Easy Oven Baked Cavatini Pasta Recipe

In search of the perfect cavatini pasta that is ideal for feeding the whole family or using for your weekly meal prep? Well, this is it! This cavatini recipe is oven baked and can be cooked easily in one large pan or in smaller, individual glass meal prep containers which will ensure it comes out perfect no matter how you plan to eat it.

Total Servings: 4

Total Cost: $14.32

Cost Per Serving: $3.58

Ingredients & Costs*

16 oz Rigatoni ($0.98)
16 oz Rotini ($0.98)
24 oz Ragu Traditional Sauce ($2.24)
16 oz Ground Beef ($5.37)
8 oz Fiesta Blend Shredded Cheese ($1.97)
6 oz Pepperonis ($2.78)

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*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made at the time of this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com so we can update this post.

FAQs about Oven Baked Cavatini Pasta

Can I layer this cavatini pasta?

Yes… assuming you have a deep enough baking pan! When laying this recipe, you will (obviously) need additional ingredients. I would plan to double the ingredients for each layer. You will also have to adjust the recipe to bake a bit longer. Aside from that, simply build the layers of ground beef and pasta, cheese and pepperoni as high as you want.

Can I use a different kind of pasta?

Of course! This recipe is great for any type of short pasta. Any combination of penne, ziti, rigatoni, fusilli, gemelli, cavatappi, farfalle, orecchiette and cavatelli will work perfectly. Just remember to cook your pasta as directed on the box as different pasta types may have different instructions and cook times.

How do I meal prep this recipe?

This recipe is great for meal prepping. My preferred way to meal prep this recipe is to create individual pastas in glass meal prep containers. Once the pasta and ground beef are cooked and mixed with pasta sauce, I add the mixture to 3.4 cup meal prep containers, top with cheese and pepperoni, then bake. This method fills the glass meal prep container perfectly. This is the way I made this recipe in the photo above.

You also have the option to bake this cavatini pasta in one large baking pan. Once its baked, simply separate it into meal prep containers as desired.

What’s are some good sides for this meal?

My favorite side for this meal is fresh dinner rolls and warm butter. It also goes great a side salad, parmesan green beans, and roasted garlic broccoli. If you’re looking for dessert ideas, serve it before your favorite pie or cake!

Tips to Improve This Cavatini Pasta Recipe

Use Italian sausage: I generally use ground beef for this recipe but it also is great with ground Italian sausage. If you’re looking for a sweeter flavor, Italian sausage may be a better option for you. You can also add some spiciness using hot Italian sausage in this dish.

Add veggies: Packing this cavatini pasta with a healthy dose of veggies is both easy and delicious. Sliced baby bella mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers are perfect additions to this recipe and will add flavor, texture and nutrients.

Pepperoni to your liking: If pepperonis are your thing, make sure that you load up the top of this cavatini. And if you aren’t a fan of pepperonis (does anyone like that even exist?), you can add just a few or omit them entirely. As a big fan of pepperonis myself, I like to cut pepperonis in halves or quarters and mix them in with the cooked ground beef, pasta and pasta sauce to make sure there is plenty of pepperoni in every bite.

Pack extra pasta sauce: If you plan to use this recipe for meal prepping, or if you have leftovers, you’ll want to make sure you have extra pasta sauce on hand when you reheat it. I’ve found that adding a bit of pasta sauce under the cheese keeps the pasta from drying out and ensures the dish reheats perfectly.