By Becky Hardin
Updated Mar 17, 2025
My Caprese Pasta Bake is a cozy casserole packed with classic Italian flavors—juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and gooey melted mozzarella. It’s an easy, one-pan dish that’s bursting with comforting, summery vibes. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing family meal, this flavorful baked pasta is sure to become a favorite!
5-Star Review
“This has become a go-to meal for us! I literally make it every other week and it’s always a crowd pleaser. Thanks for this amazing recipe!” -Maddy
Easy Oven-Baked Caprese Pasta
A classic caprese salad is delightful on its own, but turning it into a caprese pasta bake creates a warm, comforting family meal. The mozzarella melts perfectly, enhancing the flavors and blending the tomatoes, cheese, and pasta into an irresistible dish. This simple baked casserole is truly impressive — a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound dry pasta small or medium sized works best
- ▢ 1 teaspoon table salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ▢ 1 jar 23.50 ounces marinara sauce or any tomato-based pasta sauce
- ▢ ¼ cup heavy cream
- ▢ 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ▢ ¼ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- ▢ 4 ounces mozzarella pearls divided
- ▢ 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes halved, divided
- ▢ ¼ cup chopped fresh basil divided
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a 3-quart baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Fill a large pot with water and add 1-teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and dried basil. Bring water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain and keep it aside. 1 teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 pound dry pasta
- While pasta cooks, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces mozzarella pearls, 1-cup cherry tomatoes and 2 tablespoons fresh basil in the baking sheet and mix well. 1 jar, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 4 ounces mozzarella pearls, 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- Add the boiled pasta and top with 2 ounces mozzarella pearls and 1 cup grape tomatoes. Cook for 30 minutes, or until hot throughout.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons fresh basil. ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Oven-Baked Caprese Pasta Step by Step
Heat the oven : Start by heating oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a 3-quart baking dish with non-stick spray and set it aside.
Cook the pasta until al dente : Fill a large pot with water and add 1 teaspoon of table salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and 1 teaspoon dried basil. Bring water to a boil and cook 1 pound of dry pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain and set it aside.
Add everything in the baking dish and bake : While pasta cooks, combine 1 jar of marinara sauce, ¼ cup heavy cream,1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces mozzarella pearls (out of 4 ounces), 1 cup cherry tomatoes (out of 2 cups), and 2 tablespoons fresh basil (out of ¼ cup) in a baking dish and mix well.
Add the boiled pasta and top with remaining 2 ounces mozzarella pearls and 1 cup grape tomatoes.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until hot throughout.
Garnish and serve : Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons fresh basil. Serve hot and enjoy!
How to Store
Refrigerate ay leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Reheat in microwave. If reheating on the stovetop, heat a saucepan on medium-low and adjust the consistency by adding 1/2 cup chicken broth.
If freezing, make pasta dish but wait to bake. Add everything to the baking dish, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake per instructions.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve this meal to my family alongside some Garlic Bread Sticks and a bowl of delicious White Bean Soup . You can also add Grilled Chicken as a side dish. Don’t forget to add some Strawberry Lemonade to go with the summer theme!
More delicious caprese recipes to try
Mini Caprese Tarts
Whipped Goat Cheese Bruschetta (Caprese and Triple Berry Versions!)
Cheesy Tomato Mozzarella Caprese Dip
White Chicken Lasagna (Caprese Chicken Lasagna)
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken Caprese Recipe
Caprese Stuffed Salmon
Caprese Salad Recipe
Stuffed Chicken Caprese Sandwich Recipe
Oven-Baked Caprese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry pasta small or medium sized works best
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 jar 23.50 ounces marinara sauce or any tomato-based pasta sauce
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- 4 ounces mozzarella pearls divided
- 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes halved, divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil divided
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray a 3-quart baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Fill a large pot with water and add 1-teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper and dried basil. Bring water to a boil and cook pasta to al dente, according to package directions. Drain and keep it aside. 1 teaspoon table salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 pound dry pasta
- While pasta cooks, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, 2 ounces mozzarella pearls, 1-cup cherry tomatoes and 2 tablespoons fresh basil in the baking sheet and mix well. 1 jar, ¼ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, 4 ounces mozzarella pearls, 2 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- Add the boiled pasta and top with 2 ounces mozzarella pearls and 1 cup grape tomatoes. Cook for 30 minutes, or until hot throughout.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons fresh basil. ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
