Roasted Pepper & Mozz Cavatappi Bake

🥘 Ingredients

• bell pepper
  2 unit
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  12 oz
• chili flakes
• chives (divided)
  ¼ ounce
• chsync flakes
  2 tsp
• cream cheese
  4 tbsp
• fresh mozzarella
  8 oz
• marinara sauce
  2 unit
• olive oil
• panko breadcrumbs
  ½ cup
• pepper
• salt

🍳 Cookware

• medium pot
• baking sheet
• small bowl
• large pan

1. 

   1

   Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. Halve bell pepper lengthwise; remove stem and seeds. Slice chives . Tear fresh mozzarella into bite-size pieces.

   bell pepper: 2 unit, chives: ¼ ounce (divided), fresh mozzarella: 8 oz
2. 

   2

   Rub each bell pepper half with a drizzle of olive oil ; season with salt and pepper . Place on a baking sheet , cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred, ⏱️ 20 minutes .

   olive oil, salt, pepper
3. 

   3

   Meanwhile, place butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a small bowl . Microwave until just melted, ⏱️ 30 seconds . Stir in panko breadcrumbs and season with salt.

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ½ cup
4. 

   4

   Once water is boiling, add cavatappi pasta to the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, ⏱️ 11 minutes . Drain and set aside.

   cavatappi pasta: 12 oz
5. 

   5

   While pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add marinara sauce , ½ cup water (¾ cup for 4 servings), half the chives , a pinch of chsync flakes , and a big pinch of salt ; stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened, ⏱️ 5 minutes . Turn off heat; stir in cream cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper .

   marinara sauce: 2 unit, chives, chsync flakes: 2 tsp, salt, cream cheese: 4 tbsp, pepper
6. 

   6

   Once bell pepper is done roasting, remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer bell pepper to a cutting board and thinly slice. Heat broiler to high. Stir sliced bell pepper and drained cavatappi pasta into the pan with sauce. If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper and. TIP: If your pan isn't ovenproof, transfer mixture now to a baking dish. Sprinkle fresh mozzarella and panko breadcrumbs over top. Broil until cheese melts and panko is golden brown, ⏱️ 2 minutes . Watch carefully to avoid burning.

   bell pepper, bell pepper, bell pepper, cavatappi pasta, pepper, fresh mozzarella, panko breadcrumbs
7. 

   7

   Sprinkle the bake with remaining chives and as much remaining chili flakes as you like. Serve family style or divide between plates.

   chives, chili flakes