Pizza Pasta is the ultimate comfort food—cheesy, saucy, and packed with your favorite pizza toppings, all baked into a hearty pasta dish. It’s quick to prepare, family-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights or fun weekend dinners. If you love both pizza and pasta, this easy recipe brings the best of both worlds to your table.
Why We Love This Pizza Pasta Recipe
There’s something special about combining classic flavors into a single dish that resonates with people of all ages. The blend of savory beef and sausage with colorful vegetables and zesty sauces melds perfectly with penne pasta. What makes this pizza pasta stand out is its versatility. You can customize your toppings and make it as spicy or mild as you desire. Plus, it’s an ideal one-pot meal, meaning less clean-up and more time to enjoy with loved ones. What’s not to love?
Ingredients for Pizza Pasta
To create this delicious pizza pasta, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 lb. ground sausage (choose mild, sweet, or hot Italian)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 32 oz. high-quality marinara sauce
- 8 oz. pizza sauce
- 3/4 lb. penne pasta
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 1/2 cups shredded whole milk or low-moisture mozzarella (shred from a block for best results)
- 25 slices pepperoni
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- A pinch of red pepper flakes
How to Make Pizza Pasta Directions
Let’s get cooking with this pizza pasta! Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure your dish turns out beautifully.
Prepare Your Workspace: Before you even start cooking, measure out all your ingredients. This will save time and prevent any last-minute scrambling.
Start Cooking the Pasta: Boil a large pot of water, as you’ll need it for the pasta. Add the penne and cook it for one minute less than the package instructions recommend for al dente. This is crucial because the pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
Cook the Meat and Veggies: In a large skillet set to medium-high heat, add the ground beef, sausage, and diced onion. Sauté for about four minutes, then add the diced green bell pepper. Cook for an additional five minutes or until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender. Make sure to drain the excess grease to keep your dish light.
Add Flavorings: Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the beef broth, scraping the bottom and sides of the skillet to release any tasty bits stuck there. Stir in the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and your dried herbs. Let this mixture heat for one minute, allowing all the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Mix in the Sauces: Add the marinara sauce and pizza sauce to the skillet. Stir well to combine everything and let it simmer over low heat.
Combine Pasta and Sauce: Once your pasta is ready, drain it and gently fold it into the sauce mixture. It’s essential to incorporate everything evenly, allowing the pasta to soak in all that delicious sauce.
Transfer to a Baking Dish: Grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish lightly. Pour your pasta mixture into this dish, spreading it out evenly. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese and arrange pepperoni slices on top.
Bake to Perfection: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in a preheated oven at 375°F. Bake for 10 minutes. After this time, remove the foil and allow it to bake uncovered for another 15 minutes. This will ensure that your cheese gets bubbly and lightly browned. For an extra crispy topping, you can place the dish under the broiler for one minute—just keep a close eye to prevent burning!
Garnish and Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle some fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese on top for that finishing touch before serving.
How to Serve Pizza Pasta
Serving pizza pasta is as simple as it gets. Portion out this delightful creation directly from the casserole dish onto plates. You can serve it alongside a crisp green salad for a fresh contrast, or even some garlic bread, which pairs perfectly with the rich flavors of the pasta. Each bite is a fulfilling mix of cheesy goodness, meaty satisfaction, and zesty sauce. It’s just as good for dinner as it is for lunch the next day, making it a winner in terms of leftovers too!
Expert Tips for Pizza Pasta
To ensure your pizza pasta is a hit, follow these expert tips:
- Use Quality Ingredients: The richness of flavors comes from the quality of your ingredients. Opt for high-quality beef, sausage, and sauces for better taste.
- Customize Your Toppings: Feel free to switch out or add your favorite pizza toppings. Mushrooms, olives, or even fresh spinach can elevate your dish further.
- Don’t Overcook the Pasta: Cooking your pasta just shy of al dente keeps it from becoming mushy after baking in the sauce.
- Broil for the Perfect Finish: If you want that gooey, golden-brown cheese on top, broiling for a minute gives the dish a beautiful finish.
- Make It Ahead: This pizza pasta can be prepared a day ahead. Just store it in the fridge and pop it in the oven when you are ready to serve.
How to Store Pizza Pasta
If you happen to have any leftovers (which is unlikely!), simply allow the dish to cool completely. Then, transfer the pizza pasta into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It should be good for about three to four days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, reheat portions in the oven or microwave, and savor the delightful flavors once more.
Variations of Pizza Pasta
This pizza pasta is incredibly versatile, allowing for numerous variations to suit your taste. Here are a few ideas:
- Veggie Delight: For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and add an array of colorful vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, and spinach.
- Eat the Rainbow: Incorporate bell peppers of various colors to add a nice aesthetic and extra vitamins.
- Spicy Kick: If you enjoy a bit of heat, add more hot sauce or toss in spicy sausage instead of the mild variety.
- Cheeseburst: Experiment with different types of cheese such as Gouda, cheddar, or even a bit of ricotta mixed in for creaminess.
- Baked Pizza Pasta: Try baking it with a layer of naan or store-bought pizza crust on top for a unique take. This crust will caramelize nicely, creating a distinct texture contrast.
FAQ
What is Pizza Pasta?
Pizza pasta is a comforting dish that combines the flavors of pizza—like marinara, cheese, and pepperoni—with pasta to create a hearty meal.
How long can I store Pizza Pasta in the fridge?
You can store pizza pasta in the fridge for about three to four days when stored in an airtight container.
Can I customize the ingredients in Pizza Pasta?
Absolutely! You can add or substitute ingredients based on your personal preferences, making this recipe highly adaptable to your taste.
What makes this Pizza Pasta special?
The combination of savory meats, rich sauces, and melted cheese, combined into one dish, makes pizza pasta a standout recipe that’s hard to resist.
Can I make Pizza Pasta ahead of time?
Yes, pizza pasta can be prepared a day in advance. Just store it properly in the fridge and bake it when you’re ready to serve.
Pizza Pasta
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground sausage (mild, sweet, or hot Italian)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 32 oz high-quality marinara sauce
- 8 oz pizza sauce
- 3/4 lb penne pasta
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese Shred from a block for best results
- 25 slices pepperoni
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- a pinch red pepper flakes
Instructions
Preparation
- Prepare your workspace by measuring out all ingredients.
Cooking the Pasta
- Boil a large pot of water, add the penne and cook it for one minute less than the package instructions recommend for al dente.
Meat and Veggies
- In a large skillet set to medium-high heat, add ground beef, sausage, and diced onion. Sauté for about four minutes before adding the diced green bell pepper. Cook for an additional five minutes or until the meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain the excess grease.
Adding Flavorings
- Reduce heat to medium. Pour in beef broth and scrape the bottom/sides of the skillet. Stir in minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and dried herbs. Heat for one minute.
Mix in Sauces
- Add marinara sauce and pizza sauce to the skillet. Stir well to combine and let simmer over low heat.
Combining
- Once pasta is ready, drain it and gently fold it into the sauce mixture, ensuring everything is incorporated evenly.
Baking
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish lightly. Pour pasta mixture in, top with shredded mozzarella and arrange pepperoni slices on top. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven at 375°F for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes. Optionally broil for one minute for a crispy topping.
Serving
- Once out of the oven, sprinkle with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.