White Pizza Pasta Bake is a creamy pasta dish with all the toppings and flavors of your favorite white pizza! Simple to throw together and packed with delicious melty cheese, creamy alfredo sauce, sausage AND pepperoni, plus a bright array of veggies to round it all out.
White Pizza Pasta Bake
This pasta bake has all the flavors of a white pizza mixed with tender pasta and a creamy Alfredo Sauce. While I like my pizza (pasta) with green peppers, black olives, and red onion, you can totally customize this to your family’s preferences. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, or broccoli. Swap the sausage for chicken, add bacon, the possibilities are yours to create. The recipe is simple enough to throw together and bake up on a busy weeknight, plus it gives you leftovers all week long! So skip the delivery or carryout fees and dig into a pizza casserole instead!
Positively pumped for pasta? Try this One Pan Bacon Ranch Garlic Parmesan Pasta or delicious Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Shells for more unique dinner ideas!
Is there a difference between alfredo sauce and white pizza sauce?
There can be depending on the restaurant. Many pizza places will use alfredo sauce on their pizzas and refer to it as a white pizza. However if you want to get technical, there is a white sauce (a bechamel) that is thicker than alfredo sauce. Alfredo is creamier and tends to have a richer flavor.
How To Make White Pizza Pasta Bake
- Cook. In a medium skillet, cook the italian sausage over medium heat. Crumble as it browns, then drain off any excess grease. Set aside.
- Boil. Boil your penne according to the package directions, drain, and return to the pot.
- Stir. Pour the alfredo sauce into the pot as well and stir to combine.
- Layer. Begin with layering half of the pasta into a 9×13 baking dish. A large baking pan with high sides will work as well. Then layer half of the shredded mozzarella, followed by half of the sausage, pepperoni, peppers, onions, and olives. Layer the remaining pasta over top then layer the remaining cheese and toppings over the pasta.
- Bake. Cover the pasta with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbling around the edges.
Storing White Pizza Pasta Bake
Leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat for a minute or 2 in the microwave and enjoy leftovers all week long! Because of the alfredo sauce, I don’t recommend freezing this one, it doesn’t hold up well.
Ingredients Notes for White Pizza Pasta Bake
- Italian Sausage – You can use mild, sweet, or spicy depending on your preference.
- Penne Pasta – Any smaller, tubular type of pasta will work. Shells, ziti, rigatoni are all substitution ideas.
- Alfredo Sauce – You can use your preferred store bought or make this easy homemade alfredo sauce yourself! Way better than the jar and super simple.
- Mozzarella Cheese – Freshly shred your cheese when you can. Not only does it melt into the dish better but it brings a higher quality taste to the whole recipe. Provolone is another great option too.
- Pepperoni – Any kind of sliced pepperoni is great! You can use turkey pepperoni too if you prefer.
- Green Pepper – You’ll need to deseed, dice, and divide the green pepper. You can really use any color of pepper you like.
- Red Onion – Diced and divided as well. If you want an onion flavor that’s not as strong, use sliced green onions instead.
- Black Olives – Drain and slice (or get pre sliced olives) and divide along with the pepper and onion. Green olives or even Kalamata are super good here too!
Enjoy!
~Nichole
White Pizza Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1/2 Pound Italian Sausage
- 12 ounces Penne Pasta
- 2 Cups Alfredo Sauce
- 3 Cups Shredded Mozzarella cheese divided
- 3 Ounces Sliced Pepperoni
- 1 Bell Pepper deseeded diced, and divided
- 1 Small Red Onion diced and divided
- 1/3 Cup Sliced Black Olives drained and divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a medium skillet until brown then drain the grease and set aside.
- Boil the pasta according to the instructions on the package then drain and return to the pot.
- Stir the Alfredo sauce into the pasta then layer half into a 9×13-inch casserole dish or large baking pan.
- Layer half of the cheese on top followed by half of each of the cooked sausage, pepperoni, green pepper, onion, and black olives.
- Evenly spoon the remaining pasta on top, followed by the remaining half of the rest of the ingredients.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes then remove the foil and bake for 20 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly around the edges.
- Serve with fresh basil leaves for garnish if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
