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Easy Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake: The Ultimate Family Comfort Dinner

A serving spoon lifts a cheesy, saucy portion from a baking dish of pizza pasta bake.
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Make this simple Pizza Pasta Bake for a weeknight win. This recipe combines rotini pasta, savory sausage and pepperoni, and lots of cheese into a comforting casserole that tastes just like your favorite pizza. It is a great make ahead pasta bake option.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup sliced pepperoni

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground sausage or beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, oregano, garlic powder, and water. Stir until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Fold in half of the mozzarella cheese and all of the Parmesan cheese into the pasta mixture.
  6. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with the cooked meat and the sliced pepperoni.
  7. Spoon the remaining pasta mixture over the pepperoni layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
  8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through.
  9. Let the pizza pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • You can substitute ground beef for sausage or use a mix of both for varied flavor.
  • For a make ahead pasta bake, assemble the entire dish, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 minutes to the bake time if baking directly from the refrigerator.
  • If you want crispier pepperoni, place the slices on top during the last 5 minutes of baking.

Nutrition

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