Baked cavatappi in tomato sauce is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. This classic Italian dish is made with tender cavatappi pasta, a rich tomato sauce, and a variety of herbs and spices. It can be easily customized to suit your own preferences, making it a great option for busy weeknights or special occasions. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to make the best baked cavatappi in tomato sauce.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
CAVATAPPI WITH TOMATOES, ARUGULA, AND RICOTTA
Provided by Julia Turshen
Categories Pasta Tomato Kid-Friendly Dinner Ricotta Vegetarian Pescatarian Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher Small Plates
Yield Serves 6
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine tomatoes, garlic, red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup oil, and 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl.
- Cook cavatappi in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid, and add to tomato mixture. Stir vigorously and add pasta cooking liquid and oil as needed to fully coat. Stir in arugula and black pepper and season with salt.
- Transfer pasta to a serving bowl or platter and dollop with ricotta. Serve immediately.
CAVATAPPI WITH BROCCOLI SAUCE
This rustic pasta sauce consists of mainly one ingredient: broccoli. The broccoli is boiled until very tender and then mashed with a fork. Simply toss the mashed broccoli with pasta water and some cheese to make a delicious and nutritious sauce.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories main-dish
Time 35m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook until very tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the broccoli to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon, reserving the water in the pot. Add the pasta to the boiling water, stir and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
- Meanwhile, pat the broccoli dry and transfer to a bowl. Using a fork or potato masher, mash the broccoli until mostly smooth but still slightly chunky.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until starting to sizzle and the garlic is just browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broccoli and combine with a rubber spatula, lightly mashing it with the oil and cooking down the broccoli a bit further, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the skillet. Stir to combine and add the cheese. Continue to fold the broccoli and pasta together until the sauce coats the pasta, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off the heat and stir in the lemon juice.
- Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with more cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 500, Fat 17 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Cholesterol 25 milligrams, Sodium 654 milligrams, Carbohydrate 67 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 20 grams, Sugar 4 grams
BAKED CAVATAPPI IN TOMATO SAUCE
Steps:
- Fill the pasta pot with salted water (at least 1 tablespoon salt), and heat to a rolling boil. Stir in the cavatappi, and cook at the boil until al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package directions). Drain the pasta well in a colander, and put it in a big bowl. Pour in 2 cups of the tomato sauce, sprinkle over it 1/2 cup of the grated grana, and toss well, to dress all the cavatappi evenly.
- Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400°; brush the baking dish with the butter. Spill in half of the dressed pasta, spreading it out to fill the pan bottom in an even layer, and arrange the cooked egg slices on top. Scatter half the shredded provola evenly over the eggs, then spread a cup of tomato sauce on top of the cheese. Next, arrange all the remaining pasta in a flat, even layer, then spoon 3/4 cup tomato sauce on top. Sprinkle the remaining grated grana and the rest of the provola over the pasta; scatter the bread crumbs over all, and drizzle the last bit of tomato sauce on the top.
- Tent the baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil, arching it so it doesn't touch the crumb topping and pressing it against the sides. Set the dish in the oven, and bake for 35 minutes, then remove the foil, and bake another 15 minutes or so, until the top is nicely browned and crusty. Serve hot!
CREAMY CAVATAPPI & CHEESE
Dive fork-first into oodles of noodles baked to bubbly perfection and coated with a to-die-for sharp cheddar cheese sauce in this cavatappi, a grown-up version of mac and cheese. Hot sauce lends mild heat that's delectable with the smoky topping. -Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cook cavatappi according to package directions., Meanwhile, saute garlic in butter in a Dutch oven. Stir in flour and pepper sauce until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes., Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top., Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.
Nutrition Facts :
Tips:
- For a richer flavor, use homemade tomato sauce or a high-quality store-bought sauce.
- Add a pinch of sugar to the sauce to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
- If you don't have fresh basil, you can use 1/2 teaspoon dried basil instead.
- Cook the cavatappi pasta according to the package directions, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Add the cooked cavatappi pasta to the sauce and stir to combine.
- Transfer the pasta and sauce to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Top with the mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving.
Conclusion:
Baked cavatappi in tomato sauce is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The combination of tender pasta, flavorful sauce, and melted cheese is sure to please everyone at the table. This dish can be customized to your liking by adding different vegetables, proteins, or cheeses. For example, you could add cooked ground beef, sausage, or chicken to the sauce. You could also add chopped spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini. And if you don't have cavatappi pasta, you can use any other type of short pasta, such as penne, macaroni, or rotini.
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