Cavatini Italiano

Elevate your pasta nights with *Cavatini Italiano*, a hearty, oven-baked Italian-American dish brimming with bold flavors! This crowd-pleasing recipe combines tender rotini pasta, savory ground beef, zesty Italian sausage, and tangy pepperoni, all layered with a rich marinara sauce bursting with the aromas of garlic, basil, and oregano. A medley of robust ingredients like sautéed bell peppers, onions, black olives, and mushrooms add depth, while a generous blanket of melty mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses creates the ultimate gooey topping. Baked to golden perfection, this comforting casserole is easy to prepare and ideal for weeknight dinners or casual dinner parties. Perfectly seasoned and irresistibly cheesy, *Cavatini Italiano* will quickly become a family favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Rotini pasta
• 1 pound Ground beef
• 1 pound Italian sausage
• 1 cup Pepperoni slices
• 1 medium Onion, diced
• 1 medium Green bell pepper, diced
• 0.5 cup Sliced black olives
• 1 cup Mushrooms, sliced
• 24 ounces Marinara sauce
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon Olive oil
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried basil
• 0.25 teaspoon Red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 2

Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.

Step 4

Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the cooked meat. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.

Step 5

Stir in the marinara sauce, black olives, mushrooms, salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer the mixture for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 6

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat and sauce mixture, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix everything thoroughly.

Step 7

Transfer the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread it out evenly.

Step 8

Top the pasta with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, the shredded Parmesan cheese, and the pepperoni slices.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.

Step 10

Remove the cavatini from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Step 11

Serve hot and enjoy this hearty and flavorful Italian dish!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2838.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	6027.3

Total Fat 412.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 156.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 23.8g
Cholesterol 1154.2mg	0%
Sodium 14269.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 254.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 20.2g	0%
Total Sugars 42.5g
Protein 319.1g	0%

Vitamin D 207.4IU	0%
Calcium 2661.6mg	0%
Iron 32.7mg	0%
Potassium 4855.4mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 61.8%

Protein: 21.3%

Carbs: 16.9%