Description
Whip up this pizza pasta bake when comfort calls and your taste buds crave something seriously delicious. Melted cheese, zesty sauce, and hearty pasta come together in one irresistible dish that delivers pure dinner satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 oz short pasta
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Oil:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to precisely 375°F and position the rack in the center to ensure even heating.
- Boil 8 oz of pasta in a large pot with salted water for 8-9 minutes until it reaches al dente texture, then thoroughly drain without rinsing.
- Grab a spacious mixing bowl and combine the pasta with 2 cups of pizza sauce, stirring until every noodle gets coated evenly.
- Add 1 cup of pepperoni slices and 1 tsp of Italian seasoning to your saucy pasta mixture, gently folding to distribute ingredients.
- Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil into a 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring the entire surface gets greased.
- Transfer the pasta blend into the prepared dish, spreading it into a uniform layer with the back of your spoon.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella across the top, followed by the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and ½ cup of grated Parmesan.
- Slide the dish into the preheated 375°F oven and bake for exactly 25-30 minutes until the cheese turns golden and bubbles around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pasta bake to rest for 5-7 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Swap pepperoni for vegetarian alternatives like sliced mushrooms or bell peppers to make the dish meat-free.
- For a lighter version, use whole wheat pasta and reduce the amount of cheese by half.
- Experiment with different pizza sauces like arrabbiata or marinara to change up the flavor profile.
- Let the pasta bake rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven to help it set and make serving easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 507 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 914 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg