Cavatappi Pasta With Creamy Pesto

Inspired by Noodles & Company pesto pasta, this cavatappi pasta recipe has the same delicious taste but is so easy to make. Even using homemade pesto for extra bright and bold flavor, the dish comes together in 20 minutes. It packs in lots of vegetables with a smooth cream sauce, making it a vegetarian pasta lover’s dream!

In Italian recipes, the type of pasta to pair with the sauce is a big deal. There’s sauceability (how does it hold sauce), forkability (can you grab it with a fork or should it be twirled), and tooth sinkability (how does it feel in the mouth).

Because of its unique shape and ridges, cavatappi pasta is best to pair with sticky sauces that can grab onto that shape. But you want a thicker sauce since the pasta is hollow, and you don’t want the sauce (often mac and cheese) going inside and falling out while eating.

This Cavatappi pesto pasta provides maximum saucability, great forkability with a creamy pesto sauce that stays on the pasta, and a delightful tooth sinkability experience!

Why you’ll love it

• 8 simple ingredients are all you need for this pasta to pack a real flavor punch.
• A fun pasta shape just always makes dinner better.
• Fast food made at home that tastes better and is honestly super easy to make!

you don’t need much

The ingredients for this pesto pasta are pretty straightforward. It does rely on a great homemade pesto for the best taste (but all you have to do for it is toss the ingredients in a food processor!) Jump to the recipe card for the measurements.

• Butter: You will need unsalted butter to saute everything in.
• Cavatappi Pasta: This short S-shaped pasta tube has outer ridges that resemble a corkscrew. This unique shape makes for a superior pasta shape when paired with the correct sauce.
• The vegetables: To amp up this pasta, I’ve included button mushrooms for earthiness, Roma tomatoes for natural sweetness and acidity, and red onion for tang. Feel free to add whatever other veggies you want, like broccoli, spinach, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, peas, or zucchini!
• The sauce: To make the sauce, you will need homemade pesto, heavy cream (vegan works, too), and parmesan cheese.

How to make Pesto Cavatappi

Making this creamy cavatappi pasta with pesto is very easy to do. It only takes 20 minutes, I’ll prove it to you with this quick overview! Jump to the recipe card for the full instructions.

1. Cook the pasta according to the package until al dente.
2. Make the flavor base by sautéing the vegetables.
3. Sauce it up by adding the pesto and cream.
4. Top with parmesan and serve!

Storage

This pasta is best enjoyed right away but it can be stored in the fridge. It will keep for 4 days in an airtight container. Reheat it on the stove top slowly with a splash of vegetable broth or cream to rehydrate it or in short 30 second bursts in the microwave.

Why this Recipe Works

I truly love this recipe so much and I know you will too. Here are some key things I’ve addressed and why this recipe works so well.

• Homemade pesto has much more flavor and bright color than store-bought pesto. I tried both store-bought and homemade pesto for this recipe, and while the store-bought version had a dull brown color and muted flavor, the homemade pesto gave it a bright green color and vibrant flavor. (This also allows you to make the pasta vegan with dairy-free parmesan cheese!)
• The vegetables are mixed into the delicious sauce, which means you will get the perfect amount of everything in every bite!
• Heavy cream is why the sauce and the pasta shape are paired so well. The heavy cream makes the pesto sauce heartier to stick to the Cavatappi shape without being too sticky.

what to serve with pesto pasta

This can be paired with just about any side dish you might think of with pasta. One of my favorites is this classic panzanella toscana recipe. This classic Italian salad is unique, being made with bread, making it filling but still refreshing.