Pizza Pasta Bake-Easy Casserole Recipe
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Pizza Pasta Bake, enjoy the best of two worlds! Tender pasta, robust sauce, and pepperoni for irresistible pizza flavor. An easy casserole recipe for a one-dish meal!
Looking for more pizza-inspired recipes? You’ll love these Pepperoni Pizza Sliders, Homemade Pizza Rolls, BBQ Chicken Pizza Soup, Pizza Pancakes, and Cheese Stuffed Pizza Bread.
Table of Contents
Why Pizza Pasta Bake Casserole Is Your Next Best Dinner Recipe
A pasta bake is a simplified one-dish meal that fits busy schedules and satisfies cravings for comfort food. Besides being a clever way to use up leftover pasta, there are more than a few reasons this flavorful casserole recipe is a winner for your next dinner.
- Quick & Easy – This baked pizza casserole, also called a pasta bake with pepperoni, is ready in under 30 minutes.
- Family Favorite – A kid-friendly dish that pleases even the adults.
- Customizable – Tailor your pepperoni pizza pasta bake with different types of pasta, sauces, and toppings.
- Budget-Friendly – An ingenious way to repurpose leftover pasta, meats, and even veggies; ideal for weeknight meals that won’t break the bank.
- Perfect for Crowds – Whether it’s a family dinner, potluck, or gathering, this pepperoni pizza pasta bake is a crowd-pleaser.
- Time-Saving – An excellent make-ahead dish that is easy to prepare in advance, refrigerated or frozen for a convenient last-minute dinner idea.
- Comfort Food Combo – Pasta and pizza ingredients scream satisfying, hearty, and delicious!
- Balanced Nutrition – The addition of veggies or proteins like ground beef, chicken, sausage, or turkey offsets carbs.
Pizza Casserole Ingredients
Simple, basic ingredients create a heavenly dinner casserole recipe.
For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Penne Pasta – cooked and prepared al dente according to package instructions before going into the pizza casserole.
- Ground Beef Or Chicken – cooked until the meat is no longer pink. Alternate protein choices should also be cooked before adding to the pasta bake recipe if they are raw.
- White Onion – Diced
- Pizza Sauce* – Jarred pizza sauce lends its distinctive herb flavor and fresh tomato taste.
- Garlic Powder – opt for dried garlic over fresh unless you want to saute fresh garlic with the onions.
- Italian Seasoning – A blend of dried herbs and spices typically used in Italian cuisine known for adding rich flavor and aroma to various dishes.
- Spaghetti Sauce – using your favorite jarred sauce for pasta casseroles is quick and easy.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese – Freshly shredded mozzarella will give you the creamiest and nicest melting option.
- Pepperoni Slices – a type of spicy cured Italian-American sausage, typically made from beef and pork, seasoned with paprika, chili pepper flakes, and other spices commonly used as a pizza topping. Want to check out How It’s Made? Fascinating!
- Fresh Parsley – for garnish
*DYK?
Pizza sauce contains uncooked tomato paste and added herbs and spices. It is meant to be “cooked” during the baking process. Spaghetti sauces are pre-cooked, regardless of any additional ingredients or seasonings.
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How To Make A Pizza Pasta Bake Dinner Casserole
Easy and quick casserole meals are prized in this house! With only two of us now, half goes in the freezer for another delicious ready-made meal. You’ll need a pasta pot, a frying pan, and a 9 x 13” casserole dish; preheat the oven and we’re ready!
When you are making this recipe, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.
- Cook pasta al dente and set aside
- Sautee ground meat and onion, drain, and mix in pizza sauce, garlic powder, and seasoning.
- Mix cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce in the casserole dish.
- Layer meat mixture, mozzarella, and seasoning over pasta.
- Arrange pepperoni and bake 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and pasta is hot.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and dig in!
Recipe Notes And Tips
- Feel free to add extra pepperoni throughout the pasta bake; it elevates the pizza flavor in this easy casserole dinner.
- For added texture and a delightful crunch, broil the pepperoni for 1-2 minutes.
- If you don’t have Italian seasoning you can use 1 teaspoon of each: dried basil, oregano, and thyme.
- To add variety to this casserole recipe, you can incorporate ground Italian sausage in place of or with the chicken or beef.
- Be sure to thoroughly drain the ground meat before layering it over the pasta in this pizza bake.
- Evenly sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the pizza casserole; the finer the shred, the quicker it melts.
- Check pre-shredded cheese for anti-caking agents and flour, potato, or rice coating. These keep cheeses from fully melting into the gooey, bubbly deliciousness we love.
- When adding veggies, sautee them in the same pan you cooked the meat for additional flavor. (Like mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, or if you use fresh garlic.)
Storage
Refrigerate/Leftovers
Leftover pasta casserole can be kept in an airtight container and in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
Freeze
Pizza pasta bake can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Let the bake cool completely before transferring it to an airtight freezer-safe container to freeze.
Reheat – When ready to enjoy, thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and bake it at 350° F for 20-25 minutes or until hot.
FAQs
Pizza Pasta Bake is a casserole dish with pasta, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and your favorite toppings. It is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Yes, you can use any type of pasta that you like. However, I recommend using sturdier pasta such as penne, ziti, rotini, or rigatoni because it will hold up well in the bake.
You can get creative! Classic choices like bell peppers, olives, and mushrooms work well or try experimenting with your favorite pizza toppings.
Yes, you can make pizza pasta bake ahead of time and assemble it up to 1 day in advance. Cover the assembled pasta casserole with foil and refrigerate it. When ready to bake, let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
Serving Suggestions
The beauty of this pizza casserole dinner is that it can easily stand alone, but you can’t go wrong serving it with a simple Italian Salad and chewy Italian bread.
- For a kid-friendly meal, serve pizza pasta bake with a side of applesauce or one of these fruit-based dessert salads, Easy Ambrosia Salad or Simple Pistachio Salad.
- Since the oven is already fired up, why not add Garlic Cheese Bread or Pull-Apart Garlic Bread with rosemary?
- A side of vegetables with a pasta casserole is great for added nutrition, such as broccoli, Green Beans, or Roasted Fall Vegetables.
Variations & Additions
- Looking for an easy pasta casserole with chicken? Try
- White Pizza Pasta Bake: Use an alfredo or cream sauce and shredded rotisserie chicken or diced ham, but definitely keep the pepperoni!
- Instead of ground beef or chicken, you can use ground turkey or Italian sausage (hot or mild, pork, turkey, or spicey chicken sausage) for variety.
- You can use whole-wheat or gluten-free pasta in this casserole recipe for a healthier option.
- You can personalize your pizza casserole by adding toppings like black olives, mushrooms, jalapenos, crushed red pepper flakes, or sautéed bell peppers.
- To freshen up a pasta casserole, add a layer of diced tomatoes, spinach, or kale for added nutrients.
- Experiment by adding different cheeses, like fresh grated Parmesan, shredded cheddar, or an Italian cheese blend, to introduce a variety of flavors.
- To add a touch of elegance to your dinner casserole for guests, top it with slices of buffalo mozzarella and halved cherry tomatoes, and garnish with fresh basil for a gourmet touch.
Like This Recipe?
I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a review below and let me know how you liked the recipe!
Pizza Pasta Bake
Pizza Pasta Bake, enjoy the best of two worlds! Tender pasta, robust sauce, and pepperoni for irresistible pizza flavor. An easy casserole recipe for a one-dish meal!
Ingredients
- 3 cups penne pasta
- 1 pound ground chicken (or beef)
- ½ cup white onion, diced
- 14-ounce jar pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
- 32 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 15 pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Cook your pasta according to the directions. Drain and set aside
- Preheat the oven to 400° F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the ground meat and onion. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until fully cooked. Drain the oil from the meat.
- Add the pizza sauce, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the meat mixture. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Combine cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce and add to a grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Add the meat mixture on top of the pasta.
- Evenly top the pasta with mozzarella cheese and remaining teaspoon of Italian seasoning.
- Top with pepperoni.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pasta is hot.
- Sprinkle fresh parsley on top.
- Serve and enjoy.
Hi there, I'm Cheryl!
As a wife, mom, and caffeine enthusiast, my journey has taken me from bustling mornings with my family to sharing delicious recipes, home care tips, and heartfelt decorating insights with wonderful readers like you. My love for baking, photography, and tidiness shines through every post I craft. Dive into my world and discover the art of homemaking, one tidy moment at a time. Read more...
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