Carrabba's Cavatappi Amatriciana Side Dish Pasta

Elevate your pasta night with Carrabba's Cavatappi Amatriciana Side Dish Pasta, a restaurant-inspired recipe bursting with bold Italian flavors. This dish combines the irresistible texture of al dente cavatappi pasta with a rich, smoky tomato sauce infused with crispy thick-cut bacon, garlic, and a hint of crushed red pepper flakes for a subtle kick. The sauce, made with canned crushed tomatoes and a touch of tomato paste, is perfectly balanced with a pinch of sugar and thoughtfully seasoned with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Ready in just 45 minutes, this hearty yet elegant side dish pairs beautifully with grilled meats or works as a satisfying light main course. Bring the comforting taste of classic Italian cooking to your table with this delectable pasta dish.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Cavatappi pasta
• 6 slices Thick-cut bacon
• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 medium, finely diced Yellow onion
• 3 minced Garlic cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons Crushed red pepper flakes
• 28 ounces Canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 teaspoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 teaspoons Black pepper
• 0.5 cups, grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons, chopped Fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Cook the cavatappi pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

Slice the bacon into small pieces. In a large skillet or saucepan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the skillet.

Step 3

Add olive oil to the skillet with the bacon grease and heat over medium heat. Stir in the diced onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes, until softened and translucent.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring frequently, until fragrant.

Step 5

Pour in the canned crushed tomatoes and stir in the tomato paste, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 6

Stir the cooked bacon back into the tomato sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 7

Add the drained cavatappi pasta to the skillet with the sauce, tossing to coat the pasta evenly.

Step 8

Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.

Step 9

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving. Serve warm as a side dish or as a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1473.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1675.3

Total Fat 82.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 26.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 108.8mg	0%
Sodium 4993.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 178.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 23.6g	0%
Total Sugars 48.0g
Protein 60.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 735.1mg	0%
Iron 13.3mg	0%
Potassium 3570.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.8%

Protein: 14.2%

Carbs: 42.0%