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Pizza Pasta Casserole is everything you love about pepperoni pizza baked into a cheesy, saucy pasta bake the whole family devours. I make this *on busy weeknights* when the kids are starving and I need dinner on the table fast, and there are never any leftovers. If you love an easy comfort food dinner, it is right up there with our sausage tortellini bake.
Just six simple ingredients layer up into a bubbly, cheesy casserole that tastes like pizza night in pasta form.
Pizza Pasta Casserole Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 35 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 45 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 8 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 524kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Cheesy, saucy, and loaded with pepperoni like pizza in pasta form
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as simple as our chili mac and cheese
Quick Answer
To make pizza pasta casserole, cook rotini pasta and drain it, then stir it with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, and chopped pepperoni. Spread the mixture into a greased 9×13 dish, top with more mozzarella, pepperoni, and oregano, and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more until melted and bubbly. It serves 8 and tastes just like pepperoni pizza in pasta form.
Jump to:
- Pizza Pasta Casserole Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Pizza Pasta Casserole
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Pizza Pasta Casserole FAQs
- Other Recommended Comfort Food Recipes
- Easy Pizza Pasta Casserole
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- All the pizza flavor. Spaghetti sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni give you that classic pepperoni pizza taste in every cheesy bite.
- Just six ingredients. A few simple staples come together into a hearty casserole that feeds a hungry crowd.
- Rotini holds the sauce. The spiral shape grabs onto the sauce and cheese so every forkful is loaded with flavor.
- Cheese inside and on top. Mixing mozzarella into the pasta and layering more on top means gooey, melty cheese throughout.
- Foil keeps it from drying. Baking covered first locks in moisture, then uncovering lets the top get bubbly and golden.
- Make-ahead friendly. Assemble it earlier in the day and bake when you are ready, making weeknight dinner a breeze.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes just like pepperoni pizza, baked into a cozy, cheesy pasta casserole.
- It uses just six simple ingredients and feeds the whole family with easy leftovers.
- It is the ultimate kid-friendly comfort food, right alongside our cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
Key Ingredients
Here is what makes this pizza pasta casserole so good. Six simple ingredients deliver all that pizza-night flavor.
- Rotini Pasta: The spiral shape grabs and holds the sauce and cheese in every bite. Penne or rigatoni work too.
- Spaghetti Sauce: A good jarred marinara or pizza sauce is the saucy, flavorful base. Use your favorite brand.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Freshly shredded mozzarella melts the best for that gooey, stretchy, cheesy pull.
- Pepperoni: Rough-chopped pepperoni flavors the whole casserole, plus more on top for that classic pizza look.
- Oregano and Parmesan: A sprinkle of dried oregano and grated parmesan add that pizzeria-style finishing touch.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This pizza pasta casserole is so easy to customize.
- Add more toppings: Stir in cooked Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, onions, or bell peppers.
- Make it supreme: Pile on all your favorite pizza toppings before baking for a loaded supreme version.
- Switch the cheese: Add provolone, cheddar, or a little ricotta for an extra creamy, cheesy bake.
- Use a different pasta: Penne, ziti, rigatoni, or rotini all work beautifully in this casserole.
- Serve it pizza night style: Pair it with our copycat Pizza Hut cheese sticks.
How to Make Pizza Pasta Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 baking dish. Cook the rotini per the package directions and drain well.
- In a large bowl, stir together the cooked pasta, spaghetti sauce, 2 cups of the mozzarella, and the chopped pepperoni until combined.
- Spread the mixture into the baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella, more pepperoni, and a sprinkle of oregano.
- Cover with greased foil and bake 15 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more until melted and bubbly. Garnish with parmesan and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cook the pasta just to al dente since it keeps cooking in the oven and you do not want it mushy.
- Use freshly shredded mozzarella for the best melt, as pre-shredded cheese can turn out a little grainy.
- Grease the foil or use non-stick foil so the cheese does not stick and pull off when you uncover it.
- Save some pepperoni for the top so the casserole gets that classic crispy-edged pizza look.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes after baking so it sets up and is easier to scoop and serve.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce if your family likes a little heat.
- Double it for a crowd and bake in two dishes, since this casserole disappears fast at parties.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Pizza pasta casserole is a complete comfort food meal on its own, but it shines with a few easy sides. Serve big cheesy scoops with a crisp green salad and warm, buttery garlic bread for dipping into all that sauce.
It is perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, and game day. Round out pizza night with a batch of our copycat Pizza Hut cheese sticks or a slice of our sheet pan pizza.
Love an easy baked dinner? Try our sausage tortellini bake and cheeseburger tater tot casserole for more cozy, family-favorite casseroles.
Pizza Pasta Casserole FAQs
Yes. Assemble the whole casserole, cover it, and refrigerate for up to a day before baking. Add a few extra minutes to the covered bake time since it will be going into the oven cold.
Short, sturdy shapes that hold sauce work best. Rotini is great because its spirals grab the sauce, but penne, ziti, and rigatoni are all excellent choices too.
Absolutely. Stir in cooked Italian sausage, ground beef, or any pizza toppings you love, like mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or olives, before baking.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the whole dish, covered, in a 350 degree F oven.
Yes. Assemble it in a freezer-safe dish, wrap it well, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake as directed, adding extra time if needed.
Any jarred marinara, spaghetti sauce, or pizza sauce works great. Use your favorite brand, and feel free to choose a flavored variety like garlic, basil, or three-cheese for extra flavor.
Craving more easy dinners? Our sausage tortellini bake is the perfect next cozy casserole to add to your weeknight rotation.
Easy Pizza Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rotini pasta
- 24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
- 4 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 7 ounces pepperoni rough chopped, plus more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- grated parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta per the directions on the box and drain well.16 ounces rotini pasta
- Add the cooked pasta to a large bowl along with the spaghetti sauce, 2 cups of the mozzarella, and the chopped pepperoni, and stir to combine fully.24 ounce jar spaghetti sauce, 4 cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, 7 ounces pepperoni
- Add the mixture to the greased baking dish.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella and full pepperoni.½ teaspoon dried oregano
- Sprinkle with the dried oregano.
- Cover with non-stick foil or grease foil with non-stick cooking spray. Place the foil, greased side down, onto the casserole. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Take off the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and everything is warmed through. Serve with a garnish of parmesan cheese.grated parmesan cheese for serving
Notes
- You can use any small pasta that you like, I like rotini because it really grabs the sauce and cheese.
- Use freshly grated cheese as it melts better.
- You can add any toppings/fillings that you like, see above for other ideas.
- This can be frozen, again see above on how to do that.
- You can halve this recipe to serve a smaller family.
Nutrition
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