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If your family loves pizza and pasta, you must try this Pizza Pasta! With tender noodles, gooey cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings, this simple pasta bake brings together two family favorites into one cozy casserole.
If you love pizza in new forms, you don't want to miss my recipes for Pizza Bread, Pizza Dip, Pizza Grilled Cheese, and Pizza Meatloaf.
Pizza Pasta: The Ultimate Family-Favorite Dinner
I don't know about your crew, but when mine hears the words pizza or pasta, they instantly perk up. So when I can combine the two into one dish, I know dinner is going to be a hit.
But if pizza and pasta together in the same sentence doesn't automatically win you over, here are a few more reasons you'll love this recipe:
- Adaptable. Supreme, cheese, pepperoni, or veggie? This pasta bake can be customized to match your usual pizza order.
- Feeds a Crowd. Hearty pasta stretches farther than a large pizza, making this a great option for big appetites.
- Make-Ahead Friendly. Assemble ahead and refrigerate or freeze until you're ready to bake-perfect for busy weeknights.
Just like my Mexican Spaghetti (where tacos meet pasta), this Pizza Pasta marries two of my family's favorite meals. It's cozy, hearty, endlessly customizable, and picky-eater approved! I can't wait for it to become a favorite in your home too.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Pizza Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta: Rotini pasta is best, as the curves and ridges catch and hold the sauce, cheese, and toppings. Penne would be a good substitute.
- Marinara Sauce + Pizza Sauce: I recommend using a combination of prepared marinara or spaghetti sauce , which is rich and saucy, and pizza sauce which is thick and concentrated. The combination keeps the dish rich and saucy without being overpowering.
- Cheese: What's pizza without cheese? I recommend stirring grated parmesan into the cooked pasta and topping the casserole with shredded mozzarella. Keep in mind that for a smooth, creamy melt, it is best to grate the mozzarella yourself.
- Sausage: Italian sausage adds an authentic pizza flavor. Use pork, chicken sausage, ground beef, or skip the meat to keep it vegetarian.
- Peppers + Onions: A green bell pepper and yellow onion add classic supreme pizza vibes! Feel free to omit one or both.
- Pizza Toppings: Black olives, pepperoni slices, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, banana peppers, diced tomatoes, etc. Just about any pizza topping you like on your pizza can be added to this casserole.
- Finishing Touch: Fresh parsley or basil adds brightness, though I usually skip it for a kid-friendly version.
How to Make Pizza Pasta Casserole
Yes, the recipe card gives full instructions, but here's a quick walkthrough so you can feel confident every step of the way.
Cook Pasta. Boil pasta in heavily salted water until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Brown Sausage. Sauté sausage (or your protein of choice) with onion, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
Combine. Stir cooked pasta, marinara, Parmesan, and some of the pasta water into the sausage mixture.
Assemble. Transfer the pasta to a casserole dish. Spread pizza sauce on top, then sprinkle with mozzarella and your favorite toppings.
Bake. Spray foil with a bit of cooking spray to prevent it sticking the cheese, cover the casserole, and bake until heated through, then uncover and bake until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Serve. Pair with a fresh salad (like my Copycat Olive Garden Salad or Copycat Panera Greek Salad) and garlic bread or garlic toast for the ultimate pizza night feast.
Make it Your Own
- Keep it Simple. For picky eaters, just toss cooked pasta with marinara, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning, then top with pizza sauce and mozzarella. I will often add toppings (like cooked and crumbled sausage and/or veggies) to to half the casserole for the less picky eaters.
- Add Veggies. Stir in fresh baby spinach, sauté additional peppers or mushrooms with the sausage, top with additional veggies, etc.
- Make it Vegetarian. Omit the sausage and pepperoni. Load up with peppers, onions, mushrooms, or spinach.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
- Assemble Ahead: Prep up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Let the casserole dish sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed.
- Freeze: Prepare the pasta up to baking in a freezer-safe baking dish.Cover with two layers of heavy duty-foil and store in the freezer for up to 1 month. When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the freezer, remove one layer of foil, and let sit at room temperature while the oven heats to 375℉. Bake covered for 60 minutes, remove the foil, and continue to bake for 15-20 minutes until warmed through and the cheese has melted.
- Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave on a heat-safe plate covered with a damp paper towel to keep the pasta from drying out.
More Pizza-Inspired Favorites
Pizza Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage, see note
- 1 small yellow onion, minced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 ounces rotini noodles
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, + more for serving
- 8 ounces pizza sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella, shredded from a block
- pizza toppings, like pepperoni, black olives, canned sliced mushrooms, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃). While the oven is preheating, bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil.
- While the water is combing to a boil, heat olive oil in a large deep heavy-duty pan over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the sausage and minced onion, and cook for 3-5 minutes, breaking up the sausage as it cooks. Add bell pepper and continue to cook until the sausage is fully browned. Stir in 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning and 3 cloves garlic (minced) and cook for 30-60 seconds, just to lightly toast. Remove the pan from the heat and drain off any excess grease if needed.
- At this point the water should be boiling. Add 2-3 teaspoons of kosher salt and and the pasta to the boiling water. Cook for 1 minute less than the package instructs and then drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Add the cooked pasta, ½ cup of the reserved cooking liquid, marinara sauce, and ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese to the sauteed meat and vegetables. Stir to evenly combine, adding additional reserved cooking liquid, a splash at a time, if the pasta seems dry.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to a 9x13 casserole dish. Spread the pizza sauce over the pasta. Then sprinkle the dish evenly with shredded mozzarella and toppings of your choice.
- Cover with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray (to prevent the toppings from sticking to the foil) and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese has fully melted and the cheese is slightly golden.
- Serve with grated parmesan cheese and minced parsley if desired.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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