Pepperoni And Mushroom Pizza Pasta Recipe

Gather the ingredients for pepperoni and mushroom pizza pasta

This casserole-style pasta dish begins with penne, and you'll need some essential ingredients to create the sauce: vegetable oil for sautéing, diced onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and mushrooms. The heartiness of the sauce is achieved with a blend of ground beef and pork, along with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and fresh parsley for flavoring. Additionally, you'll require tomato sauce, which can be store-bought or homemade.

The pizza element of this pasta dish really shines through with the toppings. Once the pasta is prepared and placed in the baking dish, you'll finish it off with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese, slices of pepperoni, and more sliced mushrooms.

Step 1: Heat oil in a pan

In a pot on medium heat, pour in the vegetable oil.

Step 2: Saute the onion

Incorporate the onion and sauté until it becomes soft and translucent, approximately 2 minutes.

Step 3: Add the garlic

Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.

Step 4: Add thered bell pepper

Incorporate red bell pepper and sauté for approximately 2 minutes.

Step 5: Mix in some of the mushrooms

Incorporate 10 ounces of sliced mushrooms and sauté until tender, approximately 5 minutes.

Step 6: Cook the meat

Incorporate the ground meat with the vegetables and cook until browned, about 2–3 minutes.

Step 7: Season the meat mixture

Add salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of oregano for seasoning. Mix well and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Step 8: Finish building the sauce

Add the tomato sauce and the chopped parsley. Mix everything together, cover with a lid, and simmer for 5 minutes over low to medium heat.

Step 9: Preheat the oven

Set the oven temperature to 400°F.

Step 10: Boil water

Heat a large pot of water with salt until it reaches a boil.

Step 11: Cook the pasta

Boil the pasta in water until it reaches an al dente texture, which should take approximately 10 minutes.

Step 12: Place the drained pasta in a baking dish

Strain the penne and transfer it to a 9x12-inch baking dish.

Step 13: Mix the sauce into the pasta

Drizzle the sauce over the pasta and combine thoroughly.

Step 14: Sprinkle on the mozzarella

Dust the shredded cheese over the surface.

Step 15: Add the pizza garnishes

Place pepperoni slices along with the leftover mushrooms and oregano on top.

Step 16: Bake

Place in the center of the oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on the surface.

Step 17: Serve and enjoy

Serve immediately.

What other types of pasta or mix-ins can I use in this pasta bake?

Penne is a timeless pasta option, featuring a ridged tubular shape that sauce loves to adhere to. While penne is a reliable choice, you're not restricted to this particular shape, especially if you don't have it available or want to try something different. Ziti, spaghetti, or cavatappi would all be great alternatives. In fact, most pasta varieties will work for this recipe (even some less common shapes), but it's best to steer clear of very small or fragile types. For instance, angel hair would struggle under the weight of the hearty meat and cheese toppings, while tiny orzo would get overwhelmed by the chunky sauce.

Beyond the pasta, you can also modify other elements of this pepperoni pizza pasta. If you're not keen on the ground beef and pork mixture, feel free to choose one or the other, or even switch to poultry options like ground turkey or chicken. To add a spicy kick to the sauce, toss in jalapeños along with the bell pepper, or get inventive with the cheese on top by using pepper jack, sharp cheddar, or any cheese that melts nicely. Lastly, you can either replace or enhance the pepperoni and mushroom toppings by adding classic pizza ingredients like onions, tomatoes, banana peppers, or black olives.

Can you make pizza pasta ahead of time and freeze it?

One of the standout features of this pepperoni pizza pasta recipe is its generous serving size. Depending on your family's hunger levels and how you divide the portions, this dish can easily provide up to 10 servings. This means you might want to consider saving some of the leftovers for another meal or preparing it in advance to enjoy over a longer period.

Fortunately, pasta bakes are excellent for freezing. If you choose to do this, make sure to let any portions cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. You can freeze the pasta for up to three months, but it's best to consume it sooner to prevent freezer burn.

Alternatively, you can prepare certain components of the dish a day or two in advance and then serve it immediately. The meat sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three days, allowing you to make it ahead and mix it with freshly cooked pasta when you're ready to eat. Any leftovers can also be kept in the fridge for three to four days, making it easy to create two meals from one dish.