Name: Zesty Italian Pasta from the Pot
Yield: 4

This Zesty Italian Pasta is a quick and straightforward 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: It is worth 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 wide skillet!

A wide 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.