Looking for an easy meal that will feed a hungry crowd? Quick enough to whip up on a weeknight and full of hearty ingredients, your family will devour this Pizza Pasta Bake. Add all the pizza toppings you love!

This is such a simple recipe, really, but my family absolutely loved it. I mean, who doesn’t like pizza?! But the best part is, you can totally customize the ingredients, just like your favorite type of pizza.

And you know pizza will be kid-approved! But what I love about this dish is that it’s also full of hearty ingredients, including plenty of veggies. Somehow kids are more accepting of veggies and new foods when they’re covered in cheese. It’s a great way to get a balanced meal on the table with approval from the kiddos. Add a side salad and you’re good-to-go with a wholesome dinner and some leftovers! In my house, this meal lasts for dinner and at least a couple of lunches throughout the week. It’s a great meal idea for a larger family.

Looking for more easy family dinners? Check out these Southwestern Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers! Prep in the morning and have a delicious, hot dinner waiting. Or try yummy Teriyaki Chicken in the instant pot. You can even use frozen chicken–I know I’m not alone in forgetting to thaw the meat! We’re all about dinner solutions around here.

pizza pasta casserole

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

1 lb pasta (suggested-rigatoni)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup frozen bell pepper and onion strips*
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or more to taste)
1 cup pepperoni, plus a handful for topping
1 to 2 jars pasta sauce (1 ½ shown in recipe)
2 cups shredded mozzarella or Italian-style cheese, divided
¼ cup, shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder

I love easy meals like this to have in my weeknight rotation. Yummy, filling, and family-friendly. Let’s dig in!

RECIPE TIPS:

• Use fresh or frozen veggies, and whichever variety you prefer– bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, spinach, etc.
• After casserole bakes, you can heat until high broil for a few minutes to crisp up pepperoni.
• Double the recipe and pop one pan in the freezer to bake on a busy night!

handy tools to make this pizza pasta bake even easier:

• crockpot – timer, intelligent cooking, huge
• pasta bowls – look great, jazz up an easy meal, dishwasher safe 

frequently asked questions

Do I have to cook pasta before baking?

You don’t have to, but the uncooked pasta will soak up all the sauce and make your dish very dry. And the pasta may not cook completely.

Your alternative to cooking this pasta is to use this simple no-cook method of precooking the pasta. Just soak the pasta in warm salted water before adding it to the other ingredients and sliding the mixture into the oven. Presoaking is a way to begin hydrating the pasta and washing away some of its starch, even as the salt in the water pre-seasons the pasta.

Can you use pizza sauce as pasta sauce?

Yes, but you’ll want to add some flavor with sautéed vegetables or chopped herbs.

What sides go with Pizza Casserole?

Salads and veggies make it a complete meal! Try Spinach Caprese Salad, BLT Salad, or a Roasted Vegetable Salad.