Main Dishes
Single-Girl Pasta Bowl AKA The JLO Pasta
Prep
5 minutes
Cook
15 minutes
Yield
2
This pasta bowl recipe is inspired by JLO's fav pasta dish and is perfect for the single girl household because it's only 1-serving.
This tasty pasta bowl is the queen, Jennifer Lopez’s, favorite pasta dish. Inspired by pasta-alla-sorrentina, this dish is made with a savory cherry tomato sauce, combined with fresh basil, and olives. It gives a real Mediterranean vibe and is so delicious.
Why you’ll love this pasta bowl:
- 20-Minutes: Make this pasta quickly on a busy night because it’ll only take you 20-minutes
- Comforting: There is nothing more comforting than a big pasta bowl
- Single Serving: This is a great meal for the single girls (or guys), college students, etc. because it’s not only quick but also only makes 1-serving
Ingredient Notes:
Paccheri Pasta: This pasta is in the shape of a very large tube. Generally they are smooth vs. ribbed, and really soak up the sauce in the middle. However, if you can’t find this in your local store, swap for rigatoni.
Cherry Tomatoes: Roasting cherry tomatoes is so good because they pop and all their juices combine. They are perfect for this pasta bowl, and great to make in the summer when tomatoes are in season and extra flavorful.
How to make this pasta bowl recipe:
- Prepare the rigatoni or paccheri pasta according to the instructions on the package in a large pot.
- Rinse, strain, and set aside.
- At the same time, add the olive oil to a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once heated, add the garlic, tomatoes, olives, and capers.
- Place the lid on top and allow them to roast for 10 minutes.
- Add the salt, cracked black pepper, and red chili flakes, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Transfer the pasta into the large pan with the tomatoes, olives, and capers.
- Mix to combine and then pour into a pasta dish.
- Add the sliced of smoked mozzarella to the pasta and allow to rest for a couple of minutes for the cheese to melt.
- Stir the pasta to combine the melted cheese.
- Next add the fresh basil and mixing again slightly.
- Enjoy this dish with some extra red chili flakes!
Expert Tips & FAQ:
Olive Oil: Swap the olive oil for butter or an infused oil for extra flavor!
How to make this recipe vegan: You can substitute the fresh mozzarella cheese for any melty cheese of your choice- even make this vegan by using some creamy cashew cheese or dairy-free mozzarella.
Customize: Customize this pasta by roasting some other delicious vegetables with the tomatoes- who says you can’t add red onion or zucchini? Swap the rigatoni or paccheri for your preferred pasta shape OR use gluten-free pasta!
Storage: Store the pasta in the fridge for 4 – 5 days, and reheat to serve!
Other pasta recipes you’ll love:
For more eBooks:
If you want more deliciousness at the click of your finger, be sure to check out FoodByMaria’s Newest Mini Cookbooks. Limited time offer of 3 for $20USD.
For more Greek Recipes:
If you want more Greek Recipes, check out our Free Greek Recipe Mini Cookbook! We also have an incredible APP for you to access at all times (yes, online and offline) all our recipes with a click of your finger – check it out here.
For more amazing recipes:
Loved this recipe? Good! We can give you access to Maria’s most famous recipes, check out our Top Ten Recipes Mini Cookbook! We also have an incredible APP for you to access at all times (yes, online and offline) all our recipes with a click of your finger – check in out here.
Single-Girl Pasta Bowl AKA The JLO Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 5 small garlic cloves minced
- 2 ½ cups assorted cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup garlic stuffed olives or regular
- 1/3 cup capers
- ½ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. cracked black pepper
- ¼ tsp. red chili flakes
- 1/3 cup smoked fresh mozzarella sliced
- 1 – 1 ½ cups rigatoni OR paccheri pasta
- 1 cup fresh basil
Instructions
Instructions
- Prepare the rigatoni or paccheri pasta according to the instructions on the package in a large pot.
- Rinse, strain, and set aside.
- At the same time, add the olive oil to a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once heated, add the garlic, tomatoes, olives, and capers.
- Place the lid on top and allow them to roast for 10 minutes.
- Add the salt, cracked black pepper, and red chili flakes, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Transfer the pasta into the large pan with the tomatoes, olives, and capers.
- Mix to combine and then pour into a pasta dish.
- Add the sliced of smoked mozzarella to the pasta and allow to rest for a couple of minutes for the cheese to melt.
- Stir the pasta to combine the melted cheese.
- Next add the fresh basil and mixing again slightly.
- Enjoy this dish with some extra red chili flakes!
Video
Notes
You can substitute the fresh mozzarella cheese for any melty cheese of your choice- even make this vegan by using some creamy cashew cheese or dairy-free mozzarella.
Customize this pasta by roasting some other delicious vegetables with the tomatoes- who says you can’t add red onion or zucchini?
Swap the rigatoni or paccheri for your preferred pasta shape OR use gluten-free pasta!
Store the pasta in the fridge for 4 – 5 days, and reheat to serve!
