Mild Tomato and Mozzarella Pasta Toss

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender pasta tossed with fresh cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and basil for a kid-pleasing Italian-inspired meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs penne pasta, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 350 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Nonstick skillets worth buying → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes and tear 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls into bite-sized pieces. Chop 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves roughly.
  3. Step 3: Mince 1 small garlic clove finely. Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  4. Step 4: Add halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes until softened and juicy.
  5. Step 5: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with the mozzarella pieces and chopped basil. Toss gently to combine and warm the mozzarella slightly.
  6. Step 6: Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, tossing again. Serve immediately while warm.

Related recipes