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.
Too busy cooking and waiting in eager anticipation of the delectable dishes soon to be served and consumed to notice which are the messiest, but i would have to say probably the apple pies and cheesy potatoes. oh…but then there are the oat flour currant muffins, too…
oh that sounds good. my fave messy oven meal is homemade mac & cheese!
Peach cobbler is my favorite to bake, it never fails that sticky juice bubbles over every time. I always forget about the spill until the next time I bake and the whole house fills with smoke. At this point everything is so baked on it will never come out completely. I would love to win a new LG Oven!
lasagna!
cinnamon rolls! always crave them whenI am pregnant (and when I’m not)
My all time favorite but horrible messy recipe is my Scotch Marshmallow Caramel Kissed Yams., it’s extremely yummy but very messy on stove.
My favorite recipe that always messes up my oven is apple tart. All the yummy syrupy goodness gets all over the oven. But it’s worth it :-)
Homemade Baked Macaroni & Cheese. It likes to bubble up and boil over.
I don’t usually have anything spill over in the oven but lasagna is pretty messy to make.
Pecan Pie. I’ve tried tin foil, pans, etc underneath but it never sets as pretty as when two pies are the only thing to share that space. If you hear my smoke alarm on 4th of July, or anytime from Halloween to New Years {don’t judge}, don’t be alarmed. Just grab some whipping cream and a fork.
My oven Fried Chicken Thighs Recipe is one the messiest and most acclaimed meals that come out of my oven. There is generally the remaining smell of cooked chicken thigh crust when the oven comes on for the next meal. You have got to love leftovers;)
Baked sweet potatoes.
Pies, hands down…I’m really bad about putting a pan underneath and they always bubble all over the place! So, worth it though!
Ahhh I would DIE if I won this oven!! We are in desperate need of one!! My favorite messy recipe is loaded sweet potatoes … mmmm!!!!
Our favorite messy recipe is called Yucatan chicken. Essentially, it’s like a taco salad that you eat with your fingers!
I tend to not make much of a mess, especially inside the oven, my husband on the other hand is a different story. He doesn’t use the oven often but pretty much every time he does there’s some sort of overflow of juices or sauce or whatever it is he’s cooking! Lol
I guess I didn’t list anything specific so I’ll say Thanksgiving turkey seems to make the biggest mess!
Every time we make homemade Hawaiian BBQ pizza, it always makes a big mess.
I just seem to have a knack for making messes in my oven, even when recipes aren’t messy! It’s usually the apple pies that completely do me in, though! I actually accidentally set my oven on fire with an overflowed pie one time!