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Easy One-Dish Pepperoni Pizza Bake Recipe to Try Tonight

Easy One-Dish Pepperoni Pizza Bake

A hearty one-pan pasta bake made with marinara sauce, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and two kinds of cheese. This family-friendly dinner serves six and brings classic pizza flavor to the table with minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 12 ounces Uncooked penne, rotini, or ziti
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 small Small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces Marinara or pizza sauce
  • 1 cup Water or low-sodium chicken broth
Seasonings
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
Toppings
  • 5 ounces Sliced pepperoni, divided
  • 2 cups Shredded low-moisture mozzarella, divided
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
Optional Add-Ins
  • 1/2 cup Sliced mushrooms, bell pepper, or black olives
Garnish
  • To taste Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a deep, oven-safe 12-inch skillet or a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. For the skillet method, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Cook the chopped onion for 3–4 minutes, then add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  3. Stir in the uncooked pasta, marinara or pizza sauce, water or broth, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, optional vegetables, and about half of the pepperoni.
  4. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly tender. If using a baking dish instead of a skillet, combine the ingredients with fully cooked pasta.
  5. Stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella. Add the remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and remaining pepperoni over the top.
  6. Bake uncovered for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the edges are lightly browned.
  7. Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving. Finish with chopped basil or parsley if desired.

Notes

Low-moisture mozzarella melts and browns well without making the bake watery. Put some pepperoni inside the pasta and some on top so the topping crisps while the interior stays flavorful. Standard sliced pepperoni is ready to eat and only needs heating. If adding raw meat or another uncooked protein, cook until the center reaches at least 165°F.