How long it takes: 15 minutes to prep, 25 minutes in the oven Equipment you’ll need: baking dish, oven, sharp knife Servings: 6 This week, I took a look at my fridge and found leftover pepperoni and mozzarella from making these pizza paninis, and leftover pasta from chicken cacciatore. I thought, hmmm, I can make a really good hot dish with this. And that’s just what I did! A great way to use leftover cooked pasta. I always seem to make too much pasta. I mean, who doesn’t throw the whole box of pasta into the water? I hate all those odds and ends in the pantry, don’t you? (Did you know you can easily freeze cooked plain pasta in a bag? It’s super easy to thaw – just rinse it in a colander with hot water.) All your favorite pizza toppings. If you’ve made a pizza lately, maybe you ended up with just a handful of pepperoni, a smidge of ham, a few mushrooms or peppers, half a jar of sauce, and maybe even extra cheese. True confession: I usually end up adding all the cheese I have, because the cheesier, the better, right? Versatile. This recipe started out as a way to use up leftover plain pasta I happened to have but don’t worry if you don’t have leftover pasta! You can use any kind of pasta; just cook it and you’re ready to make this easy pasta casserole.
Ingredient Notes
Pasta: Really, any type of pasta can be baked. You can use whole wheat, gluten-free, whatever you like or happen to have in your pantry or fridge. Noodles, spaghetti, ziti, rotini, it’s all fine. Pizza sauce: Use a can or jar from your pantry and add as much as you like. You’ll need at least one and a half cups. Homemade pizza sauce is great, too! Pepperoni and Ham: These two meats are easy because they’re pre-cooked. Make it vegetarian and leave out the meat. Cheese: Mozzarella because it is a pizza casserole, and Parmesan because it adds great flavor. If you’re craving something different, try provolone. Spinach: A handful or two of spinach adds nutrition and color. I like to add spinach to everything. If you don’t care for it, try other veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or onions but sauté them first. Olives are great, too. Grape or Cherry Tomatoes: Halve them and stir them into the casserole. They add a nice texture and flavor but if you don’t have them, don’t worry.
How To Make This Baked Pasta
Okay, are you ready? Preheat the oven, grease or spray a baking pan, and mix everything together in a big bowl (reserve a half cup of cheese to sprinkle on top). Put it into the baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Bake the casserole until it’s heated through and the cheese is melted and gooey. It doesn’t get much easier than that! And it’s so good! Serve this pasta with air fryer broccoli or oven roasted broccoli (if you want to include an extra veggie). A homemade snickerdoodle or chocolate chip cookie is a perfect dessert.
Recipe Variations
This pizza baked pasta is so easy to customize. Use what you happen to have in the house. Make it just how you like it! Here’s a few suggestions:
Use any kind of pasta you want. Long, short, skinny, fat, whole wheat, gluten-free … it doesn’t matter. I like to choose a short pasta, such as penne, ziti, or shells. If I’m using spaghetti, I often chop the long strands into smaller pieces so it’s easier to mix (and eat!). Make a bigger casserole. If you have more than 8 oz. of pasta, add extra sauce and cheese and make a larger casserole. Add any meat you like. pepperoni (slices, chunks, or mini-sized), ham, cooked Italian sausage (it’s really, really good with sausage!), browned ground beef or turkey, salami, shredded chicken, whatever. Or go vegetarian and skip the meat. Add veggies. Anything goes! Add them raw or sauté them briefly before adding them. Olives and pepperoncini are good, too! Try a different kind of cheese. Monterey Jack is similar to mozzarella or just use a mild cheddar. We also love provolone in this recipe! The main criteria is to use a cheese that melts well and is flavorful! How about sauce? Do you have leftover marinara or spaghetti sauce? That works! How about Alfredo? I haven’t tried pesto in this casserole but I think that would be great!
Make-Ahead Ideas
Cook pasta ahead. Plan ahead so you have plain pasta already made. If you’re making a spaghetti dinner, why not make double the pasta you need? The big pot of water is boiling and it’s easy to make extra pasta. Freeze pasta. Drain it and put the extra into a freezer safe container or bag. Pop it into the freezer and it’s all ready for a casserole. To thaw it out, put the frozen pasta into a colander in the sink and run hot water over it. It’s so easy!
Freezing This Casserole
This pizza baked pasta freezes really well. Make two pans of it and freeze one pan, unbaked. When you’re in the mood or need a quick dinner, thaw it overnight in the fridge and bake as directed. It’s perfect for those nights when you know you aren’t going to have time to cook. Interested in a weekly meal plan that includes this recipe? Take a look at Meal Plan #92. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. We add a new meal plan weekly.
