Cavatappi pasta is a short, spiral-shaped pasta with a hollow center and ridged surface. Its corkscrew shape makes it perfect for holding creamy sauces, cheese sauces, tomato sauces, baked pasta dishes, and pasta salads.
If you love creamy comfort food, cavatappi is one of the best pasta shapes to use for cavatappi mac and cheese, creamy cavatappi Alfredo, and baked pasta casseroles.
What Does Cavatappi Mean?
The word "cavatappi" means "corkscrew" in Italian. The pasta gets its name from its twisted, spiral shape.
What Does Cavatappi Look Like?
Cavatappi looks like a short macaroni tube twisted into a spiral. It is usually hollow in the middle and often has ridges on the outside, which helps sauces cling to the pasta.
What Is Cavatappi Best For?
- Mac and cheese
- Alfredo pasta
- Baked pasta
- Pasta salad
- Creamy chicken pasta
- Tomato cream pasta
- Garlic butter noodles
- Cajun pasta
- Cheese casseroles
Cavatappi vs Macaroni
Cavatappi and macaroni are both short pasta shapes, but cavatappi is longer, curlier, and more textured. It holds creamy sauces better than standard elbow macaroni, making it ideal for rich pasta dishes.
Cavatappi vs Fusilli
Fusilli is also spiral-shaped, but it is not usually hollow. Cavatappi has a tube-like center, which allows sauce to coat both the inside and outside.
How to Cook Cavatappi
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add cavatappi and stir.
- Cook until al dente according to package instructions.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining.
- Toss with sauce immediately.
Best Sauces for Cavatappi
- Alfredo sauce
- Cheese sauce
- Garlic butter sauce
- Tomato cream sauce
- Pesto
- Vodka sauce
- Cajun cream sauce
- Bolognese
- Creamy mushroom sauce
Cavatappi is a versatile pasta shape that works especially well with creamy, cheesy, and baked pasta recipes. Its corkscrew shape and hollow center make it one of the best choices for comfort food pasta dishes.