One-Pot Pizza Pasta Express (Print)

A fast Italian dish with marinara, cheeses, and veggies cooked together in a single pot.

# Components:

→ Pasta

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

→ Sauce

02 - 1 jar (24 ounces) 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

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pot, which means one dish to wash instead of three.
  • Ready in 15 minutes flat, no complicated techniques or special skills required.
  • Tastes like pizza night but without the delivery app guilt or the wait.
02 -
  • Don't skip the stirring during that first 7-8 minutes; the bottom of the pot is where pasta loves to stick and burn.
  • The cheese melts faster if you cover the pot those final moments, trapping the steam and heat together like a little oven.
03 -
  • If your pot starts to look too dry before the pasta is tender, add a splash more water rather than guessing.
  • Taste the pasta at the 7-minute mark; every stove and pasta shape cooks differently, so your eyes and teeth are better judges than any timer.
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