Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake
This easy pepperoni pizza pasta bake is made with a rich tomato sauce, loads of cheese and crispy pepperoni! A simple, family-friendly dinner that’s perfect for busy evenings.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 687kcal
Equipment
- Baking dish
Ingredients
- 300 g (3 cups) pasta
- 120 g ( 4.5 oz) pepperoni
- 200 g ( 7oz) mozzarella grated
- 40 g (½ cup) cheddar cheese grated
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 medium red pepper diced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 400 g ( 1 ⅔ cups) jar of passata
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes optional
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water until just underdone.
- Heat the olive oil in a pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the garlic and red pepper cook for another 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in the herbs, smoked paprika and tomato purée, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir through the cooked pasta and most of the pepperoni.
- Tip half of the pasta into a baking dish, top with half of the mozzarella & cheddar. Pour over the other half of the pasta, then top with the rest of the cheese and the rest of the pepperoni.
- Bake at 200°C (180°C fan) for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Slightly undercook the pasta as it will finish cooking in the oven
- Salt the pasta water well for better flavour
- Let the onion soften properly before adding anything else — it makes a difference to the overall taste
- Cooking the tomato purée for a minute helps remove the sharpness
- Add a small pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes
- Chilli flakes are optional but give a nice gentle heat
- Hold some pepperoni back for the top so it crisps up in the oven
- Layering the cheese in the middle and on top keeps it extra melty throughout
- Bake until bubbling and golden — that’s when you know it’s ready
- Leave it to sit for a few minutes before serving so it thickens slightly
- Easy to swap the pepperoni for a vegetarian alternative if needed
Nutrition
Calories: 687kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 898mg | Potassium: 875mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1612IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 391mg | Iron: 4mg
