There comes a time in every home cooks life when you really, really, really have a hankering for pizza. Except dinner is in 30 minutes. And you have no store bought dough. And no time at all to put together a dough, let it rise, etc.
Might I suggest this pizza bake as an alternative?! It’s sure to cure that craving and it can be on the table in 30 minutes or less!
Here’s how it looks. Boil the pasta…10-15 minutes, depending on the kind you use. While the pasta is boiling, cut the pepperonis and the peppers and get out the cheeses.
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water to help thin out the pizza sauce. Put the saucepan or Dutch oven back on the burner with the water, pizza sauce, peppers and pepperoni and let cook for 2-3 minutes. Reintroduce the pasta, toss, top with the cheese and then bake for about 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
30 minutes. Done!
Pasta, pepperoni, pizza sauce, peppers and some pizza blend cheese…cooked all in one dish!
Pizza Penne Bake
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 20 minutes
Cooking Time – 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. pasta noodles, such as penne, ziti, mostachioli or other “medium” shaped noodle
- 3/4 cup pizza sauce
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 30 pepperonis, cut in half
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup pizza blend shredded cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Tossed salad; as side dish
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cook the pasta as directed on the package in an ovenproof saucepan or Dutch oven. Save 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid and then drain.
- To the same saucepan or Dutch oven, add the reserved cooking liquid and the pizza sauce and whisk together.
- Then stir in the chopped peppers and halved pepperonis and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the drained pasta noodles. Toss together.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the pasta and then sprinkle the pizza blend shredded cheese over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes, or until cheese begins to melt.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare tossed salad.
- Serve Pizza Penne Bake with tossed salad.
Susan says
Love everything about your website!!!
JoeyfromSC says
WOW it looks amazing!! thanks for sharing and I 2nd what Susan said:)
JuliefromGa says
I love this website too. I have learned alot!
JerifromPA says
We tried this last night and it was wonderful!! I love all your recipes and you have helped me to get my grocery bill down a lot. Thank you so much!!
Betty says
What they said. 🙂
Amy says
I made this a couple weeks ago for dinner, and my husband loved it. When I told Him that there wasn’t any left for seconds, he asked if he could lick the pan. It was so good, I am making it again tonight, and I will make double. 🙂
Thanks for the easy, quick meal ideas! I Love your website.
Tara says
Hi Have made this dish for a few years now and it works very well in a crock pot. cook the pasta then layer everything in the pot and cook on low for about an hour or two.