10 Best Cavatappi Pasta Recipes

From simple marinara to creamy three-cheese, these mouthwatering cavatappi pasta recipes are delish.

You’ll love its fun corkscrew shape and that it picks up sauces like a dream!

You probably don’t think too much about the shape of pasta.

Pesto is just as herby, and carbonara is just as creamy no matter what you put them on, after all.

That said, different kinds of pasta can alter how a dish feels.

For example, a slight twist makes this pasta chewier and allows it to hold more sauce.

So if you’re tired of penne, give these cavatappi pasta recipes a shot.

10 Easy Ways to Serve Cavatappi Pasta

1. Creamy Cavatappi Pasta

This creamy cavatappi pasta recipe has a secret: it’s impossibly creamy but doesn’t have a single drop of cream!

Instead of heavy cream, you’ll make a wonderful cauliflower sauce infused with six gloves of garlic.

It tastes just like a rich Alfredo sauce, and the cavatappi is the perfect pairing. It’s pretty indulgent but deceptively healthy. 

This recipe is worth checking out if you want a creamy pasta dish for dinner but would prefer to keep it light and lower on calories. 

2. Cavatappi Pasta With Basil Marinara

Why use bland red sauce from a jar when you can make your own in minutes?

Homemade red sauce is a real game-changer on pasta night. And this recipe comes together in a matter of minutes. 

There’s a pleasant pop of flavor from fresh basil along with crushed tomatoes and salty Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

One bite, and you’ll never return to canned pasta sauce again. 

3. Pesto Cavatappi (Noodles & Company Copycat)

Noodles & Company is a popular fast-food Italian restaurant known for its pesto cavatappi.

It’s their most popular dish on the menu, and for a very good reason. 

You see, it’s more than just pesto and pasta. It pairs earthy mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, white wine, and heavy cream with al dente cavatappi noodles. 

But it doesn’t end there.

Throw in some herbaceous pesto (homemade or store-bought), and watch your family go nuts over this indulgent dinner. 

4. Cheesy Bacon Cavatappi Pasta

What I love most about this cheesy bacon cavatappi pasta casserole is that it’s easy and always a crowd-pleaser. 

For a double punch of bacon flavor, it combines cream of bacon soup with milk, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese.

Top it with cheese and bacon bits, then bake until bubbly and golden. 

It’s not exactly healthy, but it’s a fantastic dish to bring to a potluck when you want to impress!

Who doesn’t love smoky bacon, right?

5. 3-Cheese Cavatappi

Nothing goes better with pasta (especially cavatappi pasta) than cheese.

So, the next time you’re craving mac and cheese, give elbow macaroni the night off and swap it out for cavatappi. 

You’ll use a dreamy blend of sharp cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan, so it’s chock-full of robust, mature, and smoky goodness.

That’s all enhanced by onions, garlic, and plenty of cream.

Bake it until it’s bubbly, and serve with your choice of protein.

6. Cavatappi With Creamy Tomato Sauce

Sure, this creamy tomato sauce and cavatappi recipe look simple. But it hosts surprisingly complex flavors. 

The homemade creamy tomato sauce is so good, you’ll toss out any cans or jars you have in the cupboard (or, you know, donate them to avoid waste!).

It takes a little time to develop the rich and salty flavors, but trust me when I say it’s worth the extra effort. 

Infused with salty prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, white wine, heavy cream, and fresh herbs, it’s bright and delicious. 

Seriously, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill red sauce. So be sure to make extra!

7. Cavatappi Alfredo With Broccoli and Chicken

Forget all about fettuccine Alfredo, and try this cavatappi chicken Alfredo instead!

This recipe pairs a creamy and indulgent homemade Alfredo sauce with fresh veggies and tender strips of grilled chicken.

It’s rich, hearty and ensures you get your daily dose of greens.

You’ll need pasta that can hang onto as much sauce as possible. And cavatappi is the perfect choice. 

8. Spicy Sausage Cavatappi

Looking for a recipe with a little heat?

This spicy sausage cavatappi earns a 1-2 punch of spice thanks to hot Italian sausage and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. 

If you think that’s too spicy, don’t worry. It blends the heat with a creamy and slightly acidic red sauce of cream and chewy sun-dried tomatoes. 

Smoky, meaty, and spicy, it’s sure to become one of your favorite quick and easy weeknight dinners. 

9. Copycat Carrabba’s Cavatappi Amatriciana

It’s hard to narrow down one dish I love most from Carrabba’s. They’re all so amazing, but their Cavatappi Amatriciana tops my list. 

On the surface, it’s a straightforward dish with pasta and sauce.

But really, it’s overflowing with salty pancetta, rich butter, fragrant onions, garlic, and juicy tomatoes.

It’s so flavorful and smoky and comes together in a flash. 

Of course, no Carrabba’s copycat recipe would be complete without crusty bread and a small dish of herbal olive oil for dipping! Yum!

10. Creamy Beef Cavatappi

The best thing about this creamy beef cavatappi is that it’s perfect for families on a budget.

It calls for ground beef (which is super affordable) plus simple ingredients that create a mouthwatering meal in just 30 minutes. 

Think of this creamy beef pasta dish as the Italian equivalent of beef stroganoff.

It’s impossibly meaty, and the ground beef marries so well with heavy cream, cheese, and a pop of Italian spices.