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Home Dishes & Beverages Pasta Dishes Baked Pasta

Creamy Cavatappi & Cheese

Name: Creamy Cavatappi & Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 10 servings.
Ingredients: 6 cups uncooked cavatappi or spiral pasta; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 1/3 cup butter; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce; 4 cups 2% milk; 6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese; 1 cup cubed Velveeta; 3 green onions, chopped; TOPPINGS:; 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs; 3 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and coarsely crumbled; 1 tablespoon butter, melted; 1 green onion, chopped; Coarsely ground pepper, optional

17 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min.

Makes

10 servings

Updated: Sep. 13, 2023

Dive fork-first into oodles of noodles baked to bubbly perfection and coated with a to-die-for sharp cheddar cheese sauce in this cavatappi, a grown-up version of mac and cheese. Hot sauce lends mild heat that’s delectable with the smoky topping. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida

Creamy Cavatappi & Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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Ingredients

6 cups uncooked cavatappi or spiral pasta
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce
4 cups 2% milk
6 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup cubed Velveeta
3 green onions, chopped
TOPPINGS:
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
3 thick-sliced bacon strips, cooked and coarsely crumbled
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 green onion, chopped
Coarsely ground pepper, optional

Directions

Cook cavatappi according to package directions.
Meanwhile, saute garlic in butter in a Dutch oven. Stir in flour and pepper sauce until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes.
Stir in cheeses until melted; add green onions. Drain cavatappi; stir into cheese mixture.
Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Combine the bread crumbs, bacon and melted butter; sprinkle over top.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with green onion and, if desired, pepper.

Cavatappi & Cheese Tips

What is cavatappi?

Cavatappi is a thick, hallow, corkscrew shaped pasta.

What can I use instead of cavatappi?

An easy substitute for cavatappi pasta is elbow macaroni!

What goes well with cavatappi?

Several dishes would go well with cavatappi. The cheesy, creamy dish pairs perfectly with side dishes like a mixed green salad or simple side such as garlic broccoli. Research contributed by Sarah Fischer, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 706 calories, 38g fat (21g saturated fat), 110mg cholesterol, 782mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 32g protein.