Description
This Pizza Pasta Bake brings classic Italian flavors straight to your dinner table, combining two comfort foods in one delicious dish that your family will absolutely devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 oz penne or rotini pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Optional Toppings:
- Sliced olives
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Fresh basil
- Salted water for boiling
Instructions
- Fire up your oven to a toasty 375°F, preparing the perfect environment for your pasta bake.
- Salt a large pot of water generously and boil 12 oz of penne pasta for exactly 8-9 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain while reserving ½ cup of starchy pasta water.
- Pour 2 cups marinara sauce into a skillet and sprinkle in 1 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp Italian seasoning. Let the sauce simmer and bubble for 3-5 minutes, developing deep flavors.
- Introduce the drained pasta to the simmering sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water. Stir in ½ cup each of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, creating a creamy, silky coating.
- Transfer the saucy pasta mixture into a thoroughly greased 9×13″ baking dish, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Scatter the remaining cheese over the top and strategically place ½ cup pepperoni slices across the dish for maximum coverage.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts into golden, bubbly perfection.
- Pull from the oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top for a vibrant finishing touch before serving.
Notes
- Add a splash of pasta water to help sauce cling better and create a silkier texture.
- Choose high-quality marinara sauce for the most robust flavor, as it’s the base of your dish.
- For a lighter version, swap pepperoni for turkey pepperoni or skip meat entirely and add roasted vegetables.
- Let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes after baking to help it set and make serving easier.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-24 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg