Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca Recipe (2024)

Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca Recipe

This copycat Pasta Fresca recipe from Noodles and Company is such an easy meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes! Add your favorite protein like chicken, shrimp or beef or keep it as a meatless vegetarian meal! Save money and make this restaurant favorite at home!


Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca



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My daughter and I love Noodles and Company.

Pasta Fresca is my daughter's absolute favorite thing to get there, so we decided to save some money and try to re-create it at home.

This dish turned out amazing! The flavor was almost spot on and it got better with every bite.

I'm not even sure we will ever have to go to Noodles and Company again.

I did not add meat, but grilled chicken or shrimp would be a great addition! You can also make and add the Copycat Parmesan Crusted Chicken!

This meal is great for those busy weeknights, and would be even better with tomatoes, spinach and onions from the garden or farmer's market! So perfect for any time of the year and super easy to make!

It's also easy to customize and you can switch up many ingredients depending on what you have on hand. Check out some of my suggestions below!

What is in Pasta Fresca?

  • Balsamic vinegar: A very dark, concentrated, and intensely flavored vinegar originating in Italy. It's made from grape must which is freshly crushed grape juice with all the skins, seeds and stems. It has antioxidants, and is usually aged for at least 12 years, up to 25 years in wood barrels.
  • Extra virgin olive oil: This is a liquid fat obtained from pressing whole mediterranean olives. It's used for cooking, bread dips and making salad dressings. It has a lower smoke point than other oils, so you'll want to use it when cooking at a lower temperature.
  • Fresh parsley: This herb is not just a garnish! It has a robust, fresh flavor and is great in salads, sauces, marinades, soups and more! It has vitamin k which is needed for blood and bone health.
  • Fresh tomatoes: They are technically a fruit since they have seeds, but are prepared or served as a vegetable in savory dishes. They contain lycopene, which has great health benefits, vitamin c, potassium and folate. They are served fresh or cooked and can be roasted, canned, dehydrated or frozen for use later.


Other penne pasta recipes you may like:


This recipe is ready in these steps:

  • In a small bowl, mix together the sauce mixture ingredients
  • In a large skillet, saute garlic in olive oil then add the red onion and continue to saute
  • Add the cooked pasta, and saute
  • Add the spinach, tomatoes and sauce mixture, sauté
  • Remove from heat, and sprinkle with shredded parmesan

Full recipe below






You can add or substitute with the following ingredients:



Looking for more fresh tomato recipes?




What readers are saying about this recipe:

  • Patti: Outstanding!! made this tonight, was a BIG hit!!
  • Trari: I used red wine vinegar instead of white wine and it still tastes awesome! The flavor isnt exact because of this but it's still really great!
  • Layne: Literally amaaaaaaazing. This will be a weekly meal for now on! So light but filling. I wish I could make it again tonight. Loved this so much!
  • Christina: Pretty damn close to the real thing. Next time I think I will add the tomatoes at the same time as the onions. I also added some pecorino cheese at the end. Will be making again.
  • Kyra: Super easy and delicious! Just like the original!


What to serve with this recipe:

  • Parmesan Crusted Chicken
  • Buttery Garlic Bread
  • Loaded Kale Caesar Salad

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!


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Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca Recipe (8)

Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca

Yield: 6 servings

Author: Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Ingredients

  • Sauce mixture:
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons white wine
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Saute ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup red onion, thickly sliced
  • 12 ounces penne pasta, cooked al dente, rinsed and drained
  • 2 ounces spinach, torn into smaller pieces
  • 6 vine on tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges (could also use campari or roma)
  • shredded parmesan

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the sauce mixture ingredients and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, saute garlic in olive oil for a couple minutes and then add the red onion and continue to saute for a few more minutes.
  3. Add the cooked pasta, and saute for about another 5 minutes until the pasta starts to lightly brown.
  4. Add the spinach, tomatoes and sauce mixture, sautéing for 5-7 minutes or until spinach starts to wilt.
  5. Remove from heat, and sprinkle with shredded parmesan.

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Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Did noodles and Company get rid of pasta fresca? ›

After a four-year hiatus and thousands of requests from customers, Pasta Fresca returns to its original recipe roots, featuring flavorful balsamic, olive oil and roasted garlic over penne pasta, tossed with fresh tomato and spinach and finished with Parmesan cheese.

What is fresca sauce made of? ›

In a bowl, combine Hellmann's Classic Mayo, tomato ketchup, cayenne powder, black pepper crushed, salt, vinegar and mix well.

What is pasta fresca made of? ›

Pasta Fresca is penne pasta tossed with a medley of fresh vegetables including red onion, baby spinach, and tomatoes, tons of fresh garlic, a shortcut balsamic sauce, and the cheese topper of your choice.

Is pasta fresca from noodles good? ›

That pasta fresca is really, really good. It's a penne pasta (or if gluten free, a corn fusili or rice noodle) with red onion, tomato, and spinach, a sauce made of balsamic, olive oil, white wine and roasted garlic, and topped with parmesan or feta.

What's the difference between pasta and pasta fresca? ›

Pastas are divided into two broad categories: dried (Italian: pasta secca) and fresh (Italian: pasta fresca). Most dried pasta is produced commercially via an extrusion process, although it can be produced at home. Fresh pasta is traditionally produced by hand, sometimes with the aid of simple machines.

Why did noodles and Company change their menu? ›

Noodles & Company's plans for the future

“As a result, our menu looks dated compared to newer fast-casual competitors. While we still offer familiar and comforting dishes that many of our existing guests love, we are not currently a compelling alternative for lapsed or new guests.”

Why does Fresca taste so sweet? ›

Fresca was originally sweetened with cyclamates which were banned by the FDA in 1969. They were replaced with saccharin and in turn, they were replaced by NutraSweet-brand aspartame.

Did Fresca change its recipe? ›

Since then, the recipe and packaging has been tweaked, but the essence and flavor remains largely the same: "Think fresh, think Fresca," which was once a marketing jingle used for the drink. The Original Citrus flavor is almost similar to a Sprite, but with grapefruit flavor and less of a saccharine bite.

What is Fresca called now? ›

While Fresca is a carbonated soft drink that is often compared to soda due to its similar taste and appearance, it has rebranded as a “sparkling soda water.” It currently comes in four flavors: Grapefruit Citrus, Black Cherry Citrus, Peach Citrus and Blackberry Citrus and can be found in most supermarkets and ...

How long do you leave pasta fresca boiling? ›

Cooking your pasta

Add your pasta to the water and cook for just 2 minutes*, stirring regularly (timing refers to tagliatelle, for other types of pasta see * below). As soon as it's cooked, drain the pasta. You can keep a small amount of the cooking water in with your pasta.

What is the meaning of pasta fresca? ›

Pasta Fresca means fresh pasta. It can be referred to fresh, handmade pasta, or to pasta tossed with a variety of fresh vegetables.

What is the history of Pasta Fresca? ›

Pasta Fresca was born of romance, a former diving specialist, Salvatore settled in Singapore after meeting his Singaporean wife. To explore his other love, that is cooking for others, he started his business in 1988 as a simple Italian family restaurant in Singapore with only three tables.

What's in pasta fresca at noodles and Company? ›

Penne noodles, balsamic vinaigrette, olive oil, roasted garlic, red onion, tomato, spinach and parmesan.

Do Italians rinse their noodles? ›

So when it comes to rinsing pasta, in general, don't waste those precious starches—the Italians sure don't. If you want to make a cold pasta salad, you could rinse the noodles, sure, but instead, take your time and let them cool naturally with a bit of olive oil.

Why does pasta noodles taste different? ›

The obvious factors which affect the taste of the pasta are its ingredients and the type of flour used. For instance, pasta made of eggs, rice, or soba — all have distinct flavors.

What is pasta secca pasta fresca? ›

There are two main types of pasta – pasta fresca (fresh) and pasta secca (dried). From here there are hundreds of unique shapes, from long flat ribbons and tubes, to twists, shells, sheets and stuffed varieties.

Who is the owner of Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore? ›

Carecci Salvatore who founded Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore Italian restaurant chain since 1988, believe in only putting true Italian dishes on his restaurant tables.

What happened to its pasta anytime? ›

Heinz Company. In July 2001, Borden Foods sold its remaining pasta lines to New World Pasta. Borden, Inc., sold its final food product line, It's Pasta Anytime, to Kraft Foods in 2001 and shuttered its Foods division. With the chemicals business the sole remaining operating company, in 2001 KKR merged Borden, Inc.

Why is there a shortage of pasta in stores? ›

Droughts impacting wheat varieties pose challenges for wheat product production. Independent grocers should anticipate potential shortages in products like pasta, bread, and baked goods.

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