Butternut Squash & Chicken Cavatappi
with Kale, Toasted Panko & Parmesan
- Wheat
- Milk
Dreaming about a piping-hot, creamy, soul-warming pasta dish? Well, that dream is now a reality. This delicious dish stars curly cavatappi, tender kale, and caramelized cubes of roasted butternut squash tossed in a rich and savory cream sauce. It’s topped off with crisp, buttery panko topping for a dish that’s guaranteed to satisfy all your carby cravings. (We’re all about making dreams come true.)
Ingredients
8 ounce
Butternut Squash
1 unit
Shallot
1 clove
Garlic
4 ounce
Kale
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains: Wheat)
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains: Wheat)
4 ounce
Cream Sauce Base
(Contains: Milk)
1 unit
Veggie Stock Concentrate
1.5 tablespoon
Sour Cream
(Contains: Milk)
3 tablespoon
Parmesan Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
10 ounce
Chopped Chicken Breast
Not included in your delivery
3 teaspoon
Cooking Oil
3 tablespoon
Butter
(Contains: Milk)
Salt
Pepper
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. • Cut butternut squash into bite-size pieces if necessary. Halve, peel, and thinly slice shallot. Peel and mince or grate garlic. Remove and discard any large stems from kale; chop into bitesize pieces.
• Toss butternut squash on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack, tossing halfway through, until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes. • Meanwhile, melt 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a large pan over medium heat. Add panko, salt, and pepper. Toast, stirring, until golden, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Turn off heat; wipe out pan.
• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (1½ cups for 4 servings), then drain.
Open package of chicken and drain off any excess liquid. Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for panko over medium-high heat. Add chicken or sausage and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer to a plate. Wash out pan.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for panko over medium-high heat. Add shallot and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. • Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. • Reduce heat under pan to medium. Stir in kale and a splash of water; cook, stirring and adding more splashes of water as needed, until kale is tender and water has evaporated, 5-7 minutes.
Use pan used for chicken or sausage here.
• Add cream sauce base, stock concentrate, and ¼ cup reserved pasta cooking water (1⁄3 cup for 4 servings) to pan with kale. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 2-3 minutes. • Remove pan from heat; stir in sour cream, Parmesan, and 2 TBSP butter (3 TBSP for 4) until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir drained cavatappi and squash into pan with sauce until thoroughly coated. TIP: If sauce is too thick, add more pasta cooking water and a drizzle of olive oil. • Divide pasta between plates and top with toasted panko. Serve.
Stir chicken or sausage into sauce along with drained cavatappi.
Chicken is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 165°.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Many loved the blend of flavors, especially the sweet butternut squash in pasta. Some found it too sweet; consider balancing with Italian herbs 🌿.
- Ease of prep: Quick to prepare and hearty enough for a cool night's supper. Great for an easy, satisfying meal.
- Suggestions: Try adding diced chicken for extra protein. Consider doubling the squash for more veggie goodness.
- Portions: Generous pasta serving; some found it filling while others wanted more vegetables to balance.
Reviews from our home cooks
Everyone loved this, even my husband who will not eat squash loved it. So quick to prepare and was hearty enough for a cool night supper.
Enjoyed this quite a bit, was easy to make and tasted great.
Wonderful meal! I love the sweet butternut squash pieces in the pasta dish. It is so yummy!!
One of my favorites ever! Delicious blend of flavors with lots of healthy ingredients!
Could have even doubled the squash. Chicken add for more protein was a must.
This is my favorite meal that you all offer, it is perfection.
We loved this!! We want this every week! Definitely our family's favorite from this week.
This one lacked some depth of flavor-it seems like it needed some Italian herbs
I liked the squash, but the Kale was not very good. I would not order this again.
The flavor profile was off; too sweet tasting - think too much shallots
