One-Pot Pizza Pasta Express (Printable)

Fast, family-friendly pasta with marinara, cheese, and pizza toppings, ready in one pot.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rotini)

→ Sauce

02 - 24 oz jar marinara sauce
03 - 1/2 cup water

→ Cheese

04 - 2 cups pre-shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1/2 cup pre-shredded Parmesan cheese

→ Toppings

06 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
07 - 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni (optional)
08 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large, deep skillet or pot, add pasta, marinara sauce, and water. Stir to combine.
02 - Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta is nearly tender.
03 - Stir in sliced black olives, pepperoni (if using), red onion, and diced bell pepper. Cook uncovered for 2 minutes until vegetables soften and pasta is al dente.
04 - Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly over the top. Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until cheese melts and bubbles.
05 - Season with dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, so cleanup is faster than arguing over toppings
  • It tastes like pizza night without the wait or the delivery fee
  • You can toss in whatever vegetables are hiding in your crisper drawer
  • Cheese melts right into the pasta instead of sliding off like it does on actual pizza
02 -
  • If your pasta is not quite tender after 8 minutes, add a splash more water and cook another minute or two, do not let it dry out and stick
  • Stir the pot every few minutes while the pasta cooks or you will end up with a burnt layer on the bottom that smells like regret
  • Let the cheese melt with the lid on, if you stir it too early it turns stringy instead of gooey
03 -
  • Use a deep skillet or Dutch oven so the pasta has room to expand without boiling over and making a mess on your stove
  • If you want a crispy cheese top, transfer the whole pot under the broiler for a minute or two after the cheese melts, just watch it closely so it does not burn
  • Taste the sauce before you add salt, jarred marinara can be surprisingly salty and you do not want to overdo it
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