Description
Hearty Italian pizza pasta blends classic comfort with delightful culinary creativity. Cheesy, zesty layers combine familiar flavors, promising a satisfying meal you’ll savor with every delicious forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 0.5 pounds ground beef
- 0.5 pounds ground Italian sausage (mild, sweet, or hot)
- 25 slices pepperoni
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
Sauces and Cheese:
- 0.5 cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 32 ounces (907 grams) marinara sauce, high quality
- 8 ounces (227 grams) pizza sauce
- 0.75 pounds (340 grams) penne pasta
- 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2.5 cups whole milk/low moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded from a block
Instructions
- Organize all ingredients on the countertop, ensuring everything is measured and ready for seamless cooking preparation.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil, adding a generous pinch of salt to enhance pasta flavor during cooking.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), creating the ideal temperature for baking the dish to perfection.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, combining ground beef, sausage, and diced onions. Cook for approximately 4 minutes, then incorporate bell peppers and continue cooking for an additional 5 minutes until meat browns thoroughly.
- Drain excess grease from the skillet, then reduce heat to medium. Pour beef broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up all caramelized bits for maximum flavor development.
- Introduce minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and selected seasonings to the skillet. Stir and allow ingredients to meld for one minute, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Blend marinara and pizza sauces into the meat mixture, simmering gently and partially covered to develop a rich, cohesive sauce.
- Cook penne pasta in boiling salted water until slightly under al dente, ensuring it will finish cooking in the oven without becoming mushy.
- Reduce skillet heat to low and fold in Parmesan cheese, creating a creamy sauce texture. Drain pasta and incorporate into the skillet, coating each piece thoroughly.
- Transfer pasta mixture to a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish if the skillet is not oven-safe.
- Distribute shredded mozzarella generously over the surface, then arrange pepperoni slices for that classic pizza-inspired topping.
- Cover the dish and bake for 10 minutes, using foil sprayed with non-stick cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking.
- Remove cover and continue baking for 15 additional minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Optional: Broil for one minute for extra crispiness.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese before serving hot, presenting a delightful fusion of pizza and pasta flavors.
Notes
- Customize the spice level by adjusting hot sauce or adding red pepper flakes to match your heat preference.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version of the dish.
- Use gluten-free pasta and check sauce ingredients to make this recipe celiac-friendly and allergen-sensitive.
- Prep ingredients beforehand to streamline cooking process and reduce kitchen stress during meal preparation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1100 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg