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Bursting Tomato Pasta with Creamy Burrata

Name: Bursting Tomato Pasta with Creamy Burrata
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/3 Cup Olive Oil; 6 Cloves Garlic (mashed); 1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning; 1/2 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes; 2 1/2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes; 14 Ounces Pasta of Choice; 1/2 Cup Basil (chopped); 2 Balls Burrata Cheese; 1/2 Cup Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (finely grated)

By Nicole Modic ⎯

September 13, 2024

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Your summertime weeknight dinner dreams have come true! Let me introduce you to my Bursting Tomato Pasta with Creamy Burrata – a creamy, cheesy pasta that comes together faster than the summer seems to be going by. It’s rich, indulgent, and loaded with fresh flavors that are perfect for serving at your next girl’s night… or anytime that you’re craving a summer-friendly pasta dish!

A large pot of pasta topped with cherry tomatoes, dollops of ricotta cheese, and fresh basil sits on a marble countertop. Surrounding the pot are a wooden cutting board with chopped basil, a bowl of grated cheese, a striped towel, and a glass of wine.

When it comes to cooking for a girl’s night in, there’s one dish that I always turn to: pasta. After all, what could be better than getting together with some girlfriends, cracking open a crisp bottle of wine, and having great conversation over a bowl of creamy pasta? When my friend Rachel came over the other day for a girl’s night, I asked her what she was craving. And when she said the word “burrata,” I knew that it was time to create the ultimate burrata pasta dish. This Bursting Tomato Pasta with Creamy Burrata is filled with juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, and yes, creamy balls of burrata, and is truly the perfect pasta dish to share with friends!

I love to pair this dish with a big glass of wine, a side salad, and or even some crispy chicken, for the perfect finishing touch. Plus, this recipe comes together with little prep, so it’s perfect for making with friends. Simply boil the pasta, prepare the sauce, and allow it to cook undisturbed. When you’re in and out of the kitchen, entertaining, chatting, and catching up with friends, the last thing you want is to have to babysit the meal you’re preparing. This recipe couldn’t be easier to throw together!

The key to making this dish is the bursting cherry tomatoes, which take the place of a traditional tomato sauce. By letting the tomatoes cook low and slow, they take on a rich, caramelized flavor that not only melts into the pasta and buttery burrata, but practically melts in your mouth, too. I’m drooling just thinking about it – run to your kitchen and make this recipe now!

Top-down view of a variety of ingredients for Italian cooking. Includes striped pasta, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, mozzarella balls, olive oil, grated parmesan, garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, and a striped kitchen towel on a marble surface. — To make this pasta, you’ll need olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, cherry tomatoes, pasta, basil, burrata, and parmigiano reggiano.

A cooking scene on a marble countertop. A large pan contains olive oil, minced garlic, and a mix of cherry tomatoes. Nearby, a jug of cherry tomatoes is being poured into the pan. A wooden spoon, a checkered cloth, and various ingredients surround the pan. — To make this pasta, you’ll need olive oil, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, cherry tomatoes, pasta, basil, burrata, and parmigiano reggiano.

What You Need to Make This Vegetarian Pasta Dish

🫒 Olive Oil: Any good pasta sauce starts with oil, and in my pasta recipes, I always opt to use olive oil. Why? For starters, olive oil is filled with healthy fats and also takes on a delicious flavor, making it perfect in this recipe.
🧄 Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible, and this recipe is no exception.
🌶️ Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Crushed red pepper flakes add just the right amount of spice to this recipe, without making it too spicy.
🍅 Cherry Tomatoes: Instead of using cans of tomato sauce, this recipe comes together with bright, bursting cherry tomatoes. Plus, it’s almost peak tomato season, which means it’s the perfect time to use those farmer’s market fresh tomatoes!
🍝 Pasta: Pick your favorite pasta and use it in this recipe! Any pasta shape works, from penne to spaghetti. They’re all delicious!
🥬 Basil: Any pasta dish tastes delicious with the addition of fresh basil, and this recipe is no exception. I love the bright and vibrant flavor that it adds to this pasta dish!
⚪️ Burrata: Creamy balls of burrata make this pasta rich, delicious, and filling. There’s truly nothing like it!
🧀 Parmigiano Reggiano: I always recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese (or parmigiano reggiano), whenever possible. It adds the best flavor to this dish!

A marble countertop with Fusilli pasta dishes, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. One dish contains red and yellow cherry tomatoes mixed with pasta, and the other with just cooked pasta. A plate of basil leaves and a ball of mozzarella are nearby. — Then, cook the pasta until it’s al dente. Once it’s done, add it to the pan with the tomato sauce and toss to coat well.

How to Make This Creamy Tomato Pasta

To make this dish, start by preparing the pasta. Boil a pot of water, on the stove, and cook the pasta until it’s al dente.

Then, set it aside. Next, heat a pan, on the stove, over medium-high heat, and add in the olive oil. Mash the garlic while the pan is heating. Once the pan is hot, add in the mashed garlic, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and cherry tomatoes, and stir until they’re fully incorporated. Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and allow it to cook for 25 minutes, until the tomatoes have burst.

Once the tomatoes are cooked, remove the pan from the heat. Add the tomato sauce to the pan with the pasta and toss to coat well. Then, break apart the balls of burrata and mix them into the pasta.

Finally, garnish the pasta with the fresh chopped basil and the grated parmigiano reggiano. Toss one more time until everything is fully combined, then serve and enjoy!

A blue dish holds a colorful pasta dish topped with cherry tomatoes, large dollops of ricotta cheese, chopped basil, and grated Parmesan cheese. The dish is placed on a marble surface near a blue plate, a wooden serving board, and a striped cloth napkin. — Break apart the balls of burrata and mix them into the pasta. Then, garnish with chopped basil

A blue bowl filled with fusilli pasta topped with burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and grated Parmesan. A fork rests in the bowl. The bowl sits on a marble surface next to a striped cloth napkin. Additional bowls and a wooden dish are partially visible. — Break apart the balls of burrata and mix them into the pasta. Then, garnish with chopped basil

Tips for Making The Perfect Pasta

If you’re curious about how to make the perfect pasta dish, every single time, here are some of my top tips!

Salt the pasta water: While this may seems basic, you’d be surprised how many people overlook this step! Salting the pasta water is KEY for ensuring that the pasta has the perfect, salted taste. Which leads me to my second tip…
Save the pasta water: If you want a simple way to get a creamier pasta sauce, be sure to reserve some of the pasta water! I do this by placing my colander over a large bowl or mason jar before pouring the pasta into it. The starch from the pasta comes together with the water to make the sauce thick, creamy, and delicious.
Bake it with breadcrumbs: For a richer, heartier pasta dish, I love to take the finished pasta and bake it in the oven with breadcrumbs. My Easy Crunchy Garlic Breadcrumbs are so easy to throw together and are perfect for topping off a delicious baked pasta!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free