Description
Pepperoni pasta bake brings cheesy, spicy comfort straight to your dinner table with zero fuss. Packed with zesty pepperoni and melted cheese, this quick casserole becomes your go-to weeknight meal that everyone craves.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce:
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (6 oz) package pepperoni slices
Cheeses:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Boil 12 oz of penne pasta in a large pot of salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain pasta and set aside in a colander.
- Heat your oven to 375°F and brush a 9×13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Blend 1 cup ricotta cheese with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes until smooth.
- Pour 24 oz marinara sauce over drained pasta and toss gently to coat each noodle evenly in the sauce.
- Spread pasta mixture across the greased baking dish and dot the surface with ricotta mixture, creating small pockets throughout the dish.
- Scatter 1 cup shredded mozzarella and ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese across the pasta. Arrange half of the pepperoni slices on top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld together.
- Remove foil, top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and pepperoni slices. Return to oven uncovered for 10 more minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow pasta bake to rest for 5 minutes after removing from oven. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- Ensure pasta is cooked al dente to prevent becoming mushy during baking, which keeps the texture perfect.
- Use high-quality marinara sauce for richer flavor, and consider homemade sauce if time permits.
- Swap pepperoni for turkey pepperoni or vegetarian pepperoni slices to make the dish lighter or meat-free.
- For a crispy top, broil the pasta bake for 2-3 minutes after baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 476 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg