Description
A hearty and comforting Pizza Pasta Bake combining penne pasta with Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni, baked to perfection with a golden, bubbly cheese topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Meat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
- 1 small can sliced black olives, drained
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 jar marinara sauce (about 24 ounces)
Toppings
- 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to get it ready for baking the pasta dish.
- Boil Water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for cooking the penne pasta.
- Cook Pasta: Add the penne pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: While the pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced mushrooms, and green bell pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are tender, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook Sausage: Add the Italian sausage to the pan with vegetables. Break up the meat with a spoon and cook until fully browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add Olives: Stir the drained sliced black olives into the sausage and vegetable mixture to incorporate their flavor.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place the cooked and drained penne pasta into the dish. Add the sausage and vegetable mixture along with the marinara sauce. Toss gently to evenly coat all the pasta.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Arrange pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and starts to turn golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired, and serve hot for a delicious, hearty meal.
Notes
- You can substitute mild Italian sausage with spicy sausage for an extra kick.
- Use freshly grated mozzarella for best melting results.
- Adding chopped fresh basil or oregano along with parsley can enhance the flavor.
- To make ahead, assemble the dish without baking, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then bake as directed.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
