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Easy Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake with Pepperoni

A close-up serving of pizza pasta bake featuring rotini pasta, red sauce, melted mozzarella, and pepperoni slices.
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This easy pizza pasta bake combines classic pizza flavors with comforting pasta for a quick and tasty dinner. It is perfect for busy weeknights and is a guaranteed family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sliced pepperoni
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage or ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the pizza sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Add the water and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked pasta and the sliced pepperoni. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  7. In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan cheese until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer in the baking dish.
  8. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. Let the pizza pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can prepare this entire dish, cover it, and refrigerate it up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
  • For a make ahead pasta bake option, you can assemble the casserole completely, cover it tightly with foil, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking, or add about 30 minutes to the covered baking time if baking from frozen.
  • If you want to use ground turkey instead of sausage or beef, add a pinch of fennel seed to mimic the sausage flavor.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://devourdish.com/easy-pizza-pasta-bake-recipe/