This easy Olive Garden Capellini Pomodoro is a fresh and simple pasta dish made with capellini, juicy tomatoes, garlic, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Light, flavorful, and ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a perfect summer meal!
Jump to RecipeIngredients Needed:
- 12 ounces capellini pasta
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 pounds plum tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 ounce basil leaves
- 3 ounces Parmesan cheese
How To Make Capellini Pomodoro?
- Cook the pasta: Boil the capellini pasta according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add garlic, and cook until fragrant and slightly golden.
- Cook the tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes and pepper to the pan, stirring for 2-3 minutes until warm but still holding their shape. Remove from heat.
- Combine everything: In a large bowl, toss the hot pasta with the tomato mixture, fresh basil, and half of the Parmesan cheese.
- Serve and enjoy: Plate the pasta and top with the remaining Parmesan. Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips:
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes: Plum tomatoes give the best flavor. If they are not in season, use canned San Marzano tomatoes for a similar taste.
- Don’t overcook the tomatoes: Cook them for only 2-3 minutes. They should be warm but still hold their shape for the best texture.
- Cook capellini just right: Capellini pasta cooks very quickly (about 3 minutes). Drain it as soon as it’s al dente to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Toss pasta while it’s hot: Mix the pasta with the tomato mixture while it’s still warm. This helps absorb the flavors better.
- Use fresh basil at the end: Add basil after removing the pan from heat. Cooking it too long will make it lose its fresh taste.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let Capellini Pomodoro cool down first. Then, put it in a sealed container and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Heat a pan over low heat, add a little olive oil, and toss the pasta for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 602 kcal
- Total Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 14mg
- Sodium: 357mg
- Potassium: 767mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 73g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 8g
- Protein: 21g
Try More Olive Garden Recipes:
Olive Garden Capellini Pomodoro
Course: DinnerCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes10
minutes602
kcalThis easy Olive Garden Capellini Pomodoro is a fresh and simple pasta dish made with capellini, juicy tomatoes, garlic, basil, and Parmesan cheese. Light, flavorful, and ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a perfect summer meal!
Ingredients
12 ounces capellini pasta
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 pounds plum tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 ounce basil leaves
3 ounces Parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the capellini pasta according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, add garlic, and cook until fragrant and slightly golden.
- Cook the tomatoes: Add the diced tomatoes and pepper to the pan, stirring for 2-3 minutes until warm but still holding their shape. Remove from heat.
- Combine everything: In a large bowl, toss the hot pasta with the tomato mixture, fresh basil, and half of the Parmesan cheese.
- Serve and enjoy: Plate the pasta and top with the remaining Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes: Plum tomatoes give the best flavor. If they are not in season, use canned San Marzano tomatoes for a similar taste.
- Don’t overcook the tomatoes: Cook them for only 2-3 minutes. They should be warm but still hold their shape for the best texture.
- Cook capellini just right: Capellini pasta cooks very quickly (about 3 minutes). Drain it as soon as it’s al dente to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Toss pasta while it’s hot: Mix the pasta with the tomato mixture while it’s still warm. This helps absorb the flavors better.
- Use fresh basil at the end: Add basil after removing the pan from heat. Cooking it too long will make it lose its fresh taste.