Pizza Pasta Bake (Print-Friendly Version)

Penne pasta, marinara, pepperoni, and mozzarella baked to golden, bubbly perfection with crispy edges.

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 450 g penne pasta, uncooked
02 - 710 ml marinara sauce
03 - 285 g pepperoni slices
04 - 200 g mozzarella cheese, shredded

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 190°C and position an oven rack in the upper third for optimal browning.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook for 2 minutes less than package directions indicate. Drain thoroughly.
03 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Stir in the marinara sauce and one third of the pepperoni slices, mixing until pasta is completely coated.
04 - Transfer pasta mixture to a 33 x 23 cm baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the top, then layer remaining pepperoni over the cheese.
05 - Bake uncovered for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Switch to broil and cook for 2–3 minutes until the top is crisped and golden, monitoring closely to avoid burning.

# Notes & Tips:

01 - For a saucier result, incorporate an extra 120–240 ml of marinara sauce to taste.
02 - Pepperoni package sizes may vary; slight deviations in amount will not affect the outcome.