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Easy Weeknight Pizza Pasta Bake

A serving of baked pizza pasta featuring penne, melted cheese, pepperoni slices, sausage, and black olives.
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You can make this simple Pizza Pasta Bake to capture all your favorite pizza tastes in a satisfying, cheesy casserole. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and pleases the whole family.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dry pasta (penne or rotini)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casing removed
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the 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 Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage. Cook until the onion softens, about 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes (with their juice), and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and the Parmesan cheese until everything is combined.
  8. Spread the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
  9. Top the pasta evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, the pepperoni slices, and the black olives, if using.
  10. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.
  11. Let the pizza pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For a supreme flavor, add 1/4 cup of chopped green bell pepper and 1/4 cup of sliced mushrooms when you cook the onion.
  • You can prepare this casserole ahead of time. Assemble the entire dish, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the refrigerator.
  • This recipe freezes well. Cover the unbaked casserole tightly with foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.

Nutrition

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