Pepperoni Baked Pasta
This cozy dish takes all of the flavors of your favorite pepperoni pizza and spins them into a family-friendly baked pasta that is quick and easy to make. Make sure to cook the pasta just shy of al dente to ensure that the finished pasta doesn’t get mushy. Pepperoni adds nice heat and spice, but feel free to add olives, sautéed mushrooms, or any of your favorite pizza toppings to the mix. If you don’t have time or inclination to make your own tomato sauce, crisp the pepperoni as directed in Step 3, skip the garlic and crushed red pepper, then add 48 ounces of your favorite marinara sauce to the pot used to crisp the pepperoni. Stir the sauce to scrape up any browned bits and warm it through, then turn off the heat and proceed to Step 6.
- Preparation:
- Cooking:
- Total:
- Serves: 6 persons
Ingredients
- 1 ¼cups/6 ounces thinly sliced pepperoni
- 2(28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 5garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- ½teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
- Salt
- 1pound rigatoni or other short tubular pasta
- 1pound low-moisture mozzarella cheese, cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½cup/1 ½ ounces finely grated Parmesan
- ¼cup fresh basil leaves, torn (if desired)
Instructions
Step 1
Slice the pepperoni into ¼-inch-thick strips.Step 2
Use kitchen scissors to cut the tomatoes in each can into small pieces, or crush them with your hands.Step 3
Add the olive oil to a large pot over medium heat and cook the pepperoni, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the pepperoni to a plate.Step 4
Add the sliced garlic and crushed red pepper (if using) to the pot and stir to coat in the oil. Cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.Step 5
Add the tomatoes and their juices to the pot and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 25 minutes.Step 6
While the sauce simmers, heat oven to 350 degrees and set a rack in the center. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.Step 7
Cook the pasta until al dente, drain, then, once the sauce is done simmering, stir the pasta into the sauce. Add half of the pepperoni and half the mozzarella and stir to combine.Step 8
Spoon the pasta into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top the pasta with any sauce remaining in the pot, then the remaining mozzarella and pepperoni.Step 9
Bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Let the pan sit for a few minutes to cool slightly, then top with the Parmesan and basil just before serving.