This pasta pizza casserole combines two classic Italian recipes for a delicious, easy-to-make dinner that is full of flavor. With just a few simple steps and minimal prep time, this dish is sure to become a regular favorite in your house!
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🌟 Why I love this pizza pasta recipe
If you love pizza, pasta, and casserole recipes, then you'll love this pizza pasta bake! This meal was inspired by my pizza pockets made with homemade empanada dough.
The combination of juicy sausage, pepperoni, and marinara sauce mixed with pasta and topped with melted mozzarella cheese creates the perfect Italian-inspired meal.
It's really easy to make and takes minimal prep time and ingredients! Plus, pizza pasta bake is so versatile that you can add your favorite pizza toppings and pasta sauce - it's hard to resist.
No matter who you're serving this tasty pizza pasta casserole to, they're gonna love it! It's loaded with protein and is delicious on its own or served with flavorful side dishes like salad, greens, bread, and soup. Plus, it's great for meal-prepping as the leftovers pasta can be stored and reheated during busy weeknights for a quick meal.
So, if you're looking for a quick, budget-friendly meal that's packed with flavor, then look no further than this pasta pizza bake. And if you want more delicious pasta casserole recipes, try our cheeseburger mac and cheese casserole, chicken tetrazzini casserole, or the Texas chicken spaghetti.
🍽 Key ingredients
You only need some pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients to make this pasta pizza bake.
Italian sausage - Chopped and browned Italian sausage provides a great source of protein, which makes this dish more filling. Use plain, mild, or spicy sausage.
Aromatics - Onion, garlic, and green pepper are added to the sausage to add flavor and texture.
Seasoning - Just a spoonful of Italian Seasoning is all you need to add that authentic Italian flavor to your dish.
Pizza sauce - Use your favorite jar of pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce, or make your own Italian homemade marinara sauce.
Pasta - Cavatappi pasta is used for this dish, as it holds its shape when cooked and provides a great texture when combined with the other ingredients. Learn more about different types of Pasta you can use for any meal.
Cheese - Mozzarella cheese is used for this dish. It provides a creamy, melty texture that is common in pizza recipes.
Pepperoni - Pepperoni is a classic pizza topping that when cooked, releases spicy, flavorful juices that will make your pizza pasta bake complete.
Substitutions
For those looking to make a few substitutions, here are some ideas:
Italian sausage
Substitute the Italian sausage with ground beef, chicken, or turkey for a leaner version. Looking for more sausage recipes? My ground sausage recipes collection is for you.
Pasta
Any type of pasta will work well in this recipe, like penne pasta, rotini, or shells.
Cheese
Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Parmesan cheese are great substitutions for mozzarella. You could also use a combination of cheeses.
Pepperoni
Substitute the pepperoni with cooked bacon bits, chorizo, and salami.
🔪 How to make
This pasta pizza bake is so easy to make and comes together in no time. It's an ideal dish for busy weeknights, as it takes minimal effort and only uses a few ingredients. Follow the steps below to learn how to make it.
Preparations
- Dice the green peppers, onion, and garlic.
- Remove the skins from the Italian sausage.
- Cut 20 slices of pepperoni in half.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Set a pan of water to boil and cook pasta for 10 minutes until al dente (check package directions). Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop it from cooking further.
Step 2
Set a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and cook the sausage, onions, garlic, and chopped bell peppers for 6 to 8 minutes until the sausage is cooked. Break up the sausage into pieces as it cooks.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and grease a casserole dish.
Step 5
Mix the pasta sauce and water together in a large bowl, then add the cooked pasta, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, the sliced pepperoni, and the meat mixture.
Step 6
Stir to thoroughly combine the meat sauce before pouring it into the casserole dish.
Step 7
Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top with the remaining pepperoni slices.
Step 8
Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Step 9
Remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown.
Step 10
Remove the pizza pasta bake from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil.
💭 Cooking tips
Al dente pasta
To prevent your pasta from being soft and mushy, make sure to not completely cook the pasta first. The pasta will cook again during baking, so make sure that it still has some bite to it.
Cooling the pasta
Once the pasta is nice and al dente, cool it off by pouring the cooked pasta into an ice bath or running it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
📖 Recipe Variations
This pizza pasta bake is incredibly versatile, and you can customize it to fit your family's taste preferences with different toppings. Here are some variations:
Mexican pizza pasta bake
Add a bit of spice to your pasta bake by adding ¼ cup of sliced jalapenos, sliced black olives, corn, black beans, and diced tomatoes to the meat mixture. Swap the Italian seasoning for taco seasoning and the pasta sauce for enchilada sauce.
Top the pizza bake with Mexican blend cheese and serve with sour cream and garnish with chopped cilantro.
Vegetarian pizza pasta
For a vegetarian version, you can substitute the sausage with cubed and cooked eggplant or zucchini and sauté ½ cup of sliced mushrooms with the garlic, peppers, and onion. Add this mixture with the pasta, cheese, and pizza sauce, and top the casserole with sliced tomatoes instead of pepperoni.
Pizza pasta casserole with crumb topping
If you want to add some crunch, create a crumb topping for your pizza pasta bake. In a separate bowl mix together ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon melted butter, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Sprinkle this mixture over top the pasta bake before baking for a crunchy topping.
🥗 What to serve with
This pizza pasta casserole is the perfect one-dish meal that is great on its own or with a light side dish like soup, salad, and bread for dipping into the delicious sauce. I highly recommend to serve this dish with my easy tiramisu as a dessert!
Soup
A soup is a great choice for casserole recipes. Give one of these easy and flavorful soup recipes a go-to pair with your pizza pasta casserole: roasted tomato soup, pasta e fagioli soup, and homemade cream of chicken soup.
Bread
This pizza pasta tastes great with a simple side of garlic bread. If you want something more special, try making homemade focaccia bread or jalapeno cheddar cornbread.
Salad
A light salad is the perfect accompaniment to this hearty pasta bake. Try a classic Caesar salad, a Greek salad, or a tomato, basil mozzarella salad. And for a dose of healthy greens, try our fragrant broccoli salad.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I make this recipe on the stovetop?
Yes, you can make pizza pasta on the stovetop if you don't have an oven. Simply cook the pasta until soft and mix it with the other ingredients. Cook on simmer with a lid covering the skillet or pot for 15 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Can I prepare pizza pasta casserole in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the pizza pasta casserole ahead of time. Assemble all of the ingredients in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil before refrigerating or freezing. When ready to bake, leave the foil over the dish and bake as directed. Add 10 more minutes to the cooking time from frozen.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
This pizza pasta recipe tastes even better the following day once the flavors have had a chance to meld, making it perfect for storing and reheating.
Fridge - Store cooled leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container or cover the casserole dish in plastic wrap.
Freezer - To freeze leftovers, transfer leftovers to an airtight freezer-safe container and store them for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating - Reheat leftovers in the oven preheated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit until hot, about 15 - 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can microwave individual portions on high for 2-3 minutes.
🍳 Related recipes
If you loved this pasta casserole recipe, you'll also love our 35 comforting chicken casserole recipes and 18 pasta recipes with few ingredients. They're packed with flavor, easy to make, and can easily be adapted to suit your tastes!
Check out these hearty Italian comfort food recipes and my stuffed portobello mushroom recipe.
👪 Serving size
This pizza pasta bake serves 6 - 8 people, making it an ideal dish for feeding a crowd.
This pasta pizza bake is a great meal to add to your weekly rotation. It's easy to make and totally customizable, allowing everyone in the family to choose their own toppings. Plus, it's a great way to use up leftovers and get creative with different flavor combinations. Give this recipe a try tonight, and enjoy!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Pasta Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage - mild or hot, bulk or removed from casings
- ½ Onion - diced
- ½ Green pepper
- ½ Red pepper
- 1 clove Garlic - minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 14 ounce jar Pizza sauce
- ¾ cup Water
- 3 cups Cavatappi pasta - measure before cooking
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese - divided use
- 36 slice Pepperoni - divided use
Instructions
Preparations
- Dice the green peppers, onion, and garlic.
- Remove the skins from the Italian sausage.
- Cut 20 slices of pepperoni in half.
Cooking instructions
- Set a pan of water to boil and cook pasta for 10 minutes until al dente (check package directions). Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop it from cooking further.
- Set a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of olive oil and cook the sausage, onions, garlic, and chopped bell peppers for 6 to 8 minutes until the sausage is cooked. Break up the sausage into pieces as it cooks.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) and grease a casserole dish.
- Mix the pasta sauce and water together in a large bowl, then add the cooked pasta, 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, the sliced pepperoni, and the meat mixture.
- Stir to thoroughly combine the meat sauce before pouring it into the casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top with the remaining pepperoni slices.
- Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the aluminum foil and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown.
- Remove the pizza pasta bake from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil.
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