Easy one pot pasta caprese with tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar prepared in Instant Pot.
Most of our meals these days are made in Instant pot. No baby-sitting the food, healthy one pot meals and super easy cleanup! After all the delicious Indian dishes – butter chicken, stuffed eggplant and the south indian bisi bele bhath it was time to change up to a new cuisine!
We love Italian food and pasta is a favorite dish. I love simple pasta made with few basic yet whole some ingredients.
Last week I decided to modify my summer caprese salad recipe to a pasta recipe using my Instant Pot DUO-60. As always even before I turn on the Instant pot, I start with a good mise en place.
Once all the ingredients are ready to go, turn on the Instant pot and follow along the video to see how quick and easy it is to make perfect pasta caprese:
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- 1 tbsp EVOO
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 6 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper optional
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 2-1/2 cups mezze penne
- 1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 handful basil leaves
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, or to taste
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
- Grated parmesan cheese optional
- 1 cup water
Set Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Once the Instant Pot displays 'Hot', add oil, onion, garlic and crushed red pepper. Sauté for a min.
Add grape tomatoes, pasta, pasta sauce, half of the basil leaves, salt and 1 cup of water. Stir well.
Set Instant Pot to Manual(High) 4 mins with pressure valve set to sealing.
Quick Release. Stir once again. Add fresh mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar.
Serve hot garnished with more chopped basil and shredded parmesan.
Recipe Video
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Author: Archana
Hey there! I am a techie turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger. I love food and enjoy developing easy and healthy recipes for busy lifestyles. I live New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
There’s nothing better than a quick pasta meal. This looks so comforting and delicious!
Thank you Antonia! I love fresh basil and fresh mozzarella in this dish and the drizzle of balsamic vinegar .. just finishes up this dish so beautifully!
This looks great! I’m trying to figure out the ratio of pasta to liquid since I’m using a different shaped pasta and am looking to go by weight rather than volume. Do you happen to know how much pasta, by weight, you used?
About 1/2 box or 8 oz. You want just enough water so that all the pasta in barely submerged under water/liquid.
This looks really good! If I make a double recipe, would you increase the time?
Linda, you do not need to double the time. It will work with same time. Would love to know how you like it! Thank you.
It was very good! My husband said it had a restaurant quality taste. Thanks!
Thank you Linda! You made my day. So glad you guys enjoyed it! ❤?
Great recipe for a quick lunch dish. I tweaked the ingredients a bit by using shallots in addition to the onions and garlic. Also used whole grain pasta. Reduced the balsamic vinegar quantity- 1/4 cup is a bit much. A drizzle (few teaspoons) is perfectly fine. And pecorino Romano grated also goes well. A hearty flavorful dish all in all.
Yum! Your version sounds delish. I agree, balsamic vinegar can be drizzled to taste.
Thanks for the fantastic recipe! The mozzarella balls are pretty but hard to eat, so I think next time I’ll try adding shredded fresh mozzarella instead.
Hi Pam, So glad you enjoyed this pasta recipe! You can also chop up mozzarella balls into small pieces or shred it!
How do you film your videos? do you have your camera hooked on something? I need to figure out how to make some videos to share with my sisters on things I am making. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Roshni, I have the camera on tripod or sometimes my boys will help me with the video as I cook.
Thanks!! Also have a question for the amount of water for pasta. How do you determine how much water to add to pasta as it doesn’t look like a lot? I figured out your equation for cooking times but need help with water for pasta!!!
Hi Roshni! It is tricky with the water. As different pasta recipes have different liquids from the sauce, tomatoes, etc. After adding all the sauces, tomatoes, I add enough water so that most of the pasta(90%) is under water. I use a spatula to push the pasta under the liquids. Hope this helps.
Hi archana
How about using tomato pasta sauce instead of tomato sauce
Will that make a difference
Hi Radha, you can totally use a tomato pasta sauce. It will still be yummy
This may be not only the best instant pot meal I ever made, but maybe the best meal ever.,.amazing and super quick and easy!
Hi Jo! Thank you so much! Your lovely comment made my day! I love the way pasta cooks in the Instant Pot. So flavorful and a truly one pot dish. We have this pasta on repeat in the summers.
Hi,
The recipe came out awesome but I had to do 8 mins instead of 4 and put more water. Pasta was kind of stuck and little burnt at the bottom. Can you tell me what could be wrong.
Thanks.
Hi! Need to know exactly which pasta you used and what was the cook time on the box. If the pasta is bigger than the cook time usually is also longer. You want to look at the cook time on the pasta and use half of that as the pressure cooking time. Also make sure all the pasta is under liquids so it will cook properly in the set time. Hope you will try it again!
Hi Archana,
I tried to re-calculate serving for 9 people. It shows 6-1.5 cups penne pasta. Does that mean six and a half cups or 6 X 1.5 cups? This is my all time favorite recipe by the way. Thanks a ton.
Smitha
Hi Smitha, It means 7 and half cups. Weird that it displays 6 – 1.5 instead of 7.5, will see how to fix it. But for now go with 7.5 cups of pasta. And don’t forget to rate the recipe 🙂
Is there a version with chicken for this ?
Hi Roma, I have not tried capers with chicken. But you can add sauté either ground chicken or boneless chicken cut into bite sized pieces for 2 to 3 minutes along with the onions. Then follow the remaining recipe.