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Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake - Comforting, Cheesy, and Crowd-Pleasing

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces short pasta (penne, ziti, or rotini)
  • 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese (optional but recommended for creaminess)
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided
  • 6–8 ounces pepperoni slices
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish
  • Cooking spray or a little extra olive oil for the baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat and prep: Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
  2. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just shy of al dente (about 1–2 minutes less than package directions). Drain and set aside.
  3. Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, 4–5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  4. Build the sauce: Add marinara or pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper. Simmer 3–4 minutes to meld flavors. Taste and adjust seasoning.
  5. Combine pasta and sauce: In a large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the sauce. Fold in 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
  6. Add ricotta: Dollop ricotta throughout the pasta mixture and gently fold to create creamy pockets. Don’t overmix; those pockets make great texture.
  7. Assemble the bake: Spread half the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with a layer of pepperoni slices, then add the remaining pasta on top.
  8. Top with cheese and pepperoni: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan over the pasta. Arrange more pepperoni on top for that classic pizza look.
  9. Bake: Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–12 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling around the edges.
  10. Optional broil: Broil for 1–2 minutes to crisp the pepperoni and brown the cheese. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  11. Rest and garnish: Let the pasta bake rest 5 minutes to set. Sprinkle with chopped basil or parsley before serving.