By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on October 3, 2026
Serves 4
537 cal · 25 min
Capellini Caprese
Recipe GLPRf8a6de5dcb4fea
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Average rating: 4.5 (1)
A light and fresh Italian pasta dish featuring delicate capellini tossed with warm tomatoes, garlic, and onions, then topped with creamy mozzarella and aromatic basil. Quick to prepare and bursting with Mediterranean flavors, this is a perfect weeknight dinner.
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Ingredients
½ lb capellini pasta, uncooked
½ cup Italian dressing
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 clove garlic cloves, minced
3 cup grape tomatoes, halved
⅓ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the capellini according to package directions, omitting salt. While the pasta cooks, heat the Italian dressing in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the heated dressing. Cook and stir constantly for 2 minutes until fragrant and softened.
Add the halved grape tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are heated through and begin to soften. Drain the cooked pasta well.
Add the drained pasta to the tomato mixture in the skillet and toss gently to combine, coating the pasta evenly with the dressing and tomatoes.
Remove from heat and divide the pasta mixture among serving bowls or plates. Top each portion generously with shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh sliced basil before serving.
Comments
This is a straightforward summer pasta that hits all the marks for a Charlotte weeknight. Capellini, onion, garlic, and mozzarella are standbys at every chain—Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, Walmart, and ALDI all carry them—and grape tomatoes run about $2.50 a pound year-round; fresh basil is the only ingredient requiring a deliberate stop, typically at Harris Teeter's produce section or a specialty grocer, adding 10 minutes to your errand. At roughly $2.50 per serving, this is genuinely cheap, and the 25-minute timer is honest if you boil water while prepping the rest. The dish is light and meant to eat fresh the same night—leftovers separate and the basil wilts—so plan accordingly for your household size, though four servings is reasonable for a family of four or a couple with lunch the next day.
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