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This 20-minute single serving Caprese pasta features tender pasta tossed with juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and garlic for a light, flavorful meal.
Featured Comment
“I followed the recipe and used heirloom tomato I picked up from our farmer’s market. Exceptionally good! Nourished body and soul, thank you.”
– Laura
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This Caprese pasta for one comes together in about 20 minutes with simple, everyday ingredients.
- Fresh and Flavorful: Juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil, and garlic create classic Caprese flavor in every bite.
- Perfectly Portioned: Made just for one, this recipe gives you the right amount without any waste.
- Easily Customizable: Add chicken, shrimp, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze for extra flavor and variety.
If you love Caprese salad as much as I do, this pasta version is one you’ll want to keep on repeat. It brings together ripe tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil tossed with warm pasta, garlic, and olive oil. Every bite is light, fresh, and full of flavor – the kind of meal I turn to when I want something simple and satisfying.
Looking for more single serving pasta recipes? Try my Mediterranean pasta, zesty pasta al limone for one, classic shrimp scampi for one, or comforting spaghetti and meatballs for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serve Caprese pasta recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Pasta: Use 2 ounces (57g) of dry pasta for one serving. I like angel hair pasta, which measures about 2 1/8 inches around when portioned and yields 1 cup cooked. Any pasta shape will work. Leftover pasta can be used in single serving pesto pasta or single serving buttered noodles.
- Tomatoes: Use 2 ripe Roma tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are a convenient option, and sun-dried tomatoes add a deeper flavor. Extra tomatoes can be used in ratatouille for one or cioppino for one.
- Mozzarella cheese: Fresh mozzarella is best, but a vegan alternative can be used. Leftover mozzarella can go in single serving lasagna rollups or a small batch of stuffed shells.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Use one or two of these herbs if you don’t have the mix.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations
Caprese Pasta is easy to customize. Here are a few simple ways to change it up:
- Caprese Pasta Salad: Toss cooked and cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil. Add a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper for a refreshing side or light meal.
- Chicken Caprese Pasta: Add baked chicken breast, baked chicken thighs or any cooked chicken for extra protein. Season the chicken with Italian herbs for added flavor.
- Caprese Pasta Bake: Combine cooked pasta, chopped tomatoes, mozzarella, a drizzle of olive oil, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of marinara sauce. Transfer to a small baking dish, top with our small batch breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and bake until bubbly and lightly golden.
How To Make Caprese Pasta
These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for about 8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Pro Tip: Salting the water helps season the pasta from within, giving it more flavor.
- Sauté the Garlic: In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
- Cook the Tomatoes: Add chopped tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring often, until softened and slightly saucy.
Note: Sautéing helps concentrate the tomatoes’ flavor and reduces their acidity.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat.
- Add Final Ingredients: Remove from heat. Stir in mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan.
- Season and Serve: Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Expert Tips
- Sauté the garlic: Cooking garlic in olive oil helps mellow its sharpness and brings out its flavor.
- Cook pasta al dente: Slightly firm pasta holds its shape and texture better in this dish.
- Don’t rinse the pasta: Draining without rinsing keeps the natural starches, which help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Serve right away: The warm pasta gently melts the mozzarella, creating a soft, creamy texture that’s best enjoyed immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prep some ingredients (chop tomatoes, basil) ahead, but it’s best to toss everything together right before serving so the mozzarella melts gently and the basil stays fresh.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1–2 days. Reheat gently over low heat, adding a splash of pasta water or olive oil to bring back creaminess.
This dish is meant to be served warm so the mozzarella slightly softens. But yes, you can also serve it cooled as a pasta salad, especially in warm weather.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy Caprese pasta or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Caprese Pasta For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ounces angel hair pasta (measures about 2 ⅛ inch around when held in a bundle) yields approximately 1 cup of cooked pasta.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil -divided
- 2 cloves garlic -chopped
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 ripe Roma tomatoes -chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon salt -plus more for salting the pasta water
- 1 ounce fresh mozzarella cheese -cut into ½-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for about 8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and set aside.Pro Tip: Adding a hefty pinch of salt to the water helps season the pasta from within, giving it more flavor.
- Sauté the Garlic: In a 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
- Cook the Tomatoes: Add chopped tomatoes and ⅛ teaspoon of salt. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring often, until softened and slightly saucy.
- Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat.
- Add Final Ingredients: Remove from heat. Stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, mozzarella, basil, and Parmesan. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Season and Serve: Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Notes
- Sauté the garlic: Cooking garlic in olive oil helps mellow its sharpness and brings out its flavor.
- Cook pasta al dente: Slightly firm pasta holds its shape and texture better in this dish.
- Don’t rinse the pasta: Draining without rinsing keeps the natural starches, which help the sauce cling to the pasta.
- Serve right away: The warm pasta gently melts the mozzarella, creating a soft, creamy texture that’s best enjoyed immediately.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made the recipe as written and it was excellent. Caprese is one of my favorite combinations and I am glad to have an additional recipe to use the ingredients.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for your feedback.
Just amazing light refreshing and so simple. I will be making this often thank you so much.
I followed the recipe and used heirloom tomato I picked up from our farmer’s market. Exceptionally good! Nourished body and soul, thank you.
Good recipe.