Homemade Cavatini Supreme
This easy copycat recipe of the Pizza Hut classic is filled with a pasta trio, marinara sauce, Italian sausage, pepperoni, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheese. It's a hearty pizza-pasta bake dinner that the whole family will love!
Servings: 4
Estimated Calories: 747
Ingredients
- cooking spray, for greasing the baking dish
- 8 ounces Trio Italiano pasta, see Notes below
- ½ pound bulk mild Italian sausage, if you can only get links; remove the meat from the casings before using
- 3½ cups marinara sauce, or spaghetti sauce (use your favorite homemade or jarred sauce; a 32-ounce jar will be about 3½ cups)
- 2 ounces sliced pepperoni, halved
- 1 cup diced onions, about ¼-inch pieces
- 1 cup diced green bell peppers, about ¼-inch pieces
- 1 cup diced mushrooms, about ¼-inch pieces
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons freshly shredded parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.I use an 8½ x 8½ x 2-inch dish.
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water to al dente as per the package instructions; drain.
- Meanwhile, cook and crumble the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until it is cooked through and lightly browned in spots. Drain off any excess grease, if needed.Make sure you use a skillet that is large enough to mix the sauce, meats, veggies, and pasta together; otherwise, you will need to use a large bowl to mix everything together after you cook the sausage and sauce. I use a 12" skillet with 2-inch sides.
- Add the marinara/spaghetti sauce; stir to combine. Continue cooking for another minute or two, stirring occasionally, to heat the sauce through.
- Turn off the heat and add the cooked pasta, pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms; stir until well combined. Taste and add salt and/or pepper, if needed.
- Transfer half of the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Transfer the remaining pasta mixture to the baking dish and top with the remaining cheeses.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until bubbly, hot throughout and the cheese is melted.
- If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- To use your time most efficiently, prep the veggies, pepperoni and cheeses and cook the sausage while waiting for the pasta water to boil and for the pasta to cook.
- Trio Italiano pasta is a combination of penne, shells and rotini (the brand I use is San Giorgio). If you can't get it, you can make your own using equal amounts of each of the pasta shapes. Alternately, you can use just one or two of the shapes.
- Need more than 4 servings? Double the recipe and use a 9x13x2-inch baking dish; adjust the baking time as needed (it will probably take a little longer).
- Please refer to the post for additional information and tips, step-by-step photos, information of storing leftovers, reheating and freezing, and serving suggestions.
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