Pepperoni Pasta Bake

Pepperoni Pasta Bake

from gimmesomeoven.com
40 min

This “Pepperoni Pasta Bake” is simple, inexpensive, and always a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dry pasta of your choice
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • half a white onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
  • about 30 pepperonis, sliced into halves
  • optional toppings: chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley, shaved Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  2. 2

    Cook pasta in generously-salted water until al dente according to package instructions.

  3. 3

    While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes, until it is cooked and translucent. Add the garlic and oregano and cook for 1 minute more, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat.

  4. 4

    Once the pasta is finished cooking, drain the water and return the pasta back to the pot. Stir in the garlic/onion mixture, the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, Mozzarella (reserve a small handful of the cheese for the topping), Parmesan and pepperonis. Mix until well-blended.

  5. 5

    Transfer the pasta to a greased baking dish, and then sprinkle the remaining Mozzarella cheese on top. Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starts to brown around the edges.

  6. 6

    Serve immediately.