Easiest One Pan Caprese Pesto Orzo Bake
A delightful one-pan pasta bake featuring cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and gooey mozzarella cheese, all combined with basil pesto for a rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 cups cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
- Chili flakes (to taste)
- Kosher salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 1 pound dry orzo pasta
- 1 (8-ounce) jar basil pesto
- 2–3 tablespoons sliced peperoncinis
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400° F (200° C).
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes, olive oil, chopped garlic, shallots, fresh basil, chili flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Roast for about 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, add the dry orzo, basil pesto, and sliced peperoncinis to the roasted mixture. Pour in 2 1/2 cups of water and stir until well combined.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until most of the water is absorbed by the pasta.
- Stir gently, sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top, and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Drain excess oil if necessary, garnish with fresh basil leaves, and serve warm.
Notes
For best results, use fresh ingredients and customize spices to taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: one pan, caprese, pesto, pasta, bake, vegetarian