This pepperoni pizza pasta bake is an easy meal that takes minimal prep and ingredients. Combining your favorite pizza flavors into a cheesy pizza pasta bake is a fun and delicious way to switch up the weekly dinner rotations.
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We love pizza and pasta so combining the two into an easy weeknight meal was a no-brainer. We love how versatile and easy this pizza pasta casserole is to make, and we always customize it to our tastebuds. Easy Comfort Food Casseroles
Adding in cooked sausage, onions, bell peppers, or other pizza toppings helps to make the dish unique every time. Not to mention that it helps to use up random odds and ends in our fridge, haha.
This Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake is a versatile Easy Comfort Food Casserole that you can customize to your tastes, let me know what you added using the comments below because I love hearing new ideas!
Make sure to let me know if you try some of our other pizza recipes too, like Mini Bagel Pizzas, Muffin Tin Pizza Bombs, Pizza Dough In a Bag, and Air Fryer English Muffin Pizza.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy. Cook the noodles, mix everything together, and bake until the cheese is bubbly. You can even prep it ahead for a stress free dinner. It's one of our simplest weeknight meals, just like Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
- It's frugal. This is a filling, budget friendly dinner made with affordable ingredients. I often grab everything I need from Dollar Tree or Walmart to keep costs low.
- The kids love it. Pizza and spaghetti are both favorites, and this recipe combines the best of both. Plates get cleaned and seconds are usually requested.
🛒 Ingredients
Mozzarella cheese. For that classic cheesy pizza flavor. Cheese you shred yourself melts better than pre shredded.
Pizza sauce. Use your favorite pizza sauce or marinara. Homemade pizza sauce works great here too.
Mini pepperoni. Regular pepperoni works, but the slices are larger and won't spread as evenly. If using full size pepperoni, quarter them before adding.
If you still have pepperoni on hand, try our Pepperoni Pizza Sticks and Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Noodle options. Use any pasta shape you like. Penne, rigatoni, and rotini work well, but elbow noodles or broken spaghetti are great options too. Use what you have and what your family enjoys.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use what you have. Swap penne for any pasta on hand, like rotini, rigatoni, or ziti.
Choose store brands. Store brand pizza sauce and cheese help keep costs low.
Add inexpensive veggies. Bell peppers or onions stretch the dish without adding much cost.
Go light on meat. Make it meatless or use a small amount of sausage or pepperoni for plenty of flavor on a budget.
🥄 Instructions for Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake
Step 1: Cook your noodles according to package directions and drain the liquid. Return your noodles to the pot.
Step 2: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish. Set the dish aside.
Step 3: Toss your cooked pasta with pizza sauce until well mixed.
Step 4: Add in 1 cup of cheese, some pepperoni, and your sliced olives. Stir to combine.
Step 5: Spread the noodles into the prepared baking dish.
Step 6: Top the noodles with the remaining cheese and toppings.
Step 7: Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Cooking the noodles. Cook pasta to al dente so it stays firm. Overcooked noodles will continue to soften as they absorb sauce and bake.
- Pepperoni size. If using large pepperoni slices, quarter them before mixing so they distribute evenly and are easier to eat. Adjust the size to your preference for the best texture in each bite.
❄️ Storage, Reheating & Make Ahead
Storage: Store leftover Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the baking dish covered in the oven at 325-350°F until heated through.
Make Ahead: Assemble the pasta bake up to 2 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking, adding extra bake time if cold.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
This Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake pairs well with garlic bread, breadsticks, or cheesy toast. Add a simple green salad, Caesar salad, or steamed veggies to balance the meal.
- Air Fryer Frozen Garlic BreadRecipe $2.24 / Serving $0.28
- Zucchini Cornbread CasseroleRecipe $5.04 / Serving $0.42
- Iceberg SaladRecipe $5.00 / Serving $0.83
- Air Fryer Frozen Mozzarella SticksRecipe $2.22
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, this pizza pasta can be made in advance. Simply prep it in the baking dish as directed and then cover the top with foil or plastic wrap. Place in the fridge and chill for up to 2 days before removing and baking as directed.
Allow the pan to warm up for about 30 minutes on the counter before baking to avoid going from cold to hot too fast and possibly damaging your baking dish. You may need to extend the baking time a little bit depending on how cold the pasta was when baked. The cheese should be melted throughout.
After being cooked, you can store your leftover pizza pasta in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For best results, eat within 3 and reheat before eating.
Yes! I like to buy jars of pizza sauce from my local Dollar Tree, but you can find pizza sauce just about anywhere. You can even use homemade pizza sauce or marinara sauce instead.
🍽️ More Recipes You'll Love
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- Southern Baked SpaghettiRecipe $6.70 / Serving $0.55
- Alfredo Sauce With Cream CheeseRecipe $3.41 / Serving $0.28
- Creamy Tomato and Spinach PastaRecipe $10.90 / Serving $1.36
🐝 If you tried this Pizza Pasta Bake, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 16 ounces penne noodles - ($0.98)
- 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce - ($1.52)
- 1 ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided - ($1.50)
- ¼ cup mini pepperoni - ($1.05)
- 1 can (2.25 ounces) sliced black olives, drained - ($1.97)
Optional Toppings or Add-Ins
- Green bell pepper, diced
- Onion, diced
- Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the penne according to package directions until al dente. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
- Preheat and prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix the pasta. Add the pizza sauce to the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated.
- Add fillings. Stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, half of the pepperoni, and half of the olives until evenly combined.
- Assemble. Spread the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Top and bake. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and olives. Bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Pasta choice. Penne works well, but rotini or rigatoni can also be used.
- Texture tip. Cooking the pasta al dente helps prevent a mushy casserole.
- Pepperoni size. Quarter larger pepperoni slices for more even distribution.
- Make ahead. Assemble up to 2 days in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking and add a few extra minutes if baking cold.
- Storage and reheating. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat until warmed through before serving.
Nutritional Information
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