Million Dollar Cavatappi
Million Dollar Cavatappi
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 1 box cavatappi pasta, (about 16 ounces)
- 1 jar Alfredo sauce, (about 15 ounces)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried, plus more for garnish
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 jar marinara sauce, (about 24 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
Add the cavatappi pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Break the beef apart with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Stir in 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder into the browned ground beef. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour in the jar of marinara sauce and stir to combine with the meat. Remove the skillet from the heat and set the meat sauce aside.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
In a large baking dish (approximately 9x13 inches), combine the drained cavatappi pasta with the jar of Alfredo sauce. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Evenly scoop the prepared meat sauce over the Alfredo-coated cavatappi in the baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat sauce, then lightly sprinkle with an additional 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 350
- 11
(Optional) For the last 2 minutes of baking, switch the oven to broil to get a golden-brown, slightly crispy top on the cheese. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes, then serve hot and enjoy!
⏱️ 3 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Million Dollar Cavatappi
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 1 box cavatappi pasta, (about 16 ounces)
- 1 jar Alfredo sauce, (about 15 ounces)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried, plus more for garnish
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, small, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 jar marinara sauce, (about 24 ounces)
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
Add the cavatappi pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Break the beef apart with a spoon and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Stir in 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder into the browned ground beef. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour in the jar of marinara sauce and stir to combine with the meat. Remove the skillet from the heat and set the meat sauce aside.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
In a large baking dish (approximately 9x13 inches), combine the drained cavatappi pasta with the jar of Alfredo sauce. Stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Evenly scoop the prepared meat sauce over the Alfredo-coated cavatappi in the baking dish.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat sauce, then lightly sprinkle with an additional 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 350 - 11
(Optional) For the last 2 minutes of baking, switch the oven to broil to get a golden-brown, slightly crispy top on the cheese. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes, then serve hot and enjoy!
⏱️ 3 min