This Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta is a rich and delicious dish that you'll love. Versatile and easy to make, this simple recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Creamy, cheesy, and rich, this cavatappi pasta recipe is a real crowd-pleaser. It's hard not to love this satisfying dish with its al dente pasta, two cheeses, and simple seasonings. The cheddar cheese has a tangy flavor and the Parmesan is salty and nutty, combining for a really flavorful cheese sauce. Your family is sure to love this dish.
What makes this recipe so awesome is that it's delicious as is, but you can easily add and substitute ingredients to make it work for anyone's tastes. It's flavors are mild enough to fit well with meats, veggies, and other seasonings. You are going to love how versatile and simple this recipe is! Let's look at the ingredients you'll be using.
Video Tutorial
Ingredient List
- Cavatappi Pasta.
- Heavy Cream. Or Half & Half.
- Cheddar Cheese.
- Parmesan Cheese.
- Salt.
- Black pepper.
How to make Cavatappi Pasta
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season it with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. (Cavatappi usually cooks in 9 minutes).
2. While the pasta is cooking, pour the heavy cream into a large skillet. Add the cheddar, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Bring everything to a gentle simmer. Keep it over a very low heat until the pasta is cooked.
3. Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the cheesy sauce and mix well. Use pasta water to thin the sauce (I use about ¼ cup of water). Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the best Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta
- Cook the pasta al dente. Cook the pasta to al dente so it does not overcook when it is added to the warm cheese sauce and becomes mushy.
- Reserve some pasta water. This water is infused with starch from the pasta and is much better than regular water when added to a cheese sauce to thin it.
- Use high-fat cream. The fat in heavy cream makes it better suited for a cheese sauce than lower-fat milk because it emulsifies with the cheeses for a thick, creamy sauce.
- Shred block cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is tossed in starch to keep it from sticking together in the bag, which inhibits melting. Shredding block cheese gives you the best cheese for making a sauce.
Variations to this Recipe
- Add protein. Make this Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta even more filling with some diced grilled chicken, meatballs, bacon pieces, or shrimp.
- Substitute another pasta. You can make this with other smaller pasta types, such as rigatoni, farfalle, shells, and rotini. You can also use gluten-free pasta.
- Make it spicy. Give this cheesy pasta a kick by adding some red pepper flakes to the cheese sauce.
- Add vegetables. Try this dish with some vegetables, like peas, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, yellow squash, or roasted red peppers.
How to Store and Reheat it
Store this Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta in an airtight container once it has cooled. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. You may need to add a little heavy cream to rehydrate the sauce since it absorbs into the pasta as it sits.
What to Serve this with
- Proteins. Pair this pasta dish with Roasted Pepper Stuffed Chicken Breast, Spinach Stuffed Chicken, Spinach Stuffed Salmon, or Air Fryer Pork Chops.
- Vegetables. Serve it alongside your favorite veggies, such as this Steamed Asparagus, Vegetarian Collard Greens, Steamed Broccoli Rabe, or Fajita Vegetables.
- Salads. Enjoy a salad with this Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta. Try this Spring Mix Salad, Refreshing Cucumber Salad, Kale Salad with Quinoa, or Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad.
- Bread. Dip some bread into this cheesy sauce to sop up all the goodness. You'll love this Air Fryer Garlic Bread or Potato Flatbread.
I hope you adore this Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta as much as we do. It's flavorful, rich, and deliciously creamy. This versatile recipe is perfect for quick weeknight cooking and easy to tweak to make it fit everyone's tastes. This is one dish you'll be glad to have in your repertoire. Enjoy!
More tasty pasta recipes:
- Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta
- Chicken Angel Hair Pasta
- Radiatore Pasta in Creamy Sauce
- Mushroom Bolognese Pasta
- Mafaldine Pasta in Tomato Sauce
Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz. cavatappi pasta
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup shredded mild Cheddar
- ¼ cup shredded Parmesan
- ½ tsp. sea salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp. pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season it with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. (Cavatappi usually cooks in 9 minutes).
- While the pasta is cooking, pour the heavy cream into a large skillet. Add the cheddar, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Bring everything to a gentle simmer. Keep it over a very low heat until the pasta is cooked.
- Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the cheesy sauce and mix well. Use pasta water to thin the sauce (I use about ¼ cup of water). Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Variations to this Recipe
- Add protein. Make this Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta even more filling with some diced grilled chicken, meatballs, bacon pieces, or shrimp.
- Substitute another pasta. You can make this with other smaller pasta types, such as rigatoni, farfalle, shells, and rotini. You can also use gluten-free pasta.
- Make it spicy. Give this cheesy pasta a kick by adding some red pepper flakes to the cheese sauce.
- Add vegetables. Try this dish with some vegetables, like peas, zucchini, asparagus, broccoli, yellow squash, or roasted red peppers.
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