmallows. :)
I would love to win!!! My most messy recipe is my lasagna. If I forget to put a pan underneath it…its a mess!
lasagna!
I love to make chicken enchiladas! I may put too much cheese and sauce on them… but so delicious
My favorite recipe that messes up my oven every time, is Dutch Apple Pie.
Sounds yummy!