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Creamy Lemon Cavatappi with Pork & Peas

Creamy Lemon Cavatappi with Pork & Peas

plus Lemony Breadcrumbs
Recipe Development Team
Recipe Development TeamUpdated on February 24, 2026
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Calories
970 kcal
Protein
38g protein
Difficulty
Medium
Allergens:
  • Wheat
  • Milk
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
Serving amount

½ ounce

Vidalia Onion Paste

6 ounce

Cavatappi Pasta

(Contains: Wheat)

4 ounce

Peas

4 ounce

Cream Sauce Base

(Contains: Milk)

1 unit

Lemon

10 ounce

Ground Pork

¼ cup

Panko Breadcrumbs

(Contains: Wheat)

1 teaspoon

Garlic Powder

Not included in your delivery

1 teaspoon (tsp)

Cooking Oil

1 tablespoon (tbsp)

Butter

(Contains: Milk)

teaspoon (tsp)

Salt

teaspoon (tsp)

Black Pepper

/ per serving
Calories970 kcal
Fat49 g
Saturated Fat20 g
Carbohydrate87 g
Sugar11 g
Dietary Fiber8 g
Protein38 g
Cholesterol190 mg
Sodium840 mg
Trans Fat0.5 g
Potassium460 mg
Calcium80 mg
Iron3.7 mg
Due to the different suppliers we purchase our products from, nutritional facts per meal can vary from the website to what is received in the delivered box, depending on your region.
Medium Pot
Large Pan
Zester
Strainer
Small Bowl

Cooking Steps

PREP
1
  • Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. 

  • Zest and quarter lemon

COOK PASTA
2
  • Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (1½ cups for 4 servings), then drain.

TOAST BREADCRUMBS
3
  • While pasta cooks, melt 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium heat. Add panko and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 3-5 minutes.

  • Turn off heat; transfer to a small bowl. Stir in as much lemon zest as you like. Season with salt and pepper. Wipe out pan.

COOK PORK
4
  • Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for panko over medium-high heat. Add pork* and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes.

FINISH PASTA
5
  • Reduce heat under pan with pork to medium low; stir in peas, Vidalia onion paste, cream sauce base, and ¼ cup pasta cooking water (½ cup for 4 servings)(TIP: If pasta isn't finished cooking yet, ladle pasta cooking water straight from the pot.) Bring to a simmer; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce has thickened, 1-2 minutes. 

  • Turn off heat; stir in drained cavatappi and juice from one lemon wedge (two wedges for 4) (if needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until everything is coated in a creamy sauce). Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add another squeeze of lemon juice if desired. 

SERVE
6
  • Divide pasta between shallow bowls. Top with lemony breadcrumbs and serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side. 

Customer reviews

Review summary

Updated on Dec 2025
  • Flavor: Many loved the bright, lemony taste; some found it bland and added cheese or hot sauce for extra zing 🍋
  • Ease of prep: Quick and simple to make, with several mentioning it was easier than other HelloFresh meals
  • Suggestions: Consider adding more sauce, fresh garlic, or Parmesan cheese for richer flavor; some preferred chicken over pork
  • Portions: Generous pasta servings, though a few wanted more peas or sauce to balance the noodles
  • Texture: The crispy panko topping was a hit, adding a delightful crunch to the creamy pasta
AI-generated from customer reviews

Reviews from our home cooks

J
Joyce CoulterCooked for 4 people
|Feb 11, 2025
S
Stephanie MarthinCooked for 2 people
|Aug 3, 2025
K
Kari KuntzCooked for 2 people
|Feb 14, 2025
L
Lily KempCooked for 2 people
|Feb 24, 2025
B
Benjamin BledsoeCooked for 2 people
|Jul 23, 2025
M
Molly KumarCooked for 2 people
|Feb 11, 2025
M
Madison ScrogginsCooked for 2 people
|Aug 21, 2025
E
Eily CartwrightCooked for 2 people
|Jul 27, 2025
J
Jeanene HeadleeCooked for 2 people
|May 20, 2025
S
Sherrie HamiltonCooked for 2 people
|Feb 17, 2025