The Ultimate Copycat Noodles & Company Pesto Cavatappi: A Quick and Flavorful Pasta Dish
Have you ever experienced the irresistible delight of Pesto Cavatappi from Noodles & Company? For many, it’s a quintessential comfort food, a go-to order that never disappoints. The vibrant flavor of pesto, combined with perfectly cooked pasta, creates a dish that’s both satisfying and utterly craveable. If you’re anything like us, the moment you spot pesto on a menu, your decision is made. And if that pesto is paired with pasta, it’s a match made in culinary heaven!
While enjoying this favorite at a restaurant is always a treat, imagine being able to recreate that beloved taste in your own kitchen, ready in just minutes. This copycat Noodles & Company Pesto Cavatappi recipe allows you to do just that. It’s an incredibly easy dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch, proving that restaurant-quality flavors are well within reach for the home cook. Seriously, anything with pesto draws us in, and the thought of enjoying delicious pasta every day is a dream come true – especially when it’s this simple to prepare!
What is Cavatappi? Exploring This Unique Pasta Shape
Cavatappi, meaning “corkscrews” in Italian, is a delightful pasta shape known for its hollow, tubular, and ridged spirals. It’s essentially a macaroni variant, but its distinctive corkscrew form makes it exceptionally good at capturing and holding onto rich sauces, like the creamy pesto in this recipe. Each twist and turn provides ample surface area for the sauce to cling, ensuring that every single bite is packed with incredible flavor.
While cavatappi is the star for this specific dish, the beauty of pasta recipes lies in their versatility. You absolutely can use any short-cut pasta you have on hand or prefer. Excellent alternatives include penne, rotini, fusilli, orecchiette, or even classic macaroni. The key is to choose a pasta with grooves, ridges, or a shape that creates little pockets, allowing the luxurious pesto sauce to truly adhere. This ensures you get a generous amount of that creamy, aromatic pesto in every mouthful, making for a truly satisfying pasta experience.
Why You’ll Adore This Copycat Pesto Cavatappi Recipe
This isn’t just another pasta dish; it’s a game-changer for anyone who loves flavorful, quick, and satisfying meals. Here’s why this copycat Pesto Cavatappi will become a staple in your kitchen:
- Unbeatable Flavor: Experience the same delicious, aromatic pesto sauce that makes the Noodles & Company version so popular, now perfected in your home.
- Incredibly Quick: From start to finish, this dish comes together in roughly 25 minutes – making it faster than ordering takeout or delivery! It’s perfect for those busy weeknights when time is of the essence but you still crave something homemade and wholesome.
- Effortless Preparation: With minimal chopping and straightforward steps, even novice cooks can achieve fantastic results. The process is designed to be simple, ensuring a stress-free cooking experience.
- Customizable to Your Liking: Easily adapt the recipe to suit your preferences. Add your favorite proteins like chicken or shrimp, or boost the veggie content with spinach or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Budget-Friendly: Recreating restaurant favorites at home is not only fun but also significantly more economical. You get more servings for less money, often with higher quality ingredients.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This pasta dish is universally loved by adults and children alike. It’s a fantastic option for family dinners, potlucks, or simply satisfying your own pasta cravings.
Essential Ingredients for Your Pesto Cavatappi
Gathering your ingredients is the first step to culinary success. This recipe relies on a few simple, yet powerful components to create its signature flavor profile. Most of these items are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store.
- Cavatappi or any other short-cut pasta: As discussed, the corkscrew shape is ideal, but ridged penne, rotini, or even medium shells will work beautifully to hold the sauce.
- Olive Oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil is key for sautéing the vegetables and building a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Mushrooms (thinly sliced): Cremini (baby bella) or white button mushrooms are excellent choices. Their earthy flavor complements the pesto and adds a wonderful texture to the dish. Buying them pre-sliced can save you valuable prep time.
- Diced Tomato: Adds a touch of freshness, acidity, and color. You can use fresh Roma tomatoes, finely diced, or opt for good quality canned diced tomatoes for convenience.
- Chicken Broth: This liquid forms the savory base of our creamy sauce, adding depth and richness. For a vegetarian version, simply substitute with vegetable broth.
- Heavy Cream: The secret to the luxurious, velvety texture of the sauce. It provides a delightful richness that perfectly balances the bright flavors of the pesto.
- Pesto: The star of the show! You can use your favorite store-bought basil pesto for ultimate convenience, or elevate the dish with a homemade version. Experiment with different pestos like spinach pesto for a unique twist.
- Parmesan Cheese (shredded): A finishing touch that adds a salty, nutty, and umami depth. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is always recommended for the best flavor and melt.
How to Master This Pesto Cavatappi Recipe
Creating this copycat Noodles & Company Pesto Cavatappi is remarkably straightforward, and the entire process is designed to be quick and efficient. You’ll be amazed at how easily you can bring this restaurant favorite to your own dinner table, all within the time it takes to boil pasta.
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your cavatappi (or chosen short-cut pasta) and cook according to the package directions until it’s al dente – tender with a slight bite. Drain the pasta, but remember to reserve about ½ cup of the starchy pasta water before draining, as it can be used later to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
- Sauté the Vegetables: While your pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or deep pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the thinly sliced mushrooms and diced tomatoes. Sauté them for approximately 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are nicely browned and have released their moisture, and the tomatoes have softened. This step helps to develop a rich, earthy flavor base for your sauce.
- Build the Creamy Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to thicken slightly. The goal is a rich, creamy consistency that will beautifully coat the pasta.
- Incorporate the Pesto: Remove the skillet from the heat. This is crucial for preserving the vibrant color and fresh flavor of the pesto. Stir in the pesto until it is thoroughly combined with the creamy sauce. The residual heat from the skillet will gently warm the pesto without cooking out its delicate aromatic compounds.
- Combine and Serve: Add the drained, cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the pesto cream sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the rich, fragrant sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency. Serve immediately, topped generously with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese.
Whether you opt for your favorite high-quality store-bought pesto or decide to experiment with a homemade version, like a fresh Spinach Pesto, the result will be a truly satisfying meal. Once everything is mixed together, a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese is the perfect finishing touch. This Pesto Cavatappi is an ideal candidate for a quick and easy lunch, a comforting dinner, and even the leftovers are absolutely delicious the next day!
Getting dinner on the table during hectic weeknights can be a challenge, which is precisely why this Pesto Cavatappi recipe is a true lifesaver. It requires very little active work – essentially just chopping mushrooms and tomatoes, and even that can be expedited by purchasing pre-sliced mushrooms. So, if you find yourself with just 15-20 minutes and a hungry family, this recipe will come to your rescue, delivering a hearty and flavorful meal with minimal fuss.
Tips for Success and Delicious Customizations
While this Pesto Cavatappi recipe is fantastic as is, here are some tips to ensure perfect results every time and ideas for customizing it to your taste:
Enhance Your Dish
- Add Protein: To make this a more substantial meal, consider adding cooked and shredded chicken breast (a rotisserie chicken works great for speed!), grilled shrimp, or browned Italian sausage. Add cooked protein during the final tossing step with the pasta.
- Boost the Veggies: Fresh spinach wilts beautifully into the warm sauce; just stir it in during the last minute of cooking. Sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red bell peppers, or even artichoke hearts can also add wonderful flavor and texture.
- A Touch of Spice: For those who enjoy a little heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes stirred into the sauce can add a subtle, pleasant kick.
- Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh basil or parsley before serving will brighten the flavors even further.
Making it Your Own
- Homemade Pesto: While store-bought pesto offers incredible convenience, making your own pesto from scratch will undeniably elevate this dish to a gourmet level. It allows you to control the freshness and exact flavor profile.
- Different Pesto Varieties: Don’t limit yourself to traditional basil pesto! Try a spinach pesto, a sun-dried tomato pesto, or even a kale pesto for varied flavors and nutritional benefits.
- Dietary Adjustments:
- Vegetarian: Easily make this recipe vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Dairy-Free (Partial): For those avoiding dairy, you could experiment with a plant-based heavy cream substitute and omit the Parmesan or use a dairy-free Parmesan alternative. Note that the flavor profile will shift slightly.
- Pasta Water is Your Friend: If your sauce seems too thick after tossing with the pasta, gradually add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta cooking water until you reach your desired consistency. The starch in the water helps the sauce emulsify and cling better to the pasta.
Serving Suggestions for Your Pesto Cavatappi
This Pesto Cavatappi is a hearty and satisfying dish on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides to create a complete and balanced meal. Consider serving it alongside a crisp, fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the cream sauce. A warm, crusty loaf of garlic bread or focaccia is also an excellent accompaniment, perfect for soaking up every last drop of that delicious pesto sauce. For an extra boost of protein, you could even serve it with a simple grilled chicken breast or a piece of pan-seared fish on the side.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
One of the best things about this Pesto Cavatappi is how well it keeps, making it fantastic for meal prep or enjoying as leftovers. Store any remaining pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, gently warm the pasta on the stovetop over medium-low heat. You might find that the sauce has thickened, so add a splash of chicken broth, vegetable broth, or a touch of heavy cream to help loosen it up and bring back its creamy consistency. Stir frequently until heated through. While microwaving is an option, stovetop reheating helps maintain the texture of the pasta and sauce more effectively.
More Delightful Copycat Recipes to Try
If you love bringing restaurant favorites home, then you’re in for a treat! Discover more of our most popular copycat recipes that allow you to recreate those iconic dishes you crave right in your own kitchen:
- Margarita Grilled Chicken
- Fiesta Lime Chicken
- Canes Sauce
- Panera Mac and Cheese
- Mexican Pizzas
- Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
- Pasta Milano
Pesto Cavatappi
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound cavatappi pasta, or any short-cut pasta that holds sauce well
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 8 oz mushrooms, thinly sliced (cremini or white button)
- 1 cup diced tomato, fresh Roma or canned
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, or vegetable broth for vegetarian
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup pesto, store-bought or homemade basil pesto
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add cavatappi pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced mushrooms and diced tomatoes. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are browned and the tomatoes are soft.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken broth and heavy cream to the skillet. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring, until the sauce begins to thicken slightly.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the pesto until it is well blended and thoroughly incorporated into the creamy sauce.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency. Serve immediately, topped with shredded Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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