Pepperoni And Mushroom Pizza Pasta Recipe
Pasta meets pizza meets casserole in this ultra-cheesy, meaty, and comforting dish that's brought to us by recipe developer Milena Manolova.
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ⅔ cup diced yellow onion
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- ¾ cup diced red bell pepper
- 12 ounces sliced mushrooms, divided
- 18 ounces ground beef and pork mix
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry oregano, divided
- 2 ½ cups tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 3 cups dry penne pasta
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 12 pepperoni slices
- In a saucepan over medium heat, add the vegetable oil.
- Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add red bell pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes.
- Mix in 10 ounces of sliced mushrooms and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground meat and mix it with the veggies. Cook until brown, 2–3 minutes.
- Season with the salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon oregano. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce and add the chopped parsley. Stir everything, cover with a lid, and cook for 5 minutes on low to medium meat.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Drain the penne and place it in a 9x12-inch baking dish.
- Pour over the sauce and mix it well with the pasta.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top.
- Add pepperoni slices and the remaining mushrooms and oregano on top.
- Bake on the middle rack for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown on top.
- Serve right away.
“I season the tomato sauce with fragrant dry oregano and fresh parsley, making each bite burst with flavor,”
Many of the elements that go into the pasta itself (not just on top) also hone in on that pizza vibe while still remaining true to a classic, tomatoey pasta dish. Penne pasta serves as the base, whereas the pizza-like tomato sauce boasts two types of meat — a beef and pork mixture — along with onion, garlic, bell pepper, and plenty of herbs. "I season the tomato sauce with fragrant dry oregano and fresh parsley, making each bite burst with flavor," Manolova says. Needless to say, this pizza-pasta fusion certainly isn't skimping on any flavor or heartiness, so serve it alongside a simple Caesar salad for an easy and sure-to-be-loved weeknight meal.
Gather the ingredients for pepperoni and mushroom pizza pasta
The base of this casserole-like pasta dish starts with penne, and you'll also need some staples ingredients to begin building the sauce: vegetable oil for sauteing, chopped onion, garlic, red bell pepper, and mushrooms. The meatiness of the sauce comes into play by way of a ground beef and pork mixture, and then you'll need salt, pepper, dried oregano, and fresh parsley for seasoning. And, of course, you'll need actual tomato sauce, either from a jar, from a can, or homemade.
The pizza aspect of this pasta dish especially comes into play thanks to the toppings. Once you have the pasta ready to go in the baking dish, you'll top the whole thing off with a layer of mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, and some more sliced mushrooms.
Pour in the tomato sauce and add the chopped parsley. Stir everything, cover with a lid, and cook for 5 minutes on low to medium heat.
