Easy Copycat Pizza Hut Cavatini Recipe (Nostalgic Pasta Bake)
A comforting layered pasta bake with meat, sauce, vegetables, and melted cheese—an easy copycat of Pizza Hut's classic Cavatini.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pepperoni sliced thin
- 1/4 pound pasta (spiral noodles)
- 1 green bell pepper green bell pepper sliced thin
- 1/4 pound pasta (shell noodles)
- 1 onion sliced thin
- 1/4 pound pasta (wheel noodles)
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 pound ground beef browned
- 8 ounces Parmesan cheese shredded
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage browned
- 32 ounces spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 11 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta shells, wheels, and spirals according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and the Italian sausage over medium heat until fully cooked; drain any excess fat.
- Warm the spaghetti sauce in a saucepan or the skillet, then stir in the cooked ground beef and sausage until combined.
- Layer the casserole: spread a portion of the meat sauce in the bottom of the prepared pan, add a layer of mixed cooked pasta, then sprinkle with some mozzarella and Parmesan, and top with some pepperoni, sliced onion, and sliced green pepper. Repeat to make about three layers, finishing with a generous cheese layer on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and vegetables are tender.
- Let the casserole rest a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Skillet
- 11 x 13 baking pan
- cooking spray
- Measuring cups and spoons
- spatula or spoon
Notes
- You can add sliced mushrooms if desired for extra flavor.
- This recipe was submitted by Tammy Bentz.
- Make about three layers when assembling for even distribution.