This Warm Caprese Pasta Is Super Fresh and Super Easy

A fast and simple recipe that works as a meal or a side, it's equally good warm or at room temp.

By
Liv Dansky
Liv Dansky
Liv Dansky is a recipe tester and developer in the Dotdash Meredith Test Kitchens. Her recipes have been published in Real Simple, Southern Living, Food & Wine, and Eating Well, among other publications. Liv discovered a love of eating food, writing about food, and making food at a young age.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published September 12, 2023
Bowl of 5-ingredient warm caprese pasta at a table setting with a table napkin, salt and pepper shaker, and a small bowl of basil

Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

Nothing quite compares to peak summer tomatoes. We love celebrating their sweetness by cooking them down in loads of olive oil, adding vinegar, tossing them with cooked pasta, and stirring in fresh basil and mozzarella cheese pearls. This tastes great, both warm and at room temperature.

A Simple Meal That Sings With Good Ingredients

This is one of those recipes that will only be as good as the ingredients you use. 

  • Tomatoes: Look for cherry tomatoes that are uniform in color, have a tomatoey smell, and feel heavy for their size. If cherry tomatoes aren't looking good, use chopped beefsteak or plum tomatoes, and cook them until they break down. 
  • Fresh mozzarella: If mozzarella cheese isn't available, try a fresh farmer's cheese with a mild flavor similar to mozzarella cheese. 
  • Olive oil: Extra-virgin olive oil runs the gamut of flavor, from fruity to pepper to bitter. My favorite brand of olive oil is California Olive Ranch Medium; it has the perfect amount of fruitiness and grassiness without being overwhelming. 
Bowl of 5-ingredient warm caprese pasta at a table setting with a table napkin, salt and pepper shaker, a small bowl of basil, and a stack of plates

Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

Make It Your Own

  • Sauté pancetta or bacon with the tomatoes for a salty flavor boost.
  • Swap the red wine vinegar with white balsamic vinegar for a slightly sweeter flavor profile. 
  • Use your favorite short pasta shapes, such as orecchiette or penne. 
Pasta a Plenty
Pasta Carbonara
Lemony Sardine Pasta
Greek Pasta Salad

Warm Caprese Pasta

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings
Yield 9 cups

Warm pasta absorbs the flavor of the tomato mixture more quickly than cold pasta, so be sure to mix everything together while warm.  

If you can’t find tiny fresh mozzarella pearls, get the larger balls and quarter them so they are bite-size.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons, plus 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 16 ounces farfalle (bow-tie) pasta

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 4 cups cherry tomatoes (about 20 ounces)

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, plus more for serving

  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

  • 1 (8-ounce) container fresh mozzarella cheese pearls in water, drained

  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn

Method

  1. Cook the pasta:

    Bring 4 quarts of water and 2 tablespoons of the salt to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Stir in the farfalle and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

    Cooked farfelle pasta in a bowl for 5-ingredient warm caprese pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster
  2. Cook the tomatoes:

    While pasta cooks, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Add the tomatoes, pepper, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; cook, stirring often, until the tomatoes begin to burst, about 3 minutes. Stir in the vinegar. Cook, stirring often, until the sauce thickens slightly and the tomatoes begin to break down, about 6 minutes.

    Cherry tomatoes cooking in a skillet for 5-ingredient warm caprese pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster
  3. Assemble the pasta salad: 

    Stir the tomato mixture into the bowl with pasta and toss to coat. Stir in mozzarella pearls and basil. Top with additional black pepper, if desired.

    You can refrigerate the pasta salad for up to 3 days. For the best flavor, let it sit at room temperature before serving.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    5-ingredient warm caprese pasta ingredients mixed together in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster
    Two plates of 5-ingredient warm caprese pasta at a table setting with a salt shaker, a table napkin, a small bowl of basil, and a glass of water
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
575 Calories
38g Fat
42g Carbs
17g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 575
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 38g 49%
Saturated Fat 10g 48%
Cholesterol 34mg 11%
Sodium 2636mg 115%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 21mg 103%
Calcium 251mg 19%
Iron 2mg 14%
Potassium 444mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.