Pizza Hut’s tuscani pasta is a delicious Italian-inspired dish that has been on their menu for over 10 years. It features penne pasta coated in a creamy, cheese-filled alfredo sauce and topped with grilled chicken breast strips. The tuscani pasta is a fan favorite due to its rich, indulgent flavor and satisfying heartiness.
History of Tuscani Pasta at Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut first introduced the tuscani pasta in 2002 as part of their “Tuscani Pastas” menu lineup, which also included options like chicken alfredo and italian sausage marinara. The tuscani pasta was designed to give customers a taste of Italy by combining classic Italian ingredients like penne, alfredo sauce, and chicken. Its name is derived from the Tuscany region of Italy which is known for its simple, rustic cuisine.
Over the years, the tuscani pasta established itself as one of Pizza Hut’s most popular pasta dishes. Customers loved its creamy, cheesy alfredo sauce and generous portions of grilled chicken. Pizza Hut has kept it on the menu for over 20 years, only tweaking the recipe slightly over time. It remains a staple menu item that customers continue to order as part of the “Tuscani Pastas” offerings.
Ingredients in Tuscani Pasta
Pizza Hut’s tuscani pasta contains just a handful of simple, high-quality ingredients that combine to create its signature flavor profile. The main ingredients are:
- Penne pasta – A tubular type of pasta that holds the alfredo sauce well.
- Alfredo sauce – A rich, creamy sauce made with garlic, parmesan cheese, cream, and spices.
- Grilled chicken breast strips – Tender grilled chicken that provides protein.
- Italian seasonings – A blend of herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme.
- Parmesan cheese – Sprinkled on top for extra flavor.
The simple combination of pasta, savory alfredo sauce, and grilled chicken is what makes the tuscani pasta so crave-worthy. Pizza Hut uses high-quality ingredients and keeps the flavor profile straightforward, allowing the creamy alfredo sauce to shine as the star.
Nutritional Information
Here is the nutritional information for Pizza Hut’s tuscani pasta:
| Nutrition Facts | Single serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 720 |
| Fat | 32g |
| Carbohydrates | 71g |
| Protein | 34g |
As you can see, the tuscani pasta is fairly high in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. This is typical for an indulgent, cream-based pasta dish like this. The high protein content comes mainly from the grilled chicken breast. Overall, the tuscani pasta makes for a rich, satisfying meal but is best enjoyed in moderation as part of an overall balanced diet.
Price
The tuscani pasta is competitively priced at Pizza Hut. Here are the current prices:
- Individual order – Starting at $6.49
- Lunch combo – Starting at $6.00
- Dinner combo – Starting at $8.00
The individual order comes with just the tuscani pasta entree while the lunch and dinner combos include a side and drink for a bundled price. Pizza Hut frequently runs special deals and coupons on the tuscani pasta as well, making it an budget-friendly meal option.
Taste and Texture
The tuscani pasta from Pizza Hut has a rich, indulgent taste and a smooth, creamy texture. Here is a breakdown of its taste and texture profile:
- Sauce – The alfredo sauce is thick, creamy, and cheesy with a prominent garlic flavor. It coats each pasta piece fully.
- Pasta – The penne pasta is cooked al dente with a nice firm bite.
- Chicken – The grilled chicken breast strips are juicy and tender on the inside with grill marks on the outside.
- Herbs – Notes of basil, oregano, thyme, and savory Italian seasonings come through.
- Cheese – The parmesan cheese toasted on top adds a sharp, salty flavor.
- Texture – Smooth and creamy sauce with a firm pasta bite and juicy chicken.
Customers love the combination of the savory, garlicky alfredo sauce with the perfect pasta texture and juicy chicken. It comes together for an indulgent pasta dining experience.
Cooking Method
Pizza Hut employs a straightforward cooking method to prepare the tuscani pasta in each restaurant location:
- Cook the penne pasta al dente according to package directions.
- Prepare the creamy alfredo sauce using garlic, cream, parmesan, and spices.
- Grill fresh chicken breast strips seasoned with Italian herbs.
- Drain pasta and toss with alfredo sauce to coat fully.
- Plate the pasta and top with grilled chicken strips.
- Finish with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
- Serve hot.
The fresh pasta and sauce help give the dish its signature restaurant-quality flavor. The grill-cooked chicken adds a smoky, charred flavor. Following these steps consistently allows each Pizza Hut restaurant to recreate the tuscani pasta taste customers love.
Customer Reviews
Overall, customer reviews of Pizza Hut’s tuscani pasta are very positive. Here are some common themes in customer feedback:
- Creamy, cheesy, and indulgent alfredo sauce
- Tender grilled chicken with nice grill marks
- Pasta cooked perfectly al dente
- Savory Italian herb flavor
- Generous portion sizes
- Satisfying and filling
- Crave-worthy comfort food dish
- One of Pizza Hut’s best pasta offerings
The main complaints sometimes revolve around the dish being too heavy or rich for some customers. There are also occasionally comments that the chicken can be a bit dry if overcooked. But overall, most customers agree the tuscani pasta has an amazingly creamy alfredo sauce and lives up to its tasty Italian-inspired flavors.
How to Order
The tuscani pasta is easy to order at any Pizza Hut location. Here are some tips for ordering:
- Order online for pickup or delivery. Customize your order with any add-ons.
- Call your local Pizza Hut to place a pickup or delivery order.
- Order at the counter or drive-thru if dining in the restaurant.
- Use Pizza Hut deals and coupons to get a discounted price.
- Substitute grilled chicken for italian sausage if you prefer.
- Request extra alfredo sauce or chicken as add-ons.
Pizza Hut makes ordering the tuscani pasta quick and convenient. With the Dish Out and delivery options, you don’t even have to leave home to enjoy this cheesy pasta dish.
Tuscani Pasta vs. Other Pizza Hut Pastas
Pizza Hut offers a few different pasta dishes that are comparable to the tuscani pasta. Here is how the tuscani pasta stacks up against other Pizza Hut pasta menu items:
| Pasta Dish | Details |
|---|---|
| Chicken Alfredo Pasta | Fettuccine with alfredo sauce and grilled chicken |
| Italian Sausage Marinara | Penne with marinara sauce and italian sausage |
| Tuscani Pasta | Penne with alfredo sauce and grilled chicken |
| Meatball Marinara Pasta | Spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs |
| Chicken Carbonara Pasta | Fettuccine with creamy sauce, bacon, and chicken |
The tuscani pasta sets itself apart with its signature alfredo sauce, use of penne pasta, and grilled chicken strips. Customers tend to prefer it over the other Italian-inspired options for its especially creamy, cheesy alfredo sauce.
Tuscani Pasta vs. Fettuccine Alfredo
Since the tuscani pasta features an alfredo sauce, it is quite similar to traditional fettuccine alfredo. However, there are a few differences:
- Pasta – The tuscani uses penne while classic alfredo features fettuccine.
- Chicken – The tuscani pasta includes grilled chicken for extra protein.
- Herbs – Pizza Hut adds Italian herb seasoning to the sauce.
- Texture – The penne pasta has a slightly firmer bite than soft fettuccine.
Overall, the Pizza Hut tuscani pasta has a similar creamy alfredo flavor profile to classic fettuccine alfredo but with the additions of chicken, herbs, and a unique penne noodle.
Tips for Making it at Home
While it’s easy to order the Pizza Hut tuscani pasta at a restaurant, you can also recreate it fairly simply at home with the following tips:
- Pasta: Use store-bought or homemade penne pasta cooked al dente.
- Sauce: Make an easy alfredo sauce on the stovetop with butter, cream, parmesan, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
- Chicken: Dice or strip chicken breasts and sauté or grill until cooked through.
- Assembly: Toss hot pasta with alfredo sauce then mix in chicken and parsley.
- Optional: Finish with extra parmesan and herbs.
The key is perfecting the creamy alfredo sauce and properly seasoning the chicken. With fresh, quality ingredients, you can come very close to the Pizza Hut version at home.
Catering or Delivery Options
Need to serve tuscani pasta to a crowd? Pizza Hut offers convenient catering and delivery options:
- Catering: Order a catering pan serving up to 20 people. Choose pickup or delivery.
- Delivery: Get individual tuscani pasta meals or family meal deals delivered hot and fresh.
- Personal pans: Order personal pan versions for parties or events.
- Online ordering: Easily order catering online with customization options.
With catering or delivery, you can share the cheesy tuscani pasta goodness with friends, family events, office parties, and more. It’s perfect for any gathering.
Conclusion
For over 20 years, Pizza Hut’s tuscani pasta has been delighting customers with its creamy, cheesy alfredo sauce, tender grilled chicken, and perfect al dente pasta. It offers an indulgent, Italian-inspired meal with bold flavors and satisfying heartiness. The tuscani pasta combines quality ingredients in an easy cooking method that Pizza Hut has perfected. Customers continue to crave this pasta dish that feels like a warm, creamy hug on a plate. With convenient online ordering, catering, and delivery options, Pizza Hut makes enjoying this favorite comfort food pasta simpler than ever.