This pizza pasta is a one pot meal made with pepperoni, sausage and plenty of cheese, all mixed with pasta in tomato sauce. An easy dinner that’s family friendly and quick to make!

We love all things pizza in my house, including pizza stuffed chicken , pizza dip and pizza muffins . This pizza pasta is our new favorite dinner recipe , the kids request it every week and I’m happy to oblige because it’s so simple to make.

Pizza pasta in a skillet topped with melted cheese and pepperoni. - 1

My kids would eat pizza every day if I let them. But there’s only so many times you can have pizza before you get tired of it, am I right? This pizza pasta is a fun twist on a classic with hearty pasta cooked in a savory sauce, plenty of cheese, and our favorite pizza toppings.

  • Pizza Pasta Ingredients
  • How Do You Make Pizza Pasta?
  • Tips For Pizza Pasta
  • Quick Tip
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Flavor Variations
  • More Delicious Pasta Recipes
  • Pizza Pasta Video
  • Love This Recipe?
  • Pizza Pasta Recipe

Pizza Pasta Ingredients

To make this pizza pasta bake, you will need olive oil, Italian sausage, onion, mini pepperoni, garlic, marinara sauce, water, salt, black pepper, pasta, mozzarella cheese and parsley.

How Do You Make Pizza Pasta?

Heat the oil in a large pan, then add the sausage and break it up with a spatula as it cooks. Next add the onion to the pan and cook until it is soft. Stir in some of the pepperoni and garlic and cook for one more minute. Pour the marinara sauce into the pot along with water, salt, pepper and the pasta. Cover the pot and let the mixture simmer until the pasta is tender – no need to drain! Sprinkle the cheese and remaining pepperoni on top of the pasta. Transfer the pan to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted. Add a sprinkle of parsley, then serve and enjoy.

A pan of cooked sausage, pepperoni and onions. - 2

Tips For Pizza Pasta

  • You can use turkey or pork Italian sausage . I use mild sausage, but feel free to use hot if you like spice.
  • While the pizza pasta primarily cooks on the stove top, you will need to turn on the oven to melt the cheese at the end. Be sure to use an oven safe pan so that you can easily transfer your pan from stove to oven.
  • Make sure you use a large pan for this recipe, as the pasta will expand considerably as it cooks and you want to make sure you have enough room for it all!
  • Choose your favorite brand of marinara sauce for this recipe. I typically use Rao’s or Newman’s Own.

Quick Tip

Can’t find mini pepperoni at your store? You can use chopped regular sized pepperoni instead.

Pepperoni, sausage, tomato sauce and uncooked pasta in a skillet. - 3

You can use pizza sauce for this dish instead of marinara. Pizza sauce tends to be a bit sweeter than marinara, and also contains less seasonings, but it will still taste great.

You can cook dry pasta in sauce, you’ll just want to make sure you also add some water so that the pasta will properly soften.

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Rotini pasta cooked with pepperoni and tomato sauce. - 4

Flavor Variations

While this dish is delicious as written, you can absolutely customize the ingredients to suit your tastes.

  • Protein: Swap out the sausage and pepperoni for other protein options such as ham, ground beef, salami, chicken, bacon or linguica.
  • Pasta: I typically use rotini noodles, but other types of short pasta will work including penne, fusilli, gemelli, cavatappi or farfalle.
  • Vegetables: Feel free to add some extra cooked veggies to the mix. My favorites include bell peppers, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, olives, spinach or zucchini.
  • Cheese: Swap out the mozzarella for another type of cheese. Some great choices are provolone or fontina. You can also add some freshly grated parmesan cheese.
A pan of pizza pasta with a serving spoon in it. - 5

This pizza pasta makes for great leftovers, my kids always ask to take it for lunch the next day. This dish is hearty enough to serve on its own, but if you’re looking for side dish ideas, I’d recommend my garlic knots , parmesan roasted broccoli or candied carrots .

Pizza pasta has it all. It’s quick, doesn’t dirty up a ton of dishes, and has flavors that both kids and adults adore. Make it for dinner tonight and watch the rave reviews come in!

More Delicious Pasta Recipes

A baking dish full of pizza stuffed shells, topped with melted cheese and pepperoni. - 6

Pizza Stuffed Shells

45 mins

Philly cheesesteak pasta with ground beef, mushrooms and peppers. - 7

Philly Cheesesteak Pasta

30 mins

Cajun chicken pasta with grilled chicken breast, creamy penne pasta, tomatoes and green onions. - 8

Cajun Chicken Pasta

40 mins

Sausage and pepper pasta with sliced Italian sausage, red and yellow bell peppers and grated parmesan cheese. - 9

Sausage and Pepper Pasta

30 mins

Chicken parmesan pasta in a baking dish topped with melted cheese and garnished with fresh basil. - 10

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

40 mins

Pizza Pasta Video

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Ingredients1x2x3x

  • ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ▢ 1 lb mild Italian sausage casings removed
  • ▢ 1/2 cup onion finely diced
  • ▢ 3/4 cup mini pepperoni divided use
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • ▢ 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
  • ▢ 2 1/2 cups water
  • ▢ salt and pepper to taste
  • ▢ 12 ounces short pasta such as rotini or penne
  • ▢ 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned.
  • Add the onion to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the pepperoni and the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the marinara sauce, water, salt, pepper and pasta to the pot and bring to a simmer.
  • Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 12-14 minutes or until pasta is tender.
  • While the pasta is simmering, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • After the pasta is finished cooking, sprinkle the cheese over the top and arrange the remaining 1/4 cup of pepperoni on the cheese.
  • Bake for 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Notes

  1. You can use turkey or pork Italian sausage. I use mild sausage, but feel free to use hot if you like spice.
  2. Can’t find mini pepperoni at your store? You can use chopped regular sized pepperoni instead.

Nutrition

This pizza pasta is a one pot meal made with pepperoni, sausage and plenty of cheese, all mixed with pasta in tomato sauce. - 11 Pizza pasta in a skillet topped with melted cheese and pepperoni. - 12

Pizza Pasta

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 lb mild Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1/2 cup onion finely diced
  • 3/4 cup mini pepperoni divided use
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces short pasta such as rotini or penne
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pan over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned.
  • Add the onion to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the pepperoni and the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the marinara sauce, water, salt, pepper and pasta to the pot and bring to a simmer.
  • Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 12-14 minutes or until pasta is tender.
  • While the pasta is simmering, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • After the pasta is finished cooking, sprinkle the cheese over the top and arrange the remaining 1/4 cup of pepperoni on the cheese.
  • Bake for 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Video

Notes

  1. You can use turkey or pork Italian sausage. I use mild sausage, but feel free to use hot if you like spice.
  2. Can’t find mini pepperoni at your store? You can use chopped regular sized pepperoni instead.

Nutrition