Description
This Spaghetti Pizza recipe transforms classic spaghetti into a cheesy, savory baked dish topped with pepperoni for a fun twist on traditional pizza. Featuring cooked spaghetti tossed with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese, then baked to perfection with a crispy layer of melted cheese and pepperoni slices, it’s a perfect family-friendly meal ready in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Spaghetti and Sauce
- 12 Ounces spaghetti (cooked and drained)
- 24 Ounces spaghetti sauce
Sausage and Seasoning
- 1 Pound Italian sausage
- 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ Teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ Teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ Teaspoon kosher salt (coarse)
Toppings
- 3 Cups mozzarella cheese (shredded), divided
- 18 Slices pepperoni
- Nonstick cooking spray (as needed)
- 2 Teaspoons parsley (freshly chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the dish later.
- Cook the spaghetti: Boil a large pot of water and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions, approximately 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the pasta well.
- Cook the sausage and season: While the pasta is cooking, brown the Italian sausage in a large pot over medium heat. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and kosher salt. Cook for about 7 minutes or until the sausage is fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Toss the mixture: To the pot with cooked sausage, add the drained spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated with sauce and cheese.
- Transfer to baking dish: Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the spaghetti mixture into the dish and spread it evenly.
- Add cheese and pepperoni: Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Arrange the 18 slices of pepperoni on top of the cheese layer.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden, and the dish is heated through.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top for a fresh finish, and serve warm.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian sausage with turkey sausage for a leaner option.
- Adjust red pepper flakes amount to control spice level.
- For a crispier top, broil the dish for an additional 1-2 minutes after baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Make sure to drain the spaghetti well to prevent sogginess in the final bake.
