By Becky Hardin
Updated May 17, 2025
This delicious Pesto Cavatappi is rich, creamy, and packed with bold flavors! It’s a super easy weeknight dinner pasta recipe that’s ready in less than 30 minutes.
Pesto Cavatappi
This creamy pesto cavatappi recipe is quick to make and just so delicious! Cavatappi is corkscrew-shaped pasta, perfect for scooping up the divinely creamy pesto sauce. It’s such a quick and easy dinner! This delicious dish is a hearty meat-free meal that both kids and adults will love! It’s the perfect Meatless Monday option and ideal to add to your pasta night rotation.
Though I used cavatappi when making this pesto recipe, you can use whatever pasta you have. And, if you want to make the meal a little heartier, feel free to add your favorite protein.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1 pound cavatappi pasta or any pasta you have on hand, gluten-free if required
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 8 ounces basil pesto
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ ½ cup heavy cream
- ▢ grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Wait until the water comes to a rapid boil before adding your pasta. Placing pasta too early can make it gummy and sticky!
- Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain the noodles and set them aside. 1 pound cavatappi pasta
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the pesto and salt and cook until the pesto starts to bubble, about 1-2 minutes. 8 ounces basil pesto, ½ teaspoon salt
- Pour in the reserved pasta water. Stir and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, pour in the heavy cream, stir, and let it simmer until it reduces a bit, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked protein of choice to the pan if desired. ½ cup heavy cream
- Add the pasta and toss to coat.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese and basil. grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil
Becky’s Tips
- You want the pasta to feel firm and slightly springy when you bite into it. If it sticks to your teeth while chewing, it isn’t ready.
- For a low-carb pasta meal, use zucchini noodles.
- If omitting the cream, add an extra half cup of pasta water.
- Mix in veggies: add sun-dried tomatoes in step 2, or mix in halved cherry or grape tomatoes right before serving. Sliced mushrooms are also a delicious addition. Add to the pan in step 2.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Pesto Cavatappi Step by Step
Prepare the pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Wait until the water comes to a rapid boil before adding pasta. Cook 1 pound of pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
Cook the garlic: While the pasta cooks, melt 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 cloves of garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the pesto: Stir 8 ounces of basil pesto and 1/2 teaspoon of salt together and cook until the pesto starts to bubble, about 1-2 minutes.
Add the pasta water : Pour in the 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water. Stir and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
Add cream: Reduce the heat to low, pour in 1/2 cup of heavy cream, stir, and let it simmer until it reduces a bit, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked protein of choice to the pan if desired.
Mix in the pasta: Add the pasta and toss to coat.
Garnish and serve: Serve with Parmesan cheese and basil and enjoy.
How to Store
Store pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or over the stove. Add a splash of olive oil or cream if the pasta appears dry.
Serving Suggestions
This is a great meal on its own, but you can always add tasty sides for a bigger feast! I often like starting my meal with our Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing . And, of course, no Italian meal is complete without Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread or Rosemary Focaccia to soak up whatever sauce is left in your bowl.
more italian dinners we love
Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Meatballs
Baked Spaghetti
Crockpot Baked Ziti
Seafood Lasagna
Pesto Cavatappi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound cavatappi pasta or any pasta you have on hand, gluten-free if required
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces basil pesto
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup heavy cream
- grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Wait until the water comes to a rapid boil before adding your pasta. Placing pasta too early can make it gummy and sticky!
- Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water. Drain the noodles and set them aside. 1 pound cavatappi pasta
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the pesto and salt and cook until the pesto starts to bubble, about 1-2 minutes. 8 ounces basil pesto, ½ teaspoon salt
- Pour in the reserved pasta water. Stir and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low, pour in the heavy cream, stir, and let it simmer until it reduces a bit, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked protein of choice to the pan if desired. ½ cup heavy cream
- Add the pasta and toss to coat.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese and basil. grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil
Notes
- You want the pasta to feel firm and slightly springy when you bite into it. If it sticks to your teeth while chewing, it isn’t ready.
- For a low-carb pasta meal, use zucchini noodles.
- If omitting the cream, add an extra half cup of pasta water.
- Mix in veggies: add sun-dried tomatoes in step 2, or mix in halved cherry or grape tomatoes right before serving. Sliced mushrooms are also a delicious addition. Add to the pan in step 2.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
