Pizza Pasta

My cozy, cheesy pizza pasta is packed with flavor, and since it’s made in about half an hour, it’s one of our weeknight go-to’s. It’s cooked on the stove in one skillet and is a fantastic option for when we want pizza but don’t feel like ordering out. Like in my Pizza Burger and Taco Pizza recipes, I love using pizza flavors in unexpected ways. Make sure to add lots of gooey mozzarella and everyone will leave the table happy!

The Cheesiest Ever Pizza Pasta

• Easier than making pizza! Forget making pizza dough — swap in pasta to streamline dinner and skip the fuss of working with dough.
• Needs just one pan. I LOVE that I just need one skillet to make this recipe. It makes clean-up a breeze and I have fewer pots to deal with.
• Family-friendly. My kids love pizza and they love pizza pasta just as much! All of pizza’s familiar flavors and textures are here, but served in a warm and comforting bowl.
• Cooked on the stove. Unlike other pizza pasta recipes, my version is made just on the stove with no need to turn on the oven (which takes even more time!).

What You’ll Need

I’ve included the ingredients needed to make this dish below, along with some notes about what works best. The full ingredient amounts and detailed instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil is always my choice when I use olive oil!
• Italian sausage – I use mild Italian sausage.
• Pepperoni – I love using mini pepperoni here, but you can also use regular-sized pepperoni chopped up into smaller pieces.
• Tomato sauce – Your choice of tomato sauce works great here, and of course, homemade is always nice!
• Seasonings – A blend of Italian seasoning, dried oregano, and garlic powder, plus salt and pepper and fresh herbs like parsley, basil, and thyme to garnish the dish.
• Pasta – Rotini pasta is my preferred pasta, but you can take inspiration from my baked ziti and use another shaped pasta like ziti or penne.
• Broth – Chicken or vegetable broth works great.
• Mozzarella cheese – Shredded mozzarella rather than fresh mozzarella adds a pizza-like texture.

How to Make Pizza Pasta

I love that the pasta cooks in the sauce until tender, eliminating the need to cook it separately. Here’s a look at how you’ll put this cheesy dinner together:

• Prepare the sausage. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add sausage. Cook until browned while breaking it into small pieces.
• Add the pepperoni and sauce. Stir in most of the pepperoni, the sauce, and seasonings.
• Cook the pasta. Add the pasta and broth, then boil and simmer to cook the pasta until tender.
• Add cheese. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top along with the remaining pepperoni.
• Melt. Let the cheese melt, then garnish the pan with fresh herbs and serve!

Variation Ideas

• Vegetarian pizza pasta: Use plant-based pepperoni and sausage to turn this into a vegetarian version! Or just skip the meat altogether.
• More cheese: Turn this into three-cheese pizza pasta by doing a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar cheese, or grab a bag of pizza blend cheese and use it in place of the shredded mozzarella.
• Veggies: Baby spinach or sliced mushrooms are an excellent addition to pizza pasta. Go ahead and add them in with the pasta.
• Favorite pizza flavors: Use this recipe as a base and incorporate your favorite pizza combos like Hawaiian, BBQ chicken, veggie, and more!

How to Store and Reheat Extras

• Fridge – Place cooled leftover pasta in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer – Transfer the cooled pasta to an airtight, freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the pasta in the fridge before reheating.
• To Reheat – A microwave is the easiest way to reheat pizza pasta. Place a portion in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a plate to prevent any sauce splatter, and heat in 1-minute increments until hot and the cheese is melted.