Easy Burrata Pasta With Burst Tomatoes

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This upscale but easy burrata pasta with burst tomato, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar comes together in under 20 minutes for a quick and easy summer date night dinner.

When we first started The Candid Cooks, this burrata pasta recipe was one of the first ones we we’re super proud of (along with our eggless spaghetti carbonara). And that’s because it was easy to make, made from fresh, high quality, minimally processed ingredients, and tasted better than anything we could hope to get at a restaurant. 

We love cooking with burrata, because it’s super creamy and decadent, and elevates any recipe (see our burrata pizza for more proof). But here in this pasta, it adds a fresh, creamy, luxurious texture that pairs perfectly with the blistered tomatoes and white wine sauce, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze.

Why We Love This Recipe

Ingredients

• Pasta shells – We have tested this recipe with many different pasta shapes and determined that medium shells work the best by far. The shells are perfect for scooping up the thinner sauce as well as the creamy burrata. That means more flavor in every bite!
• White wine – You’ll use this to deglaze the pan and make the sauce, so make sure to choose a dry white wine you enjoy the flavor of, because you will taste the difference! We find that a mid-tier sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio works well. (As Alice Waters says in her MasterClass, only cook with wine you would drink!)
• Olive oil – We use 2 kinds of olive oil in our recipe: a lower quality one for cooking, and a high quality extra virgin olive oil for finishing. You can always use the extra virgin olive oil for both steps, but we like to save the good stuff for applications where you’ll actually taste it.
• Balsamic vinegar and balsamic glaze – We use two versions of balsamic in this recipe. A regular balsamic vinegar that is thinner and more acidic for the sauce. And a balsamic glaze that is thick and sweet for drizzling over the finished dish. Note: if you have a high quality traditional balsamic vinegar, it will be thicker but can be used for both applications in this recipe.
• Burrata – You can usually find burrata near the fresh mozzarella in the grocery store (our favorite store-bought option is from Primo Taglio). Buy a super fresh, local burrata if you can for the best flavor. Or, use a gourmet burrata like this one from Murray’s Cheese (you can even order it online!).
• Fresh basil – Fresh herbs are a must in this dish! Add some chopped basil to the sauce and garnish your plate with whole leaves for a bright and beautiful flavor.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Burrata Pasta With Burst Tomatoes

Step 1: Cook the shells in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions.

Step 2: Cook the cherry tomatoes with garlic and olive oil over medium-high heat, turning the tomatoes over occasionally, until their skins are soft and wrinkly and their juices are beginning to release. They’ll look like they “burst”.

Step 3: Add the white wine and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spatula to release any burned-on bits of garlic, then lower the heat to a simmer. Stir in the basil and salt and simmer until fragrant.

Step 4: Add EVOO and balsamic vinegar to the sauce, then remove from heat.

Step 5: Drain the cooked pasta, toss it with olive oil, and then add it to the pan with the sauce. Stir to combine.

Step 6: Portion the pasta out into shallow bowls or plates for serving. Top each dish with a few dollops of burrata cheese, a generous drizzle of balsamic glaze, and fresh basil leaves. Serve immediately.

Serving Suggestions

• Date night dinner for two – Pair this elegant pasta with your favorite wine and a side of garlic bread, pan con tomate (yes we know that’s Spanish), or crispy potatoes with whipped ricotta for a romantic dinner. We love making this dinner for an easy Valentine’s Day at home. Plus, it’s easy for home cooks of any level to make – so if you want to surprise your special someone with a fancy dinner, you don’t have to stress about messing it up.
• Easy weeknight dinner – Who says you need a special occasion to enjoy a fancy pasta dinner? We love that this recipe cooks in under 20 minutes. It’s perfect for weeknights when you want a little extra treat (because burrata ain’t cheap). Make it extra fancy with a side of freshly baked bread – we like to serve ours in this gorgeous olive wood bowl.
• Summer dinner party – Celebrate the fresh, in-season flavors of tomatoes and basil with a summer dinner party on the patio. It’s easy to scale this recipe up and serve it to a crowd. Pair it with a bright limoncello spritz, whipped brie with calabrian chiles, and baked bruschetta dip for a night to remember!

Our burrata pasta with blistered tomatoes makes a delicious date night dinner for two. Grab a bottle of wine and a loaf of bread, and give this recipe a try next time you’re craving a fresh yet indulgent pasta dinner!