This Baked Caprese Pasta is a simple, yummy dish with pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. The cheese melts into the pasta, and the tomatoes get soft and juicy when baked. It’s easy to make and perfect for a family meal.
Whether you’re a new mom, dad, childcare provider, or simply looking for easy toddler lunch and dinner ideas, you can try this. You can make it even more fun by trying different variations. Add chicken, use spaghetti or orzo pasta, or try a cool pasta salad version. It’s a quick, kid-friendly recipe everyone will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Baked Caprese Pasta is simple, tasty, and perfect for busy days. It’s made with soft pasta, sweet cherry tomatoes, and gooey mozzarella cheese. It’s a dish both kids and grown-ups can enjoy together.
- Easy to make with simple ingredients like pasta, tomatoes, and cheese.
- Soft pasta and melted cheese are easy for little ones to eat.
- Sweet cherry tomatoes turn soft and juicy after baking.
- Topped with fresh basil leaves for a little color and fresh taste.
- Ready in about 30 minutes.
- You can skip or swap things like garlic and balsamic glaze for toddlers.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
These are the simple things you need to make Baked Caprese Pasta:
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, chopped (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves for topping
- Balsamic glaze for grown-ups (optional)
Substitutions You Can Use
If you don’t have something, here’s what you can use instead:
- Penne pasta → use macaroni or rotini pasta
- Cherry tomatoes → use grape tomatoes or cut-up Roma tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella cheese → use shredded mozzarella or mild cheddar cheese
- Garlic → leave it out for toddlers
- Fresh basil leaves → sprinkle a little dried Italian seasoning
How to Make Baked Caprese Pasta
- Boil 8 ounces penne pasta in a big pot of water. Cook until soft but not mushy. Drain the water.
- Put the cooked pasta in a big bowl. Add 1½ cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half).Pour in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 garlic clove (if using).Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper (if using).Mix it all together.
- Add 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese (cut in small cubes) to the bowl. Stir gently so the cheese spreads everywhere.
- Put everything into a baking dish. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes. Bake until the cheese melts and the top looks a little golden.
- Take it out of the oven. Put some fresh basil leaves on top. Add a little balsamic glaze for grown-ups (skip for toddlers).
How to Store
- Let the pasta cool down first.
- Put the leftover pasta, cheese, and tomatoes in an airtight container.
- Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Warm it up in the microwave or oven until the cheese melts again.
- Add a few fresh basil leaves on top after heating.
Tip: This dish is fresh, but still tasty the next day!
Best Tips for Success
Want your Baked Caprese Pasta to turn out just right? These easy tips will help you make a tasty dish your kids will love.
- Cook the pasta until soft but not mushy. It should be easy for toddlers to chew.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half so they get soft and juicy while baking.
- Use fresh mozzarella cheese. It melts better and makes the dish creamy.
- Skip garlic and black pepper for little kids if needed.
- Add fresh basil leaves after baking. This keeps them bright and tasty.
- Use a little less salt for toddlers and babies.
- Warm up leftovers slowly so the cheese melts again without drying the pasta.
Baked Caprese Pasta Recipe Variations
Want to switch things up? These fun ideas use the same cozy mix of pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, with a little twist. Perfect for families and little ones.
Roasted Caprese Pasta
This version uses roasted cherry tomatoes for extra flavor. The tomatoes turn sweet and soft in the oven.
How to make it:
Roast cherry tomatoes with olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a little garlic in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes. Then mix them with your cooked pasta, mozzarella cheese, and bake as usual.
Half Baked Caprese Pasta Salad
A cool and fresh twist without baking. Perfect for hot days or quick lunches.
How to make it:
Cook penne pasta, then mix with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, olive oil, and fresh basil leaves. Skip the oven and drizzle with a little balsamic glaze before serving.
Baked Chicken Caprese Pasta
Add some protein with tender chicken breast pieces. It makes the dish extra filling for busy families.
How to make it:
Cook small pieces of chicken breast in olive oil until done. Mix with cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Bake until bubbly, then top with basil leaves.
Caprese Baked Spaghetti pasta
Use long, slurpy spaghetti pasta instead of short penne. Kids love the fun noodles.
How to make it:
Cook spaghetti, then mix with olive oil, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese melts. Top with fresh basil leaves before serving.
Caprese Baked Orzo Pasta
Tiny, rice-shaped orzo pasta makes this one easy for toddlers to chew.
How to make it:
Cook orzo pasta and mix with roasted cherry tomatoes, olive oil, and cubed mozzarella cheese. Bake until bubbly, then finish with a sprinkle of basil leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any type of pasta?
Yes! You can use penne, spaghetti, orzo, or any shape your kids like. Just cook it until soft but not mushy.
Is this dish safe for toddlers?
Yes. It’s made with soft pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, melted mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Skip black pepper or extra garlic for little ones if needed.
Can I add chicken to this recipe?
Yes. Cook small pieces of chicken breast and mix them with the pasta, cheese, and tomatoes before baking.
How long can I store leftovers?
Keep leftover baked pasta in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Can I turn this into a pasta salad?
Sure. Skip the oven and mix cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil with a splash of olive oil and balsamic glaze.
Baked Caprese Pasta
8
servings10
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minutesIngredients
8 ounces penne pasta
1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, chopped (optional)
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
Fresh basil leaves for topping
Balsamic glaze for grown-ups (optional)
Directions
- Boil 8 ounces penne pasta in a big pot of water. Cook until soft but not mushy. Drain the water.
- Put the cooked pasta in a big bowl. Add 1½ cups cherry tomatoes (cut in half).Pour in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 garlic clove (if using).Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper (if using). Mix it all together.
- Add 1 cup fresh mozzarella cheese (cut in small cubes) to the bowl. Stir gently so the cheese spreads everywhere.
- Put everything into a baking dish. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes. Bake until the cheese melts and the top looks a little golden.
- Take it out of the oven. Put some fresh basil leaves on top. Add a little balsamic glaze for grown-ups (skip for toddlers).
