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Easy Pepperoni Pasta Bake with Italian Sausage and Mozzarella

Published: by Becky · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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Alright friends, get ready for the ultimate cozy dinner that feels like a cheesy, savory hug — and it’s ridiculously easy to make! This easy pepperoni pasta bake with Italian sausage and mozzarella is the weeknight dinner of your dreams. Think hearty pasta, melty cheese, savory sausage, and crispy pepperoni all baked together to perfection. It’s the kind of dish that’ll have your family begging for seconds (and maybe even thirds). So grab your ingredients, pop that bubbly, and let’s make dinner magic!

Pepperoni and Italian sausage pasta bake with red sauce on a blue plate, topped with chopped parsley, with a fork, on a table next to a white napkin and baking dish with more pasta bake.

This pepperoni pasta bake is perfect for those cozy weeknights when you want something comforting and satisfying, or for when you're hosting a casual dinner party and need an easy dish that's guaranteed to please a crowd.

This super easy meal can be made ahead or thrown together at the last minute. It brings classic meat lover's pizza flavors to a simple, one-pan dinner that's both comforting and crowd-pleasing.

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Simple Ingredients

This dish is as easy as it gets, with just five ingredients—pasta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, mozzarella, and marinara—coming together to create a flavorful, cheesy masterpiece.

Ingredients for pepperoni pasta bake with Italian sausage and mozzarella: Shredded mozzarella cheese, pasta shapes, marinara sauce, Italian sausage, and mini pepperoni.
  • Pasta: I like to use a variety of shapes like farfalle, rotini, and penne, but any shapes will work.
  • Mozzarella cheese: Melts into a gooey, creamy layer that perfectly complements the sausage and crispy pepperoni.
  • Marinara sauce: Use your favorite marinara sauce. I love Prego mini-meatball.
  • Italian sausage: Brings a savory, spicy kick to the dish.
  • Pepperoni: Adds a crispy, salty crunch, giving every bite an extra burst of flavor.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Easy Pepperoni Pasta Bake

This tasty pasta bake is as simple as it gets—no complicated steps, just delicious layers of flavor coming together in one dish. Grab your ingredients, preheat the oven, and let’s dive in.

Ground Italian sausage browning in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C). Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet. Drain and discard fat.
Pasta shapes (bowtie, rotini, and rigatoni) in a colander next to a blue and white kitchen towel.
  1. Cook pasta accordingly to package directions until al dente and drain.
Ingredients for pepperoni pasta bake (cooked pasta, marinara sauce, mini pepperoni, and cooked ground Italian sausage) in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.
  1. Combine cooked pasta, cooked Italian sausage, marinara sauce, ½ cup shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni in a large mixing bowl.
Pepperoni pasta bake in a square white baking dish next to a dish with grated mozzarella.
  1. Place pasta mixture into 9x9-inch or 9x13-inch ovenproof baking dish.
Pepperoni pasta bake topped with mozzarella in a square white baking dish.

5. Top with remaining 1-½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cooked pepperoni pasta bake topped with melted mozzarella cheese and chopped parsley in a square white baking dish.

6. Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. If the cheese is getting brown too quickly, cover with aluminum foil for the remainder of baking time.

Hint: Browning the sausage before mixing it with the other ingredients adds a deeper, richer flavor, and it also helps to get that perfect crispy texture in the sausage, which pairs well with the melted cheese and crispy pepperoni!

Pepperoni pasta bake with Itailan sausage and mozzarella in a white baking dish with a wooden spoon.

Variations

The main flavor for this dish comes from the salty, crispy pepperoni and the savory, spicy Italian sausage. Substituting either one of those will lead to significant variation in the flavor profile, but feel free to mix it up if that's your thing!

  • Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for extra heat.
  • Sausage: Try breakfast sausage or hot sausage for a contrasting twist.
  • Pepperoni: I like using mini pepperoni, but try regular size pepperoni, prosciutto, or Canadian bacon for a different flavor experience.
  • Cheese: Try another great melting cheese like fontina, provolone, or gouda.
Two blue plates containing pepperoni pasta bake with Italian sausage and mozzarella with forks on a wooden table next to white fringed napkins and a white baking dish with more pepperoni pasta bake and a wooden spoon.

Storage

To store your pepperoni pasta bake, let it cool to room temperature, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. You can also transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

For longer storage, you can freeze the baked pasta for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake it in the oven at 375°F (190°C) until it's heated through, or microwave individual portions for a quick meal. Make sure to cover it with foil while reheating to keep the cheese from drying out.

Pepperoni pasta bake with Italian sausage and mozzarella topped with chopped parsley being spooned out of a white baking dish.

FAQ

Can pepperoni pasta bake be meal prepped?

Yes! It stores easily in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. See directions above for storage.

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with pepperoni pasta bake with Italian sausage and mozzarella:

Pepperoni and Italian sausage pasta bake with red sauce on a blue plate next to a white napkin on a wooden table.

Easy Pepperoni Pasta Bake with Italian Sausage and Mozzarella

Becky
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • large pot to cook pasta
  • colander or strainer to drain cooked pasta
  • skillet to cook Italian sausage
  • baking dish to assemble and bake pasta dish
  • wooden spoon or spatula

Ingredients
  

  • 16 ounces pasta shapes (I use penne, farfalle, and rotini)
  • 1 pound Italian sausage ground
  • 1 cup mini pepperoni
  • 1 jar marinara sauce (24 ounces)
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃). Brown Italian sausage in a skillet. Drain and discard fat.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, cooked Italian sausage, pepperoni, ½ cup mozzarella, and marinara sauce. Stir to combine.
  • Layer pasta mixture into baking dish and cover with remaining 1-½ cups of shredded mozzarella.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted and slightly browned on top.

Notes

I used a 9x9-inch baking dish for this pasta bake.  A 9x13-inch dish will also work.
I love to use mini pepperoni because they're fun to eat, but you can substitute regular size pepperoni left whole or diced.
If your cheese is browning too quickly, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil for the rest of the baking time.
A 24-ounce jar of marinara sauce is equal to about 3 cups.
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