Pizza Hut Cavatini (Copycat Recipe)
This copycat Pizza Hut cavatini recipe brings back the classic pasta dish loaded with noodles, sauce, and melty cheese just like you remember. It’s an easy, family-friendly dinner that lets you recreate a nostalgic favorite right at home.
Servings: 8
Calories: 621kcal
Ingredients
- 4 oz rotini pasta
- 4 oz medium shell pasta
- 4 oz corkscrew pasta
- 4 oz wagon wheel pasta
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 large yellow onion peeled & diced
- 1 lb ground Italian sausage
- 3 oz pepperoni slices pulled apart
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 2 24 oz jars marinara sauce
Instructions
- Cook the pasta per the directions on the package for 'al dente'. Drain, then return to the pot. Set aside.4 oz rotini pasta, 4 oz medium shell pasta, 4 oz corkscrew pasta, 4 oz wagon wheel pasta
- While the pasta cooks add the oil to a large skillet set over medium/high heat. Once the oil's hot add the peppers and onions, sauteeing and stirring often, until softened.1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 cup diced green bell pepper, 1 large yellow onion
- Add the sausage to the skillet cooking and crumbling until completely cooked through. Strain of grease. Transfer the meat mixture to the pot with the cooked and drained pasta.1 lb ground Italian sausage
- Add the pepperoni, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, and all of the sauce to the pot. Stir everything together until evenly combined.3 oz pepperoni slices, 1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 2 24 oz jars marinara sauce
- Lightly spray a 9x13" baking dish with nonstick spray. Transfer the pasta mixture to the dish, then spread it out in an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese evenly out overtop.
- Tightly cover the dish with aluminum foil then bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Carefully remove the foil then bake for another 10 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let the pasta rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm & enjoy!
Notes
- The pasta shape mixture called for is for an authentic replica of the original Pizza Hut dish. It's nostalgic, but also fun for kids and a great way to use up leftover boxes of pasta. If preferred you can skip it and use a pound of 1 shape of pasta instead. And most of the time, the pasta has a pretty similar cook time so you can cook it one big pot.
- Be sure to pull each individual pepperoni slice apart from one another before using in the recipe. This step may seem a bit tedious, but it's necessary so they don't stick together in large clumps.
- Make sure to let the pasta rest before you serve it to give the cheese a chance to set.
Nutrition
Calories: 621kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1010mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 389mg | Iron: 2mg