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.
Oops!
I prefer making bacon in the oven but there is a lot of grease splatter.
My favorite messy recipe is BBQ Baby Back Ribs and pecan pie!!!
Cooking cheesecake always ends up making a grease puddle in the bottom of my oven (which equals lots of smoke!).
My favorite messy recipe is BBQ Baby Back Ribs!!!! Yummy! Lots of sticky fingers with this meal.
Pizza – always seem to get cheese all over!
Yum! I make a cream cheese chicken lasagna that almost always bubbles out of the pan, but it is just sooo good I have to keep making it. An easy clean oven would sure be nice!
I would have to say Lasagna
Well…should I admit this? Our last frozen pizza went horribly wrong. As in, the entire thing fell through the grates. I would die for this oven!
I always seem to overfill my caramel Dutch apple pie with caramel apple goodness which always seems to make a mess.
My favorite messy recipe has to be anything with tomato sauce – lasagna, pizza, etc…But then again, I really don’t mind how messy my oven gets as long as the food is delish!
My favorite messy oven recipe is my lasagna. I layer it up too high and add way too much cheese, but it is so yummy.
What could be more messy (and delicious) than a classic spaghetti and meatballs!
I always forget to put a cookie sheet under my pies and they always drip!
The pasta looks great by the way!!!
My super layered extra cheese, Italian sausage and ground beef lasagna- my boys love it- but it always makes a huge mess! My husbands work of art is always his mountain man casserole- but at least my husband loves to cook!
Stuffed Shells! There is always entirely too much cheese, but it is delish! :) I was just looking at these ovens the other day in the store, day dreaming :)
Pecan pie always seems to bubble over in my oven. But seriously don’t ever try to bake a giant sugar cookie if you don’t know what you’re doing. The remnants are still lurking in my oven.
Oooey gooey cinnamon rolls!
Doesn’t mess up the oven, but does destroy a clean cooktop: My grandmother’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken and skin-on buttermilk mashed potatoes. Cleaning up a grease spattered cooktop is worth every second of trouble when you eat that deliciousness for dinner!