This One Pan Pizza Pasta is what weeknight dreams are made of! Pizza and pasta come together in an easy meal loaded with flavor that’s ready in less than 30 minutes and made in one pot!!!
It’s made with large elbow macaroni, pizza sauce, marinara sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and spices! And it only costs around $10 to make!!!
I love one-pot meals and this Pizza Pasta is one of our go-to weeknight dinners because it’s so easy to make and the perfect mashup of two of our favorite foods!
I definitely fit the millennial stereotype of wanting it all and wanting it right now (at least when it comes to food) and I’m terrible about cleaning up after myself in the kitchen… just ask my husband. So when it comes to dinner and the days I have to make it, I want it to be four things:
- Simple.
- Quick.
- Delicious.
- As few dishes as possible!
Because let’s face it… they’re probably going to sit there a couple of days…
That’s why I love this recipe because it meets all four of my easy dinner requirements! Plus, I can never get enough pizza or pasta in my life. So when the idea came to me to combine the two, I was like, well that’s bloody brilliant!
What’s In It?
This recipe is made with a variety of ingredients that are easy to come by. The sauce is made with a mixture of olive oil, garlic, marinara sauce, pizza sauce, water, oregano, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper.
The elbow macaroni is cooked right in the sauce, no need to use already cooked pasta. Then pepperoni and mozzarella cheese are both folded into the mix and top it off along with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.
How To Make It:
- Saute: In a large high-lipped skillet pan, saute the pepperoni, garlic, salt, and pepper in olive oil.
- Mix: Add in the spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, water, red pepper flakes, and oregano and stir to combine.
- Simmer: Add in elbow macaroni and stir until well combined. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring regularly until the pasta has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Finish: Fold in half of the mozzarella cheese the top with the remaining cheese, pepperoni, and parsley. Cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until cheese has melted, remove from heat and serve hot.
Recipe Variations:
Not everyone loves pepperoni pizza and some like multiple toppings and this recipe is great because it’s super customizable and there are so many different add-ins to make it taste like your favorite pizza toppings!
- Bacon: Add 1/2 cup of cooked and crumbled bacon to the recipe when you fold in the mozzarella cheese.
- Beef: When I originally made this recipe it included ground beef, but I decided to omit it when I retested it. However, all you have to do is brown the meat in the pan you’re going to use, drain the fat, then make the rest of the recipe just as instructed. You could also add in Italian sausage this way.
- Veggies: Love mushrooms, green pepper, onions, olives, and more on your pizza? I recommend roasting or sauteeing them first so they’re tender, then fold them in with the mozzarella cheese.
- Cheese: Feel free to add extra cheeses like Parmesan cheese to the mix and even leave the pepperoni out if you’d prefer a cheese pizza version!
How To Serve
This dish serves 6 to 8 people so it’s perfect for a family but it’s also great for young couples and individuals since this dish reheats amazingly! For our small family, it’s more like a one-pot for three days kinda meal… talk about winning dinner!
Oh, and did I mention this dish is perfect for picky eaters? My daughter devours her dinner every time I make it! She also loves my Pizza Sliders recipe!
I recommend serving it with a nice garden salad and Garlic Parmesan Breadsticks, but you can also enjoy it all on its own!
See, now you want to run out and grab all of the ingredients, don’t you? You should! I promise this Pepperoni Pasta won’t let you down and I hope you enjoy it as much as my family loved it!
More Delicious Pasta Recipes:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Crockpot Mac and Cheese
- One Pan Tomato Ricotta Pasta Bake
Let’s Connect!
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review; I love hearing from you! And don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Busy Family Recipes Facebook Community and share them there!
One Pan Pizza Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 40 slices pepperoni1 quartered and divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste2
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 24 ounces marinara sauce3
- 14 ounces pizza sauce
- 2 cups water
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 pound large elbow macaroni4
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 teaspoon parsley minced
Instructions
- Add most of the quartered pepperonis (reserve some of the top of the dish) along with the olive oil, garlic paste, salt, and pepper to a large skillet (that has a cover) and cook for 2 minutes over low heat, stirring frequently.
- Add in marinara sauce, pizza sauce, water, red pepper flakes, and oregano and stir to combine.
- Then add in the macaroni and stir until combined, increase to medium heat and cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently until pasta has absorbed most of the liquid. Keep a close eye on it towards the end of the cooking time because you don't want the pasta to burn and stick to the pan.
- Once the pasta is tender, stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella. Then top the pasta with the remaining mozzarella and pepperoni.
- Cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until cheese has melted, remove from heat and garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Turkey pepperoni may also be used.
- Garlic paste can usually be found in the produce section with the herbs. You can also use 1 tablespoon of minced garlic or 3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
- You can use your favorite pasta sauce, but I prefer marinara for this recipe.
- Regular elbow macaroni may be used but may cook a little faster, check for doneness around 13 minutes.
- Recipe Variations:
- Bacon: Add 1/2 cup of cooked and crumbled bacon to the recipe when you fold in the mozzarella cheese.
- Beef: When I originally made this recipe it included ground beef, but I decided to omit it when I retested it. However, al you have to do is brown the meat in the pan you’re going to use, drain the fat, then make the rest of the recipe just as instructed. The video shows this version.
- Veggies: Love mushrooms, onions, olives, and more on your pizza? I recommend roasting or sauteeing them first so they’re tender, then fold them in with the mozzarella cheese.
- Cheese: Feel free to add other cheeses to the mix and even leave the pepperoni out if you’d prefer a cheese pizza version!
