Copycat Pizza Hut Meaty Marinara Pasta

I don’t know what happened. I can’t explain it. It was the day after Thanksgiving, it’s not like I was starving, not by any means. But after the first bite of this copycat Pizza Hut meaty marinara pasta I was suddenly very hungry. I could not get enough of it. It’s just flat-out delicious and it hit the spot on a cool November day. I’d make this dish again and again, exactly like it’s written.

Copycat Pizza Hut Meaty Marinara Pasta

Great Sauce. Really Great.

The sauce in this copycat of Pizza Hut’s meaty marinara pasta is absolutely delicious. I’d definitely use it over spaghetti or in lasagna. And you have to have the cheese, and you have to get it just a bit browned. Oh… me yes! It is so good! I flashed back to the days of the Pizza Hut buffets where you’d find this great dish, pizza slices and crispy yummy salads!

I highly recommend that you shred or grate your own cheese at home. Don’t buy the pre-shredded or pre-grated stuff. It has stuff added to it to keep it from sticking together. That ‘stuff’ affects how the cheese melts. Shred it yourself and use the real stuff.

Also try my copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza.

Copycat Pizza Hut Meaty Marinara Pasta
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4 from 18 votes

Copycat Pizza Hut Meaty Marinara Pasta

I'd make this dish again and again, exactly like it's written.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, pasta
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 8
Calories 486kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place the ground beef in a medium sized bowl.
  • Add the flour, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, 1/4 the pepper, and all of the fennel seed. Using your hands, mix well.
  • Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the beef mixture and cook, breaking it up, until cooked through. Remove the beef to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Remove any excess grease from the pan. Add the oil. Reduce heat to medium-low.
  • Add the onion and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the garlic and stir, continuing to cook until the onion is just starting to soften.
  • Add the tomato sauce, crushed tomato, Parmesan, basil, sugar, oregano and the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
  • Increase heat to medium, stirring often, until the sauce starts to bubble.
  • Stir in the ground beef mixture and reduce the heat to medium-low so the sauce simmers. Let cook 30-45 minutes, stirring often, until thickened.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for 15 minutes, stirring often.
  • Drain the pasta.
  • Spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Add half of the pasta and spread it out evenly. Top with half of the sauce, spreading it out evenly also.
  • Add remaining pasta, again spreading it out evenly. Add the last of the sauce and and spread out evenly.
  • Preheat your oven broiler to high.
  • Sprinkle cheese over top of the dish, getting it from edge-to-edge.
  • Place the dish under the broiler and broil for 2-4 minutes, keeping an eye on it, until the cheese just starts to brown.
  • Remove and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 655mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 258IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 211mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

For years (years ago), a co-worker and I would go grab lunch at a Pizza Hut near our office almost every day. Back then, Pizza Hut always had a lunch special that consisted of a personal pan pizza and a trip to the salad bar. It was always the highlight of our day. The crust on the pizzas was fantastic. So, I was eager to make this copycat Pizza Hut Pan pizza. That’s one of the special things about food. It can bring back such fond memories.

Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

Memories In Every Bite

This recipe for a copycat Pizza Hut pan pizza is absolutely spot-on the same taste I remember of the Pizza Hut pan pizzas. A little oily, a little crunchy, and oh-so-yummy. We will definitely be making these again (and again). I loved the original from the restaurant. And I really, really love this homemade version.

I found this recipe at CD Kitchen, one of my favorite food sites. There are tons and tons of great copycat recipes at CD Kitchen… go check it out!

You can also make these in a cast iron skillet.

Also try my copycat of Pizza Hut’s Meaty Marinara pasta.

This recipe is based on a recipe from CD Kitchen.

Copycat Pizza Hut Pan Pizza
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5 from 1 vote

Pizza Hut Pan Pizza

This recipe is absolutely spot-on the same taste I remember of the Pizza Hut pan pizzas.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword copycat, pizza
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 726kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

For the dough

For the pizza

  • 1 cup Pizza sauce
  • ½ cup Italian sausage crumbled, cooked, and drained
  • ½ cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
  • ¼ cup Fresh mushrooms sliced, sauteed in Italian seasoning

Instructions

  • Combine the yeast, sugar, salt, and dry milk in a large bowl.
  • Slowly stir in the warm water.
  • Let sit for two minutes.
  • Stir in the 2 tablespoons of oil.
  • Add the flour and stir until a dough starts to form. Continue stirring until the flour is absorbed.
  • Remove the dough to a very lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes. The dough will form a wonderful consistency and smooth texture.
  • Add 2 ounces of oil to each of 3 9″ cake pans. Make sure the oil is spread out evenly in the pan.
  • Divide the dough into 3 equally-sized balls. Roll each ball out to a 9″ circle and place in the pans. Spray edges of dough with the non-stick spray.
  • Cover the pans with a dish towel or a plate and place in a warm area (around 78° F) and let the dough rise until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 475° F.
  • Divide sauce between pans. Add sausage, cheese, and mushrooms, or whatever toppings you desire.
  • Bake pizzas for about 15 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and hardened and the cheese is melted.

Notes

You’ll need 3 9″ cake pans for this recipe. You can also make the pizzas in 10″ pans, but of course the crush won’t be as deep. Or, you can make a single pizza in a large deep pizza pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 726kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 31g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 641mg | Potassium: 401mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 356IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.