Caprese Pasta Bake

A simple and flavorful Italian pasta bake with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Perfect for a quick and delicious lunch.

Prep Time

15 minutes

Total Time

45 minutes

Calories

685 kcal

Difficulty

Easy

Equipment

3 items

Cost

£2.00/serving

Season:

☀️ Summer

Meal Type:

Lunch•Dinner

Cuisine:

Main Ingredient:

Cooking Style:

Mood:

Ingredients

Servings

1poundPenne Pasta(Can substitute with other short pasta shapes like rigatoni or fusilli.)

£0.85

16ouncesFresh Mozzarella(Cut into small cubes or tear into pieces.)

£2.50

1pintCherry Tomatoes(Halved or quartered if large.)

£2.20

0.5cupFresh Basil(Chopped)

£1.50

3tablespoonsOlive Oil(Extra virgin olive oil recommended)

£0.40

2clovesGarlic(Minced)

£0.15

2tablespoonsBalsamic Glaze(Optional, for drizzling)

£0.35

1teaspoonSalt(Or to taste)

£0.01

0.5teaspoonBlack Pepper(Freshly ground, or to taste)

£0.05

Total Cost

£8.01

£2.00 per serving

Instructions

1.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2.
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
3.
While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
4.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic-infused olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to combine.
5.
Pour the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
6.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly and the tomatoes are slightly softened.
7.
Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Drizzle with balsamic glaze (optional) before serving.

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My Notes

Nutrition Information

Nutrition per serving (350g)

685 kcal / 2866 kJ

Carbs

78g

30% of RDA

Fat

28g

40% of RDA

Protein

33g

66% of RDA

Detailed Breakdown

Fibre

4 g

13% of RDA

Sugar

15 g

17% of RDA

Sodium

750 mg

33% of RDA

Saturated Fat

13 g

65% of RDA

Chef's Tips

For a richer flavor, use roasted garlic instead of fresh garlic.

Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.

If you don't have fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but use about 1 teaspoon.

Serve with a side salad for a complete meal.

Cooking Equipment

Oven

Large Pot

Baking Dish (9x13 inch)

Wine Pairings

No wine pairing suggestions available for this recipe.

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Caprese Pasta Bake

Ingredients

Instructions