CREAMY TOMATO CHICKEN SAUSAGE CAVATAPPI with Roasted Garlic

• servings: 2
• active time: 5
• total time: 30

Ingredients

1 bell pepper

1 clove garlic

Cavatappi pasta

9oz chicken sausage mix

Tomato paste

Garlic powder

Cream sauce base

Salt

Pepper

Cooking oil

2 tbs butter

Chili flakes

Directions

1. Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. Halve bell pepper; remove stem and seeds. Peel garlic.

2. Drizzle each bell pepper half with oil and season with salt and pepper; rub to evenly coat. Place bell pepper halves, cut sides down, on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Place garlic clove in the center of a small piece of foil; drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Cinch into a packet and place on same sheet. Roast on middle rack until bell pepper is lightly charred and garlic is softened, 18-22 minutes.

3. Once water is boiling, add pasta to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (2 cups for 4 servings), then drain.

4. While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Add tomato paste, garlic powder, and, if you've got some on hand, a pinch of chili flakes from your pantry if desired; stir to coat. Add ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water (¾ cup for 4 servings). Cook, stirring, until thickened, 2-3 minutes more.

5. Once veggies are roasted, carefully transfer bell pepper and garlic packet to a cutting board. Once cool enough to handle, thinly slice bell pepper into strips. Remove garlic from foil packet; mash with a fork to form a paste.

6. Return pan with sausage mixture to low heat. Stir in drained pasta, bell pepper strips, mashed garlic, cream sauce base, and 2 TBSP butter (4 TBSP for 4 servings). If needed, stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until pasta is coated in a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta between bowls and serve.

Nutrition

• Calories: 940