Penne pizza is a delicious combination of flavorful ground beef and tender pasta in a rich sauce topped with gooey cheese and pepperoni. A comfort casserole great for cool nights or busy weekdays. Penne pizza pasta bake is hearty and satisfying and kids of all ages will be asking for more.
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When you take all the things you love about pizza, the pepperoni, the layers of cheese, a flavorful sauce, and mix it with penne pasta, the results will remind you of cozy days at home. Each bite is filled with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, ground beef, and pepperoni.
❤️ Why You'll Love It
- Comforting and hearty pizza pasta with simple ingredients, making it budget-friendly
- Make ahead meal that's easy to prepare with minimal effort.
- Kids love the taste of pasta topped with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Perfect for a potluck dish, as it will feed a crowd.
- Versatile dish as you can customize it by using your favorite pasta shape, ground meat, cheese and even some veggies.
Pizza pasta is incredibly easy to prep. The simple ingredients make it budget-friendly. The large size of this recipe makes it perfect for your holiday table, party, or potluck.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📋 Ingredient Notes
- Olive oil
- Ground beef - I like to use lean ground beef 90/10 but use your preference.
- Pizza sauce
- Marinara sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Dry oregano: A must for any Italian style dish.
- Parmesan cheese: Use already grated or grate it yourself for a fresher taste.
- Mozzarella: Save time by using bagged shredded mozzarella.
- Pepperoni: I used half of an 8 ounce bag and still had plenty leftover.
- Penne pasta: Comes in regular or large size, in this recipe I used regular Penne pasta.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat, add onions, and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add ground beef, breaking it apart, and cook until no longer pink.
- Pour pasta sauce, marinara sauce and water over, mix to combine. Add seasonings and mix well.
- Turn the heat off and mix in Parmesan.
- Mix in cooked pasta.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top it with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices. Cover and bake until cheese melts.
💡 Amira's Tips
- If you do not have parchment paper, spray the foil with cooking spray before topping the casserole with it and baking. This is to keep the cheese from sticking to the foil.
- You can use gluten-free pasta.
- Top with your favorite pizza toppings such as bell pepper slices or black olives.
🥣 Equipment
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- 4 quart casserole dish
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🧺 Storage
Refrigerate - Leftover penne pizza can be wrapped tightly and kept in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze - Wrap and freeze penne pizza before baking. After assembling the casserole dish, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, pressing along the edges to ensure no air can get in. Keep in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to enjoy, take the plastic wrap off and follow the directions in the recipe card for cooking. Note that if your penne pizza dish is frozen it will take longer to cook.
Reheat - Penne pizza casserole can be easily reheated in your microwave.
⌛ Make Ahead
Penne pizza is a wonderful make ahead meal. You can bake it and store it in your refrigerator until you're ready to serve or you can wrap it before baking and freeze for up to 3 months.
🍽️ Serve With
- No reason to make it complicated! Keep your penne pizza pasta dinner simple and serve crispy, crunchy Air Fryer Garlic Bread and a simple green salad. That's all you need!
- Don't forget dessert. Chocolate Molten Lava Cake goes fabulous with any Italian recipe. An easy make ahead recipe for any party.
👩🍳 Variations
- Add a little heat by adding a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes.
- Swap out penne pasta for spiral, ziti or any other to make your favorite pizza pasta.
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken in place of ground beef.
💬 FAQs
Although both are quite similar, pizza sauce is slightly thicker than marinara sauce because of how the tomatoes are processed. When added together they make a delicious sauce.
📣 Related Recipes
- If you love pasta bake, you'll want to try this delicious and hearty Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole. A creamy sauce with noodles topped with a buttery crunch.
- Make a quick and easy Bruschetta pizza for dinner tonight using your favorite pie crust and a fresh tomatoes, basil and chicken.
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta is a delicious springtime meal for when you are craving light yet flavorful, creamy dishes. Best part is, this recipe is done in under 30 minutes!
- Alfredo Tortellini Bake is a creamy, comforting casserole that is quick and easy. A satisfying meal perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
- This Pizza Tater Tot Casserole is a crunchy twist to the beloved comfort food made with your favorite pizza toppings. Crisp tater tots topped with melted cheese, pepperoni and delicious pizza sauce for an irresistible dish.
- Olive Garden Chicken Scampi is made just as creamy and delicious without the wine. Tender chicken in a creamy sauce topped with lightly sauteed vegetables, a 30-minute meal you'll want to make every day.
More Ground Beef Casseroles
- Everyone loves this recipe for Cowboy Cornbread Casserole! It's filled with big beefy flavors and super easy to make and hello.... cornbread!
- This Easy Baked Ziti is another cheesy baked pasta recipe that your whole family will love.
- This Creamy Pasta Bake uses a béchamel sauce to add an extra hint of creamy to make it taste amazing.
- Big Mac Casserole is a fun and easy twist on the favorite Big Mac classic sandwich in a hearty and comforting casserole form.
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Thank you.
Penne Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 ½ lean ground beef
- 1 jar of pizza sauce 12.3oz
- 1 jar of marinara sauce 23oz
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dry oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- 2 ½ cup mozzarella
- Pepperoni slices enough to cover the casserole
- 1 pound penne pasta
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a deep 4qt casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a big pot of boiling salty water cook pasta 1 minute shy of al dente according to package directions, drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a large skillet heat oil off medium heat add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes add ground beef breaking it apart and cook until no longer pink. Drain excess fat is desired.
- Pour pasta sauce, marinara sauce and water over, mix to combine.
- Season with garlic powder, oregano black pepper and cook for a minute or two more.
- Turn heat off mix in parmesan cheese and cooked pasta
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Arrange pepperoni slices on top. Cover with parchment paper and foil then bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking for another 10 minutes or until cheese completely melts. Bake for longer or turn on the broiler if you want the cheese to brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or more parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
Nutrition
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Erin
So good and my toddler approves!!