Roasted Pepper Cavatappi Milano
with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Fresh Mozz, Crispy Panko & Chives
- Milk
- Wheat
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-herb 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
1 unit
Bell Pepper
4 ounce
Fresh Mozzarella
(Contains: Milk)
14 ounce
Marinara Cup
1 teaspoon
Chili Flakes
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains: Wheat)
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains: Wheat)
2 tablespoon
PHILADELPHIA® Cream Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
¼ ounce
Chives
Not included in your delivery
2 teaspoon
Olive Oil
1 tablespoon
Butter
(Contains: Milk)
Salt
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 produce. • Halve bell pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Thinly slice chives. Tear mozzarella into bite- size pieces.
• Rub each bell pepper half with a drizzle of olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Place cut sides down on a baking sheet. • 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, place 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until just melted, 30 seconds. Stir in panko and season with salt.
• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, 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 chives, 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; stir in Philadelphia cream cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir sliced bell pepper and drained cavatappi into pan with sauce. If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. (TIP: If pan isn’t ovenproof, transfer mixture now to a baking dish.) Sprinkle with mozzarella and panko. • Broil on top rack until cheese melts and panko is golden brown, 2-4 minutes. TIP: Watch carefully to avoid burning. • Sprinkle with remaining chives and more chili flakes if desired. Divide between plates and serve.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Many enjoyed the creamy, flavorful sauce, though some found it bland; adding extra herbs or spices boosted flavor 🍲.
- Ease of prep: Simple and quick to make, though roasting the pepper added time; some found the steps straightforward.
- Suggestions: Consider adding protein like chicken or sausage; include more veggies like mushrooms or zucchini for extra nutrition.
- Portions: Generous servings provided leftovers for many; some found it too much pasta for two people.
- Cheese: Fresh mozzarella was a highlight; chunks melted beautifully and added great texture to the dish.
Reviews from our home cooks
My favorite meal out of the week. It was honestly the best pasta I had. I wouldn't think the red pepper would be good at first but when cutting it into pieces it blended well with the cavatappi.
It might look like a simple pasta recipe, but this is sneaky good. So easy, but the roasted pepper elevates this dish. Can't wait to make it again!
I would have liked a little more mozzarella, but a great recipe. The cavatappi pasta was especially good. It was a good texture.
This was very good. The cream cheese added enough creaminess to the red sauce and the roasted red peppers added a sweetness! I added Italian herb chicken on the side for my son and husband.
Yum! We loved the huge chunks of mozzarella! The toasted panko is always a hit, and so are roasted red peppers. HelloFresh has got their pasta recipes down.
The fresh ingredients of roasting the pepper and the mozzarella upped the flavor of this dish. You do know pasta!
Coming from a family of meat eaters, this dish was satisfying! Both filling and full of flavor, this pasta dish is amazing! The roasted pepper complemented the creamy sauce and brought the entire dish together! Another hit in our house!
This meal was so good! The Panko crumbs and the cream cheese made my mouth so happy. Plus, it was so easy to prepare!
Delicious! If I could have rated it 5 star, I would have. Great combo of flavors. And easy to make. ...I would have suggested peeling the charred red peppers as an option.
A great base idea on which I can build on my own for much less. The mozzarella was the absolute show stealer - YUM! - but the roasted pepper detracted from the textures and flavors and was kind of annoying. The marinara was so-so and the panko crumbs and butter added little. I'll definitely re-make on my own, but will tweak for ultimate deliciousness!
