How To Make Pizza Pasta In 30 Minutes
Love pizza and pasta? Combine the two with this quick and easy recipe for Pizza Pasta that can be made in just 30 minutes!
Our pizza pasta recipe is one of those delicious, easy comfort food recipes, that's packed with flavour, super simple to throw together and is always a dinner win!
WHY YOU'LL LOVE PIZZA PASTA BAKE
⭐️ Super simple to make, plus we use a rich homemade tomato sauce so it tastes just so good!
⭐️ I tend to keep our pizza pasta pepperoni flavour, but you can add on extra pizza toppings if you like.
⭐️ It's a really good family dinner, just add a few vegetable or salad side dishes... maybe some garlic bread (my kids like garlic bread with EVERYTHING)
INGREDIENTS
Everything you need to make delicious pizza pasta!
Quantities and Measurements in Recipe Card Below
- Crushed Tomatoes - I usually use polpa tomatoes, they're a little finer than chopped tomatoes.
- Olive Oil
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Dried Oregano - you can sub Italian seasoning here if you wish.
- Sugar - this balances out the acidity of the tomatoes, and gives the sauce a richer, smoother taste.
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Dried Elbow Macaroni
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese - you can opt for shredded mozzarella or a mix of both.
- Pepperoni - if you can find it get the small circles of pepperoni, they just give a more 'pizza' vibe.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- 2 Saucepans - one for the sauce, one for the pasta
- Colander - to drain the pasta
- Wooden Spoon
- Baking Dish
- Cheese Grater
HOW TO MAKE PIZZA PASTA BAKE
Serves 6 (or 4 extra hungry people) / Prep Time - 5 mins / Cook time - 25 mins
Full step by step instructions in recipe card below
- Make the quick tomato pizza sauce - add the olive oil, crushed tomatoes, dried garlic, dried onion powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper and sugar to a saucepan, stir well and bring to the boil and simmer with the lid off whilst you cook the pasta.
- Preheat the oven and cook the macaroni in salted water as per the packet instructions.
- Assemble the pizza pasta. Load that delicious pizza pasta up into your oven proof baking dish. Then sprinkle on the shredded Cheddar cheese and add the pepperoni.
- Bake in the oven - bake the pizza pasta in the oven until the cheese browns and the pepperoni colors up.
- Serve - it's extra special if you scatter over some fresh herbs, like basil or oregano.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH PIZZA PASTA
I usually serve pizza pasta with steamed broccoli, simply tossed in olive oil, lemon juice and a few capers (it's so good, one of my favourite simple Italian side dishes) But, it's also great with salad and homemade coleslaw.
INGREDIENT SWAPS AND ADD-INS
Different Pizza Toppings - you can top your pizza pasta any way you like, and if that means putting on ham and pineapple... then go for it! You could try chorizo, shredded cooked chicken, cooked Italian sausage, black olives, sautéed vegetables, even tuna and sweetcorn. Add whatever your favorite pizza toppings are.
Use Different Pasta - I like to use elbow macaroni as it's nice to use a little pasta in this dish, but you can absolutely swap it for penne, rotini pasta or fusilli if you prefer.
TOP TIPS FOR MAKING pizza pasta
⭐ You will need more sauce than you think - so make a lot (even though it looks like too much) And if you want to make this quicker, then grab a couple of big jars of flavor packed marinara sauce instead of making a homemade one.
⭐ Always be sure to save some sauce for spreading on the top of the pizza pasta.
⭐ If you like a really good cheese PULL, then use just mozzarella cheese instead of Cheddar cheese or a blend of cheese.
⭐ If you like to prep-ahead, then you can make your tomato sauce in advance and keep in the fridge for 2-days. Or make a big batch and freeze some for use another day (defrost thoroughly before reheating and using)
LOVE YOUR LEFTOVERS
Storing Leftover Pizza Pasta - leftover pasta can be cooled and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for use the next day. We like to eat it cold, but you can reheat in the oven or air fryer if you like, always reheat thoroughly. See here for top tips on reheating food.
Freezing Pasta - We don't recommend freezing this dish - the texture is not as nice when defrosted.
IDEAS FOR USING UP LEFTOVER INGREDIENTS
I get it, when you buy ingredients just for using in one recipe it's always good to have to ways to use up the leftovers, so that you're not wasting things.
LEFTOVER PEPPERONI - use up on cheese on toast, or stir through pasta with pesto.
MORE EASY PASTA RECIPES TO TRY
Get More Pasta Bake Recipes Here
Need Some New Family Meal Ideas?
Check out our meal planning here – it’s filled with recipes, meal planning tips and pre-filled printable meal plans weekly or seasonally. We’ve got hundreds of the BEST family recipes and meal ideas your whole family will LOVE!
Hey, let us know how you get on making the Pizza Pasta and you can share your foodie photos with us on Instagram or Facebook. And if you get a second we'd love for you to rate the recipe on the card below ⭐️
Pizza Pasta
Throw Together The BEST Pizza Pasta In Just 30 Minutes - Weeknight Dinner Sorted!
Ingredients
- 2 x 28oz can crushed tomatoes (4 x 400g cans polpa tomatoes)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 teaspoon sugar
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper
- 18oz dried elbow macaroni (500g)
- 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 30 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Make the quick tomato sauce - add the olive oil, crushed tomatoes, dried garlic, dried onion powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper and sugar to a saucepan, stir well and bring to the boil and simmer with the lid off whilst you cook the pasta.
- Preheat the oven to 400F / 200C
- Cook the macaroni as per the packet instructions.
- Assemble you pizza pasta. Tip ¾ of the sauce into the cooked and drained macaroni and stir well to coat it all. Then tip the tomato macaroni into an oven proof baking dish. Top with the rest of the tomato sauce and spread it over the pasta. Then sprinkle on the shredded Cheddar cheese and add the pepperoni.
- Bake in the oven for around 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts and the pepperoni cooks and colours.
- Scatter with extra fresh herbs if you like, and serve.
Notes
Prep Ahead - If you like to prep-ahead, then you can make your tomato sauce in advance and keep in the fridge for 2-days. Or make a big batch and freeze some for use another day (defrost thoroughly before reheating and using)
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 614Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 1168mgCarbohydrates: 53gFiber: 7gSugar: 15gProtein: 29g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.
Wendy is the creator of Daisies & Pie, a UK food blog sharing easy meals and home lifestyle tips since 2012
