Roasted Pepper Cavatappi Milano
with Fresh Mozzarella & Basil
- Wheat
- Milk
No matter the weather, it’s impossible not to daydream about a bubbly, soul-warming pasta dish. Well, folks, that dream is now a reality. This delicious dish has curly cavatappi and tender strips of roasted bell pepper cloaked in a creamy tomato-basil sauce. It’s topped off with fresh mozzarella and panko breadcrumbs before being broiled to gooey, golden-brown perfection. Yep, this one-pan wonder is guaranteed to satisfy all carby cravings. (We’re all about making dreams come true.)
Ingredients
14 ounce
Marinara Sauce
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains: Wheat)
2 tablespoon
Cream Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
½ ounce
Basil
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains: Wheat)
1 teaspoon
Chili Flakes
1 unit
Bell Pepper
4 ounce
Fresh Mozzarella
(Contains: Milk)
Not included in your delivery
teaspoon (tsp)
Salt
teaspoon (tsp)
Black Pepper
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry all produce. • Halve bell pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Pick basil leaves from stems; roughly chop or tear leaves. Tear mozzarella into bite-size pieces.
• Toss bell pepper halves on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil each; season with salt and pepper. Arrange cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred, 20-25 minutes. • Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a cutting board, then thinly slice. • Heat broiler to high.
• While bell pepper roasts, add 1 TBSP butter to a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until just melted, 30 seconds. Stir in panko and salt. • 4 SERVINGS: Use 2 TBSP butter.
• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• While pasta cooks, heat a large, preferably ovenproof, pan over medium-high heat. Add marinara, ½ cup water, half the chopped basil, a pinch of chili flakes, and a big pinch of salt; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened, 3-5 minutes. • Turn off heat and stir in cream cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir sliced bell pepper and cavatappi into sauce. If needed, add more water a splash at a time until pasta is thoroughly coated in sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with mozzarella and panko. • Broil on top rack until cheese has melted and panko is golden brown, 2-4 minutes. • Sprinkle with remaining chopped basil and more chili flakes if desired. Divide between plates and serve. • TIP: If your pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture to a baking dish before sprinkling with mozzarella and panko. When broiling, watch carefully to avoid burning.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Some found it tasty, while others felt it was missing something. Adding chicken can enhance the dish.
- Ease of prep: Extremely easy and quick to make, with ingredients readily available at grocery stores.
- Suggestions: Consider roasting peppers on the grill for a different flavor. Try adding roasted chicken for extra protein.
Reviews from our home cooks
Extremely easy and quick, can easily be remade just from the grocery store, can be made with meat for extra protein
This was not a hit with me or my family. However one tip for others is you can roast peppers on your grill.
With added roasted chicken for additional protein and it was excellent!!
Should come with a side salad or something like that.
