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Pizza pasta bake is an easy casserole recipe with layers of pepperoni, sausage and lots of gooey cheese baked in tomato sauce. A family favorite dinner!
Baked Pizza Pasta
Enjoy delicious comfort food with this cheesy casserole loaded with pepperoni and sausage. This easy recipe is perfect for a family dinner or a potluck dish. It’s an easy weeknight meal that comes together quickly and gives you plenty of leftovers for later.
My family loves pizza, and we all love pasta, so believe me, nobody had any complaints about this easy dinner! Even the picky eaters love it! Pepperoni pizza casserole is loaded with tons of ooey-gooey cheese, Italian sausage, tangy sauce, spicy pepperoni and, of course, pasta. This pasta bake is similar to manicotti, but easier! Try my pepperoni pizza dip or this Instant Pot version or one pan version of this pizza casserole recipe next.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Here’s a quick overview of what you need to make this cheesy baked pasta recipe. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Penne pasta — or any longer pasta shapes like ziti, rotini pasta or cellentani (cork screw pasta) work best.
- Italian sausage — either in casings, which you will remove, or ground. You can use chicken or turkey sausage or sub ground beef if you prefer, but the flavor will be different.
- Marinara sauce — I use a large jar of pasta sauce, but use your favorite tomato sauce or pizza sauce.
- Seasonings — Italian seasoning and garlic powder for extra flavor
- Cheese — a combo of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. I sometimes use Provolone cheese for extra cheesiness.
- Pepperoni slices — for topping
How to Make Pizza Pasta Bake
First, cook the pasta until just al dente. You don’t want to cook it too much as it will longer in the oven. Drain in a colander, and set aside. To prevent the pasta from sticking, you can drizzle it with olive oil or rinse it with cold water — your choice. Next, you’ll cook the sausage and stir in the marinara sauce.
Mix about half of the sausage mixture with the pasta. You can do this right in the baking dish. Spread the rest of the meat mixture over the pasta layer.
Finally, top the pasta with shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese. Then, add sliced pepperoni on top of the cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted, and dinner is ready!
Serving Suggestions
My favorite part about serving this dish was watching the kids’ eyes get wide as they watched the strings of melted cheese stretch farther and farther. Because this is such a hearty casserole, you only need a green salad as a side dish. Sometimes, we like to add homemade garlic bread on the side.
Recipe Tip
When you drain the pasta, stir in a little olive oil or rinse with cold water to prevent it from sticking.
Super easy to customize! Use your favorite pizza toppings. You can use ground beef instead of sausage or leave out the meat and use only pepperoni or make a cheese pizza pasta.
Storage
Store leftover pizza pasta in an airtight container in your fridge for 4-5 days. You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. This casserole reheats well in the microwave. Just add a little more sauce and cheese if it’s a little dry.
Pizza Pasta Bake with Pepperoni and Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside
- Preheat oven to 375℉, and grease a 9×13 baking dish
- Cook the sausage in a large pan over medium high heat until brown, breaking up as you go
- Stir in the marinara sauce, garlic powder and Italian seasoning
- Add the pasta to prepared baking dish
- Stir in about half of the sausage mixture, then add the remaining meat mixture on top of the pasta
- Top pasta with mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese and pepperoni
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Loved making this for our last football get together! What a huge hit! Friends are already asking it for hte next get together!
Awesome! So glad everyone liked the recipe.
Hi Dee, What a great Pasta Bake, it looks awesome!
Thanks, darling for always inspiring me to get into that kitchen and start making something yummy.