Tremendous Straightforward Pizza Pasta Bake Recipe

This pizza pasta bake is a enjoyable and scrumptious twist on basic pizza, combining your favourite pizza flavors with pasta for a straightforward, comforting dish. It’s excellent for a weeknight dinner or feeding a crowd!

Substances

1 pound raw penne pasta
3 cups (24 oz) marinara sauce (see word)
10 ounces sliced pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Put together the Pasta:

Preheat the oven to 375°F and place the rack within the high third of the oven.
Boil a pot of salted water and cook dinner the pasta for two minutes lower than the bundle instructions. As soon as the pasta is completed, drain it and return it to the pot.

2. Combine the Substances:

Stir the marinara sauce and about 1/3 of the sliced pepperoni into the cooked pasta.

3. Switch and Layer:

Switch the pasta combination right into a 9×13-inch baking or casserole dish and unfold it evenly.
Prime with shredded mozzarella cheese and the remaining pepperoni slices.

4. Bake:

Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Then, change to broil for a couple of minutes to crisp up the pepperoni and cheese, however watch fastidiously to keep away from burning.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast and Straightforward: This recipe comes collectively in below 40 minutes, making it excellent for busy nights.
Crowd-Pleaser: The mixture of pasta, marinara, cheese, and pepperoni is all the time a success with each children and adults.
Customizable: Modify the toppings and components to fit your style or dietary preferences.

Ideas

Watch the Broil: Maintain a detailed eye on the broiling step to keep away from overcooking the cheese and pepperoni.
Make Forward: You’ll be able to assemble the dish prematurely, cowl, and refrigerate it. When able to cook dinner, bake it immediately from the fridge, however add 5-10 additional minutes to the bake time.
Use a Massive Baking Dish: Ensure that your 9×13 dish is massive sufficient for the pasta combination to suit evenly.

Variations and Substitutions

Vegetarian Model: Skip the pepperoni and add your favourite pizza greens like bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
Totally different Meats: Swap out the pepperoni for sausage, ham, or floor beef for a distinct take.
Cheese Swap: Attempt mixing in different cheeses like cheddar or provolone for a variation on the flavour.
Gluten-Free Choice: Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-friendly.

FAQs

Q: Can I exploit a distinct sort of pasta?
A: Sure, you should use any quick pasta like rigatoni, ziti, or rotini. Simply be certain that to cook dinner it to the purpose the place it’s nonetheless a bit agency, as it would cook dinner additional within the oven.

Q: Can I make this dish forward of time?
A: Sure! You’ll be able to assemble the bake prematurely, refrigerate it, and bake it the subsequent day. Simply needless to say it could want a couple of additional minutes of baking time when cooking from chilly.

Q: Can I freeze leftovers?
A: Sure, you may freeze the leftovers. Let the pasta bake cool utterly, then cowl it tightly and freeze for as much as 3 months. Reheat within the oven till sizzling and bubbly.

Serving and Recommendations

Facet Dishes: Serve with a easy inexperienced salad and garlic bread for a whole meal.
Toppings: For additional taste, add crushed pink pepper flakes or recent basil after baking.
Pairing: This dish pairs nicely with a lightweight Italian pink wine like Chianti or a crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio.