This dish makes a great side or main dish! Pump up the flavor and add in some steamed broccoli and rotisserie chicken for a heartier meal. Add the cheeses listed in the recipe below or use your own favorites.
What is Cavatappi?
Cavatappi is a macaroni masterpiece! The noodles are are corkscrew-shaped and ridged, so they cling to all that cheesy sauce! This hearty, rustic shape pairs well with thick sauces (like this cheese sauce) or meaty sauces like a bolognese sauce! The spiral shape will catch all of the sauce in the curves for great flavor in every bite. This dish is a great way to use up leftovers, add some cooked, chopped bacon, or slices of cooked chicken breast for a heartier dish.
Ingredients and Variations
CHEESE Cheddar, Gruyere, and Parmesan cheese deliver full flavor! Switch it up by using your favorite cheeses; Swiss, Havarti, or mozzarella. PASTA In case cavatappi can’t be found, choose a pasta with a shape that will hold the cheese sauce. Rigatoni, penne, fusilli are good choices. SAUCE This is a basic cheese sauce that starts with a roux (butter and flour cooked together). Milk is added and cooked until thick and bubbly.
How to Make Cheese Cavatappi
Serve With…
This cavatappi is rich so we love to serve it with something fresh and/or light.
baked chicken breasts grilled meats pork chops
Sides
Cucumber Dill Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Favorite Roasted Cauliflower Cabbage Salad Easy Kale Salad
Secrets for Success
Once flour & butter are cooked add milk/cream a little bit at a time stirring after each addition. The mixture will be very thick at first. Once the sauce is thickened remove it from the heat before adding the cheese. Cooking cheese at a high temperature can cause it to separate. To brown the cheese a bit, turn the oven on to broil for a minute or two before serving.
Creamy Cheesy Pasta
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