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Copycat Noodles & Company™ Pesto Cavatappi

Prep 5 min
Total 20 min
Servings 6

You can now make your favorite carry-out lunch at home in less time than it’d take you to get your order from the restaurant! You won’t believe how easy this is. MORE + LESS -

Ingredients

tablespoon olive oil

cup grape tomatoes, halved

oz mushrooms, sliced

1/2

cup white wine

1/3

cup heavy cream

1 1/2

cups basil pesto (homemade or store-bought, see tips)

lb cavatappi pasta, cooked and drained

Salt and pepper, to taste

Shredded Parmesan cheese, for topping

Steps

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1

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the tomatoes and mushrooms, and cook until the tomatoes have released most of their juices and the mushrooms are soft and tender, about 10 minutes.
2

Remove from heat briefly, add in the wine, cream, and pesto. Return back to heat.
3

Bring to a low simmer (you don’t want to boil, it might scorch the cream), and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened—about 3 minutes.
4

Add in the cooked pasta, stirring well to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with parmesan. (Yields about 1 heaping cup per serving.)

Expert Tips

When you find a dish at a restaurant that you absolutely love, it’s a gloriously wonderful thing. You know exactly what’s going to end up on your plate every time, and you know you’re going to enjoy every last tasty bite. And you know what’s even more glorious? When you find out that you can make that exact same dish at home for a fraction of the cost and time. YOU HAVE THE POWER! This copycat recipe for Noodles & Company™ Pesto Cavatappi is the perfect example of that. It’s one of the most popular orders at the restaurant, and for good reason. It’s absolutely delicious! But I have a secret for you: it’s a breeze to recreate at home. As in, it actually might be more work to go to the restaurant and place your order than it is to whip it up in your kitchen. This is great option for weeknight dinners when your schedule is packed! Simple food is often the best, and this dish embodies that concept gloriously. It only takes nine ingredients to make it (and that includes pantry staples like olive oil, salt and pepper), and the end result is layered flavors that will knock your socks off.
Pesto tends to turn brown from oxidation when it’s been packaged, so if you use store-bought (especially jarred or canned) pesto, you might find that your final dish isn’t quite the same bright green as you’re used to. Ain’t no thang! It’ll still taste just as amazing. If this bugs you, just make your own pesto or check the deli or produce section of your local grocery store for freshly made pesto.
Can’t find cavatappi? No worries, any small- to medium-size pasta should work just fine.
Mushroom haters, worry not—you can leave them out without totally ruining the dish. You’re welcome.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 730
Calories from Fat: 370

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 41g; 63%
Saturated Fat 10g 49% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 25mg; 9%
Sodium: 1000mg; 42%
Potassium: 370mg; 11%
Total Carbohydrate: 71g; 24%
Dietary Fiber 6g 23% Sugars 3g
Protein: 18g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 10%; 10%
Vitamin C: 4%; 4%
Calcium: 20%; 20%
Iron: 30%; 30%

Exchanges:

4 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 7 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

When you find a dish at a restaurant that you absolutely love, it’s a gloriously wonderful thing. You know exactly what’s going to end up on your plate every time, and you know you’re going to enjoy every last tasty bite.

And you know what’s even more glorious? When you find out that you can make that exact same dish at home for a fraction of the cost and time. YOU HAVE THE POWER!

This copycat recipe for Noodles & Company™ Pesto Cavatappi is the perfect example of that. It’s one of the most popular orders at the restaurant, and for good reason. It’s absolutely delicious! But I have a secret for you: it’s a breeze to recreate at home. As in, it actually might be more work to go to the restaurant and place your order than it is to whip it up in your kitchen. This is great option for weeknight dinners when your schedule is packed!

Simple food is often the best, and this dish embodies that concept gloriously. It only takes nine ingredients to make it (and that includes pantry staples like olive oil, salt and pepper), and the end result is layered flavors that will knock your socks off.