Chicken & Pepper Cavatappi Milano

🥘 Ingredients

• bell pepper
  2 pieces
• butter
  1 tbsp
• cavatappi pasta
  6 oz
• chicken breast strips
  8 oz
• chili flakes
  ¼ tsp
• chives
  2 tbsp
• cooking oil
  1 tbsp
• cream cheese
  4 oz
• fresh mozzarella
  5 oz
• marinara cup
  1 c
• olive oil
  1 tbsp
• panko breadcrumbs
  ¼ cup

🍳 Cookware

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

1. 

   1

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

   bell pepper: 2 pieces, chives: 2 tbsp, fresh mozzarella: 5 oz
2. 

   2

   Rub each bell pepper half with a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet , cut sides down. Roast on top rack until softened and lightly charred ⏱️ 20 minutes . Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to a cutting board , then thinly slice. Heat broiler to high.

   olive oil: 1 tbsp
3. 

   3

   While bell pepper roasts, place butter in a small bowl . Microwave until just melted ⏱️ 30 seconds . Stir in panko breadcrumbs and season with salt and pepper.

   butter: 1 tbsp, panko breadcrumbs: ¼ cup
4. 

   4

   Once water is boiling, add cavatappi pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente ⏱️ 9 minutes . Drain and set aside.

   cavatappi pasta: 6 oz
5. 

   5

   While pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add cooking oil and chicken breast strips ; cook until browned ⏱️ 4 minutes . Remove and set aside. Add marinara cup , ½%cup water, half the chives, a pinch of chili flakes , and a big pinch of salt. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer until slightly thickened ⏱️ 3 minutes . Turn off heat and stir in cream cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.

   cooking oil: 1 tbsp, chicken breast strips: 8 oz, marinara cup: 1 c, chili flakes: ¼ tsp, cream cheese: 4 oz
6. 

   6

   Stir sliced bell pepper, drained cavatappi, and cooked chicken into pan with sauce. If sauce seems too thick, add a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with mozzarella and panko. Broil until cheese melts and panko is golden brown ⏱️ 2 minutes . Watch carefully to avoid burning. Sprinkle with remaining chives and more chili flakes if desired. Divide between plates and serve.