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Easy One-Pot Pizza Pasta Bake for Quick Weeknight Dinner

A close-up of a baked 1-pot pizza pasta casserole topped with melted mozzarella, pepperoni, and black olives.
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Capture all your favorite pizza tastes in this satisfying, cheesy, one-pot pizza pasta bake. This easy recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and delivers pure comfort food flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dry pasta (penne or rotini work well)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed (or ground beef)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar pizza or marinara sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups water or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional, for creamier texture)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices
  • 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, and oregano, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the pizza sauce, water or broth, and heavy cream (if using). Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  4. Stir in the dry pasta. Return the sauce to a gentle simmer, then cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Preheat your oven broiler. Stir 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese into the pasta mixture until melted and combined.
  6. Spread the pasta mixture evenly in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella, remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, and the pepperoni slices.
  7. Place the dish under the broiler for 2 to 4 minutes, watching constantly, until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
  8. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a supreme pizza flavor, add 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper and 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms when you cook the onion.
  • You can prepare this entire dish, without the final broil step, ahead of time. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days, or freeze unbaked for up to 3 months. Add 10 minutes to the covered cooking time if baking from cold.
  • If you prefer a less saucy bake, reduce the water/broth measurement to 1 cup.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/easy-one-pot-pizza-pasta-bake/