Cavatappi al Forno
Baked cavatappi tubes tossed with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and fresh basil, then topped with crispy breadcrumbs and finished under the broiler. A vegetarian Italian comfort classic ready in under 45 minutes.
- Total time
- 42 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 680
- Protein
- 32g
Ingredients
- 1 lb cavatappi pasta
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 batch salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 1
Set the oven to 375°F and wait for the indicator light or beep to confirm it has fully preheated, about 10 minutes.
- 2
Fill a large pot three-quarters full with water, add 1 tablespoon salt, and set it over high heat until large rolling bubbles break the surface continuously, about 8 minutes.
- 3
Pour the 1 lb cavatappi pasta into the boiling water and stir once with a wooden spoon to separate the tubes, then cook until the pasta is completely soft and a strand breaks easily between your fingers, about 10 minutes.
- 4
Drain the pasta in a colander and pour it into a large mixing bowl; do not rinse.
- 5
Add the 15 oz ricotta, 1.5 cups of the mozzarella, 0.5 cup of the Parmesan, 0.5 cup basil, and 24 oz marinara sauce to the warm pasta.
- 6
Stir with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are evenly combined and no streaks of sauce remain visible, about 1 minute.
- 7
Pour the pasta mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer with the back of a spoon.
- 8
In a small bowl, combine 0.75 cup panko, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and the remaining 0.5 cup mozzarella and 0.25 cup Parmesan, stirring until the breadcrumbs are evenly coated with oil.
- 9
Scatter the breadcrumb mixture evenly across the top of the pasta, covering as much surface as possible.
- 10
Slide the baking dish into the 375°F oven and bake until the breadcrumb topping turns golden brown and the edges bubble, about 20 minutes.
- 11
Remove the dish from the oven and set the broiler to high; wait 2 minutes.
- 12
Place the baking dish under the broiler, about 4 inches below the heating element, until the top is deep golden and the edges begin to brown, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- 13
Remove the dish from the oven using oven mitts and let it rest on the counter for 5 minutes before serving.
Tools you’ll need
- large pot
- wooden spoon
- colander
- large mixing bowl
- 9-by-13-inch baking dish
- small bowl
- spoon
- oven mitts
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