This Zesty Italian Pasta is a quick and easy dish made with Italian dressing, sweet cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh basil.
author’s note
30-Minute Flavor Packed Dinner!
I fell in love with Caprese while visiting Italy, and after taking a few cooking classes there, I was inspired to create this Caprese chicken recipe. I make it all the time, but with little ones who aren’t always fans of just protein, I knew I had to mix things up. So, I added pasta, their favorite!
While this isn’t an authentic Italian dish, it’s simple, bursting with flavor, and loved by everyone. The best part? It’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Italian Pasta Ingredients
- Angel hair pasta: It cooks quickly, so watch it. Thin spaghetti also works.
- Olive oil: Use extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Onion: Red onions bring color, but any small-chopped onion works.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic is best, but garlic in a jar works too.
- Italian dressing: I recommend Kraft Zesty® Italian Dressing for this recipe.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halve the tomatoes to create the sauce base.
- Fresh basil: Add at the end and slice into thin ribbons so it spreads out evenly.
- Mozzarella pearls: If you can’t find them, cube a mozz block.
Quick Tip
Love a little spice? Add some crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy touch!
How To Make Italian Pasta (Tips)
- Fresh ingredients: Fresh veggies and mozzarella add so much flavor.
- Prep: Get sauce ready while pasta cooks, so you can move it right from the pot to the pan.
- Salt water: Don’t skip salting the water! This is your chance to flavor the pasta.
- Don’t rinse pasta: Keep the starch on the pasta to help the sauce stick better.
- Cook tomatoes: Let tomatoes pop and release their juices for a richer sauce.
- Dressing: Add Italian dressing a little at a time to really mix its flavor into the dish.
Use A Large Skillet!
A large skillet is key for this recipe:
- It gives plenty of space to cook and mix ingredients well.
- Mixing the pasta with the sauce, an important step to spread the flavor evenly, is easier with a big pan.
- Its size fits the whole dish and spreads heat evenly.
Storage
Leftovers?
This Zesty Italian Pasta tastes best fresh. While it can be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for up to three days, reheating may affect the flavor and texture, making the pasta soft or mushy.
I don’t recommend freezing this dish.
More Pasta Favorites:
Zesty Italian Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta uncooked, not the entire box
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small red onion or yellow onion, very finely chopped (1 cup)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3/4 cup Italian dressing divided; I recommend Kraft Zesty® Italian Dressing, see note 1
- 2-1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup fresh basil ribboned
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese pearls or a block of cheese cut to small cubes
- Salt and pepper
- Grated Parmesan cheese optional
- Red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- In a very large pot, boil 12 cups water, then add 1 tablespoon salt to season. Return water to a boil, then add pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain pasta once cooked, but do not rinse.
- While pasta is coming to a boil, heat olive oil in a large pan (big enough to hold pasta later on!) over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped onion and cook, stirring until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup of the Italian dressing, and salt and pepper to taste (1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper recommended). Cook 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- As tomatoes soften, smash them with the back of a wooden spoon. Cook 2–3 more minutes until the mixture forms a chunky sauce.
- Transfer drained pasta to the pan. Add remaining 1/4 cup of dressing and toss to coat the pasta evenly. Stir in fresh basil ribbons and mozzarella cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
- Optionally, add red pepper flakes, either to the pan or individually on plates. Plate the pasta and use a fine grater to grate fresh Parmesan cheese over each serving. Best enjoyed immediately.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I don’t usually like to comment but this recipe was so easy to follow and very delicious I just had to tell you. The fresh mozzarella brings the dish together nicely. My dish doesn’t look as nice but tastes amazing. I would try this again!
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks so much for taking the time to write this comment! 🙂
My husband loved it! I cooked some Italian sausage and added it and that was perfect.
So glad to hear that! Thanks Dana 🙂
I’m sure I’m missing it, but I can’t find how many people this feeds.
Tasted Great I just used marble cheese instead of mozzarella and used normal iron instead of skillet since I dont have one it worked fine I just had to give it time to melt and it was great thanks for the recipe!!!!
Sounds awesome! 🙂
This is 4th year making your dish. We plan, planted our garden just for it. Tonight, 1st make of season, start kick our summer. THANK YOU so, much for this I actually dream abt it, drool -thinking abt it during off season.
Awe, love hearing this!! Thanks so much 🙂
Year 2023 – Now, our grand daughter is making your awesome recipe dish And its perfect as is THANK YOU
I am so happy to hear this! Thanks! 🙂
I made tonight for dinner and my whole family loved it!!! And i’m 13!!! recommend it.
You are so awesome Erin! I’m so happy to hear you all enjoyed this! Thanks for your comment! 🙂
A GREAT pasta! I am very glad I found your website all your recipes are so very good. It’s my go to website now.
Tried your recipe for dinner and it was delicious! My son said the sauce was sweet and tasty. Hoping to eat some for lunch tomorrow but there are no leftovers.
So happy to hear this was a hit! 🙂 Thanks Monie! 🙂
Oh damn this looked good! But I fell asleep before I could finish reading all the stuff I don’t need to know about to make it. PUT YOUR RECIPE AT THE TOP. This is the #1 complaint about food bloggers out there. DO IT. DO IT.
You can use the “jump to recipe” button and skip everything before it 🙂
Thanks for this recipe , was fantastic good. I added grilled sliced sausage and black olives and chopped red pepper,, used shredded Parmesan instead of mozzarella. Was seriously out of this world, my wife was ready to lick the bowl.
What a compliment!! I’m so thrilled to hear this was such a big hit; thanks for the comment Jim!