X

Pizza Pasta Bake

This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you buy from them, I will make a few pennies, at no cost to you. See disclosure here.

This delicious Pizza Pasta Bake takes everything you love about pizza and puts it into casserole form. Use your favorite toppings – we opt for traditional pepperoni – to make an easy meal that the whole family will love!

wooden spoon scooping pizza pasta bake from a baking dish

Click HERE to save recipe to Pinterest

Most families look forward to pizza night, right? I know mine does. We also look forward to pasta night. This pizza bake marries the two dishes into one comforting, cheesy dish of goodness.

With it only requiring a few main ingredients, this super easy casserole can be whipped up in no time. Then you add your favorite toppings – pepperoni, ham, olives, spinach, tomatoes, etc.– to please everyone’s taste buds.

spoon pulling stretchy cheese out of a baking dish of pasta

Below is a summary of the major ingredients as well as some helpful tips and substitutions. Scroll down for the full recipe card.

  • PASTA Use your favorite medium pasta shape. I like to use cavatappi, which is Italian for corkscrew, and describes the shape of these noodles. They are a hollow, spiral noodle that is great for grabbing sauce. I also use it in my pestco cavatappi and twisted mac & cheese.
  • GROUND SIRLOIN– I only use a lean sirloin when I make beef dishes. It has great flavor without being greasy. I usually get 93/7%. You can use chuck, you just may have to drain off some grease.
  • MONTREAL STEAK SEASONING You can buy it at the store or you can make your own. This seasoning consists of garlic, coriander, black pepper, cayenne pepper flakes, dill seed, and salt. 
  • MARINARA SAUCE – You can use your favorite jarred sauce or make homemade in under 30 minutes.
  • MOZZARELLA– You will want to use shredded mozzarella for this pizza casserole.
  • TOPPINGS – I used pepperoni but some other options are: ham, olives, bell peppers, spinach, fresh tomatoes, sausage, mushrooms, etc. You could even portion out the casserole to have different toppings on different corners, just like a real pizza.
  • CASSEROLE DISH – I like to pick a baking dish that comes with a lid so you can easily store leftovers or even stick it in the freezer.
  • MEAT CHOPPER – This tool is so handy for breaking up ground beef as you’re cooking it.
  • VEGGIE CHOPPER – Never again will I chop an onion by hand. This little tool makes chopping veggies so easy!
  • COLANDER – My husband bought me a colander with a handle years ago & I thought it was silly & a waste of space…and then I realized it was super convenient.

HOW TO MAKE IT

Making this pizza pasta bake is really easy – you’ll be done in less than an hour!

  1. STEP ONEFirst, cook the noodles until they’re al dente, then drain and set aside. Cook the noodles about a minute or two less than the package instructs because they will continue cooking in the oven.
  2. STEP TWOWhile the noodles are cooking, in a large skillet, add the chopped onion and ground sirloin. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, drain off any excess grease and season with salt and pepper or other favorite seasonings.
  3. STEP THREEOnce the meat is fully cooked and seasoned, pour in the marinara sauce and cooked pasta, then stir it up so everything is evenly distributed. Pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish, top with lots of mozzarella cheese, then add your favorite toppings. I used pepperoni this time.
  4. STEP FIVEFinally, bake for 20 minutes at 350 until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
collage of process shots making a pizza pasta bake

HOW DO YOU MAKE PASTA BAKE BETTER?

First, make sure you pick a good noodle. Like I mentioned cavatappi works well because it is rigid, hollow, and has texture. It will grab the sauce better than a smooth, floppy shape.

Next, undercook your pasta a bit at the boiling phase. Remember that you’re going to bake it, which will further cook it, so stop at al dente (with a bite) while boiling.

Finally, when you take the pasta bake out of the oven, let it rest for a bit before you dive into it. Even giving it five minutes to “set” will help distribute the sauce and flavors.

white plate topped with pasta and pepperoni

STORAGE & REHEATING

It’s a great option to take to a friend or neighbor as a freezer meal along with some freezer friendly stuffed manicotti.

  • Can I double this recipe? You can very easily double this recipe. I made this batch for our family of four and it makes about six servings. As written, I use a medium baking dish (2.25 quart – 12.75 x 7.75″) but if you double, use a 9 x 13.
  • Freezing: Pizza casserole makes a great freezer meal. Follow all the steps in the recipe up until the point of baking it. Instead, cover and freeze up to 3 months. Once you’re ready to bake it, move the casserole from the freezer to the fridge overnight to partially thaw. When ready, remove the casserole from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350° and bake as directed, increasing the cook time to 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
  • Reheating: Reheat either in the microwave in individual portions, or place the whole baking dish in the oven until heated through.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

  • I like to serve this casserole with garlic knots or onion dill bread.
  • To get your veggies in, either add fresh baby spinach to the sauce or serve it with a garden salad or roasted zucchini.
  • I use jarred sauce, but you can also make homemade marinara sauce to step it up a notch.
  • Top your pizza casserole with anything you like on a regular pizza – sliced olives, jalapenos, parmesan cheese, even pineapple!
  • You can’t forget dessert! I like to follow pizza casserole night up with oatmeal raisin cookies or butter pecan cake for dessert.

NEED MORE BAKED PASTA RECIPES? TRY THESE:

Rosa Chicken Pasta Bake
Baked Mostaccioli
Baked Mac & Cheese
Cheesy Chicken Bacon & Kale Pasta Bake
Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
Slow Cooker Lasagna

Click here to view my entire collection of pasta recipes.

overhead shot of pizza pasta topped with pepperoni in a baking dish
wooden spoon scooping pizza pasta bake from a baking dish

Pizza Pasta Bake

Melissa Williams | Persnickety Plates
This delicious Pizza Pasta Bake takes everything you love about pizza and puts it into casserole form. Use your favorite toppings – we opt for traditional pepperoni – to make an easy meal that the whole family will love!
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 445 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 8 oz cavatappi noodles or other small cut pasta
  • ½ large onion chopped
  • 1 pound ground sirloin
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak seasoning
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 6 ounces mozzarella shredded
  • 15 pepperoni slices
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings, like sliced olives, bell peppers, mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, etc.

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° and spray a medium baking dish (approx. 2.25 quart / 12.75 x 7.75) casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook your pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, to a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground sirloin and chopped onion and season with Italian seasoning, Montreal steak seasoning, and salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink.
  • Stir in the spaghetti sauce to the cooked beef. Pour in the cooked and drained pasta and stir to evenly distribute.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with cheese, and arrange pepperoni (& any other toppings) on top
  • Bake, uncovered, 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted.
  • Optional: Garnish with parsley, basil or Italian seasoning if desired.

Notes

  • You can very easily double this recipe. I made this batch for our family of four and it makes about six servings. As written, I use a medium baking dish (2.25 quart – 12.75 x 7.75″) but if you double, use a 9 x 13.
  • Freezing: Pizza casserole makes a great freezer meal. Follow all the steps in the recipe up until the point of baking it. Instead, cover and freeze up to 3 months. Once you’re ready to bake it, move the casserole from the freezer to the fridge overnight to partially thaw. When ready, remove the casserole from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350° and bake as directed, increasing the cook time to 35-40 minutes or until heated through.
  • Reheating: Reheat either in the microwave in individual portions, or place the whole baking dish in the oven until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 445kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 28gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 913mgPotassium: 732mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 691IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 187mgIron: 4mg

Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Tried this recipe? Tag me!Mention @melissa_pplates or tag #persnicketyplates!

Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying/pasting and/or screenshots of full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected.

This recipe first appeared on Yellow Bliss Road.



Reader Interactions

    Share Your Thoughts

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Jennie says

    5 stars
    Family loved it! I’ll have to double the recipe if we want true leftovers. Two thumbs up from the kids too!

    • Melissa Williams says

      I love hearing that, thanks for reporting back!

  2. Casey Carr says

    5 stars
    Another win and family favorite!! Sooo easy to make, and SO delicious! We had a bunch of leftover and we are a family of 5

Melissa Williams/Persnickety Plates is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. For more details, please see my Privacy Policy & Disclosures page.