Pizza Pasta (One Pot)
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Sep. 21, 2024
This Pizza Pasta (One-Pot) is a weeknight meal saver that’s as easy as it is tasty. This all-in-one meal is sure to please the whole family. Enjoy big flavors with little effort!
In This Article
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Video: Watch Us Make This Recipe
Why This Recipe Stands Out
We all love the flavors of pizza and pasta, and this easy one-pot recipe combines them in the most delicious way. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Incredibly Easy: This recipe is so easy. Everything gets cooked in one skillet, even the pasta. Just like our One-Pot Asian Pasta!
- No Messy Cleanup: Because everything cooks in one skillet, it means no messy clean-up. Weeknights are hectic enough without adding a pile of dishes to the mix.
- Super Quick: It’s ready in just 20 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy the evening with your favorite people. Also see our 20-Minute One Pan Chicken Fajita Pasta!
- Kids Devour It: The combination of pizza and pasta is a winner for both kids and adults. It’s one of the best recipes for family dinners.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Italian Sausage – Use sausage with no casings, which adds a robust, savory flavor to our Pizza Pasta.
- Pasta Sauce – We use a can of pasta sauce as the base for our dish. It’s convenient and packed with flavor.
- Rotini Pasta – Dry rotini pasta is perfect for this recipe. Its corkscrew shape holds the sauce well, ensuring each bite is full of flavor. See below for alternatives.
- Cheeses – 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and ½ cup of shredded parmesan cheese add a gooey, cheesy finish to our Pizza Pasta.
- Spices – We use a combination of sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil to season our dish. These spices add depth of flavor and complement the other ingredients beautifully.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are our favorite substitutions and variations:
- Meat: The recipe calls for Italian sausage, but feel free to use any ground meat you like. Ground beef or turkey would all work great as a substitute, as it does in our Mexican Pasta Bake.
- Pasta: Any corkscrew style pasta is great for holding in the sauce. Opt for cavatappi, fusilli, or orecchiette.
- Pasta Sauce: While we love the flavor of a good store-bought pasta sauce, you can definitely substitute it with your favorite homemade version.
- Cheese: The combination of mozzarella and parmesan is a classic, but you can play around with various cheeses. Try adding in some cheddar, provolone, gouda, or gruyére cheese.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Brown the sausage in a large oven-proof skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Stir in half of the pepperoni.
- Add the pasta sauce, diced tomato, and all the spices. Then add water and stir well.
- Next, add the pasta and bring to a boil. Cover and let it simmer for 14 minutes.
- Top the cooked pasta with mozzarella, parmesan, and the remaining pepperoni. Broil it in the oven for 1-2 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our favorite prep ahead tips and strategies:
- Prep the Ingredients: You can cut the pepperoni into bite-sized quarters, shred the mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and chop the fresh parsley ahead of time. Store these ingredients separately in the fridge for up to two days until you’re ready to cook.
- Make the Sauce: The pasta sauce can also be made in advance. Once made, allow it to cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to cook, just reheat the sauce and continue with the recipe.
- Assemble and Refrigerate: You can also assemble the entire pizza pasta in the skillet ahead of time and refrigerate it. When you’re ready to eat, bring the skillet out, add the cheese and pepperoni on top, and broil it in the oven. This can be done up to 1 day ahead of time.
What To Serve With Pizza Pasta
Vegetables
- Roasted Brussels sprouts or air fryer broccoli are great options to serve on the side of this easy pizza pasta.
- Some classic Easy Roasted Vegetables would also work well with the flavors in this dish.
- We also love serving it with some Garlic Butter Mushrooms on the side!
Salads
- A classic Creamy Caesar Salad is ideal for pairing with pizza and pasta.
- We love this Tortellini Pasta Salad with Pesto Sauce, Tomatoes, and Mozzarella!
Bread
- You can’t go wrong with some bread, and nothing beats this crusty, chewy French Bread recipe.
- This Easiest Garlic Cheese Bread is another great option that the kids will devour. Or try these Parmesan Garlic Pull-Apart Bread Rolls!
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of pasta is best for this recipe?
We recommend using dry rotini or fusilli pasta for this pizza pasta. Its spiral shape allows the sauce to cling to it, and it provides a nice texture in every bite.
Why do I need to broil the pasta in the oven?
Broiling the pasta in the oven is the final touch that gives it a beautiful golden-brown color and allows the cheese to melt and bubble. It gives the dish a more appetizing presentation and adds a bit of crispy texture to the cheese.
How long does Pizza Pasta (One-Pot) keep?
This pizza pasta can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Be sure to store it in an airtight container.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Pizza Pasta (One Pot)
This One Pot Pizza Pasta is super quick, easy, and tasty. It's the perfect busy weeknight meal. The pasta cooks right in the saucy liquid, saving you from cleaning more than one pan for the entire dish.
Ingredients
- 8 oz Italian sausage, no casings
- ½ cup pepperoni, cut into bite size quarters
- 24 oz can pasta sauce
- 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, with juices
- 2 TB sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 13 oz dry rotini pasta
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- Kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- fresh parsley leaves, optional, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large oven-proof skillet, brown sausage over medium high heat, breaking it up as you brown, 3-5 min.
- Stir in half of the pepperoni until heated through, 1 min. Add pasta sauce, diced tomato with juices, sugar, onion, powder, garlic powder, oregano, and basil.
- Add 1 3/4 cups water, stir well, and add salt/pepper to taste.
- Add pasta and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Immediately cover and reduce to simmer. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 14 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Top with mozzarella, parmesan, and remaining pepperoni. Place into oven, uncovered, and broil 1-2 min or just until cheese melts and bubbles.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to use an oven-proof skillet – we love this deep dish cast iron skillet.
- You can customize this dish by adding your favorite pizza toppings, such as bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms. Just sauté them with the Italian sausage for added flavor.
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese from cheese blocks will melt more smoothly and have better flavor than pre-shredded cheese.
- This one-pot pizza pasta is great for meal prep. It keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- Serve it with some French Bread or Garlic Cheese Bread for a satisfying meal.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 556kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 1319mg | Potassium: 768mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 769IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 4mg
More to Cook and Eat
- One Pot Lemon Orzo with Shrimp – This lemony, bright, savory dish is perfect with orzo and shrimp. Makes for a delicious dinner any weeknight that everyone loves.
- One Pot Thai Chicken and Rice – Looking to twist up your chicken/rice routine? Look no further. This Thai inspired dish is full of flavor and easily devoured by all.
- One Pot Gnocci with Spinach and Chicken – One of my favorite ways to enjoy gnocchi is in this one pot recipe. It’s ridiculously easy, tasty, and hits the spot.
- Amazing One Pot Pasta. This is the one that started it all. The whole one pot craze began right here with this yummy tomato/basil version.