Description
A comforting and cheesy combination of pizza and pasta that’s perfect for family dinners and easy to customize with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound Pasta (penne or rotini) (Short pasta shapes work best.)
- 1 jar Pizza sauce or marinara (Pizza sauce gives the best flavor.)
Cheese and Toppings
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded (For classic melt and stretch.)
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated (For topping.)
- 1 cup Pepperoni or any pizza style protein (Classic topping.)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (Or a mix of oregano and basil.)
- 1 tablespoon Butter or oil (To prevent pasta from sticking.)
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup Mushrooms, sliced (Can sauté to reduce moisture.)
- 1 cup Bell peppers, chopped (Can sauté to reduce moisture.)
- 1 cup Onions, chopped (Can sauté to reduce moisture.)
- 1 cup Olives, sliced
Instructions
Preparation
- Boil the pasta until just barely done. Drain and toss with a little oil or butter.
- Warm up the sauce in a separate pot and stir in Italian seasoning if desired.
Assembly
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the sauce and a handful of mozzarella until well combined.
- Layer half of the pasta mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, then add the remaining pasta. Top with more mozzarella, parmesan, and any additional toppings like pepperoni.
Baking
- Bake in the oven until bubbly and cheese is lightly golden. Broil for a minute or two for a crispier top, but watch closely.
- Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Letting the bake rest before serving helps it set better. Customize with your favorite toppings, but be cautious with watery vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: dinner, Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
