Cavatelli Pasta with Tomato Ricotta Sauce

Experience a delicious Southern Italian home-cooked meal with this recipe for Cavatelli with Tomato Ricotta Sauce. Made with a quick marinara sauce, fresh ricotta cheese, and toothsome cavatelli pasta, this trattoria-style dish will satisfy your cravings for a saucy and flavorful pasta.

In season, replace the marinara sauce with a roasted cherry tomato sauce for a sweet and tangy variation. You can also opt for a traditional tomato sauce for a more classic flavor.

Jump to:

• Introduction
• Let’s prep our main ingredients
• How to make tomato ricotta sauce
• How to assemble
• Tips
• More cavatelli recipes
• Recipe inspiration
• Recipe

Introduction

The key to creating the best Italian tomato ricotta sauce lies in the quality of the ingredients.

Start by using the highest quality canned tomatoes that are simmered to perfection, releasing their natural sweetness and acidity. Homemade ricotta cheese adds a velvety richness to this marinara sauce.

Using homemade cavatelli in this recipe adds an extra layer of authenticity and quality. Homemade pasta is typically made with simple, high-quality ingredients resulting in a distinct taste and texture that cannot be replicated with store-bought pasta.

In this case, the homemade pasta provides a unique and toothsome bite that perfectly complements the ricotta tomato sauce. The homemade pasta also absorbs the flavors of the sauce more effectively, creating a harmonious and cohesive dish.

This recipe is inspired by my childhood memories of my family mealtime routine. It reflects the simplicity and love of homemade Italian cooking evoking feelings of warmth and nostalgia.

You will love this hearty, saucy and satisfying dish if you appreciate authentic and traditional Italian cavatelli recipes.

Let’s prep our main ingredients

One of the best things about this pasta recipe is that it can be easily prepared as a 15-minute dinner, thanks to smart prep choices. By taking a little time to prep the main ingredients in advance, you can have a delicious homemade Italian meal on the table in no time!

Cavatelli

Prepping homemade pasta is a great time-saver for a quick, easy weeknight dinner. You can freeze the homemade cavatelli after shaping the small dumplings by laying them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once firm, transfer them to a resealable bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to a month.

This way, you’ll have homemade cavatelli ready whenever you crave this dish.

For a complete step-by-step procedure, refer to this comprehensive guide on how to make homemade cavatelli. The article also includes a video. 

You can make this recipe for whole wheat cavatelli if you prefer a healthier variation.

Alternatively, you can use store-bought cavatelli to save even more time. They are widely available in many grocery stores and can be a quick and easy meal option. Just follow the package directions to cook them until al dente, and you’re ready.

Ricotta

As the star ingredient of this ricotta and tomato sauce recipe, ricotta plays a crucial role in creating a luscious sauce.

While homemade ricotta adds a personal touch and allows you to control the quality and flavor, store-bought ricotta can also be a convenient option for a quick and easy meal.

If you have the time and inclination, making your ricotta at home can be a rewarding experience, adding an extra layer of freshness and authenticity to your dish.

For a complete step-by-step procedure, refer to this article on how to make homemade ricotta. The article also includes a video. 

However, if you’re pressed for time, using store-bought ricotta from a trusted brand can still yield delicious results.

Whether you decide to make ricotta from scratch or store-bought, the texture of ricotta combined with the sweet and tangy marinara sauce will elevate your cavatelli dish to a whole new level of indulgence.

Marinara sauce

With just four basic ingredients – canned tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh basil – you can make an authentic marinara sauce in just 20 minutes. The quality is far superior to commercial options. As an option, you can also add chili flakes for a little heat.

You can easily prep this sauce and refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 5 days before using it.

For a step-by-step procedure, refer to this article on marinara sauce. The article also includes a video. 

You can use a handheld blender to puree the canned tomatoes for a smoother texture. 

How to make tomato ricotta sauce

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Once the water boils, carefully add the cavatelli to the pot and stir. Cook until al dente. For more tips on how to cook any pasta, refer to this article on How to Cook Pasta. 

While waiting for the water to boil, heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Sauté 2 smashed garlic cloves for 1 to 2 minutes or until fragrant. Be mindful not to burn the garlic. 

Stir in 2 cups of the prepared marinara sauce and cook until heated. Watch for splattering.

Turn the heat off. Add 1 cup of room-temperature ricotta cheese and stir, breaking up any clumps of ricotta. 

How to assemble

By this time, the cavatelli should be cooked. Drain and toss the cavatelli with the tomato ricotta sauce.

Serve in individual bowls. Garnish with basil leaves and freshly grated Romano cheese.

Enjoy!

Tips

• Always taste the pasta for doneness. Look for an al dente texture, where the pasta is cooked but firm to the bite.
• If you’re using store-bought pasta, follow the cooking instructions on the package for the best results.
• Use freshly grated cheese; it does make a big taste difference.
• Please note that while this pasta recipe typically results in a saucy consistency, you can use less sauce if you desire a less saucy pasta dish.
• Add Italian sausage or cannellini beans to the dish for a more substantial meal.

More cavatelli recipes

Indulge in more Southern Italian flavors with these trattoria-style cavatelli recipes that are sure to impress family and friends. 

If you’re a fan of roasted broccoli, don’t miss this amazing recipe for cavatelli and broccoli, featuring homemade ricotta cavatelli.

This hearty cavatelli and broccoli rabe combination is a satisfying dish for anyone who enjoys garlicky rapini! 

Recipe inspiration

As you can probably guess, this is one of the meals that frequently found its way to the dinner table as I was growing up.

Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize there was a lot of “routine” regarding meal planning. There was also a lot of simplicity.

Pasta dishes were served three times a week: Sunday for lunch, Tuesday and Thursday for supper. Preparation for Sunday lunch was always an elaborate affair, starting at 8 o’clock in the morning with tomato sauce simmering on the stove. I still remember the wonderful sauce aroma as I ate breakfast in the kitchen.

Growing up, pasta dishes were a staple on my family’s dinner table, and one of our favorites was this tomato ricotta sauce with cavatelli.

The simplicity and routine of my mom’s meal planning always included pasta three times a week: Sunday for lunch, Tuesday, and Thursday for supper. I fondly remember waking up to the aroma of tomato sauce simmering away on the stove on Sunday mornings.

This family recipe is just one of the ways my mom would prepare cavatelli.

I hope you enjoy this trattoria-style Italian home-cooked meal inspired by my childhood memories and perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight meal.

Recipe

This post was originally published on February 28, 2016 and republished on April 23, 2023 with updated content, photos and a video. Thanks for sharing!