One-Pan Pizza Pasta (Printable Version)

A tasty, easy-to-make meal with chicken, pepperoni, rotini, and melted cheese cooked together.

# What You'll Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 30 slices pepperoni, sliced or quartered

→ Pasta

03 - 10.5 ounces rotini pasta, uncooked

→ Cheese

04 - 7 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1.4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

→ Sauce

06 - 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

07 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced (optional)
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Seasonings

11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Liquids

14 - 1 ⅔ cups low-sodium chicken broth or water

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add chicken pieces and season with salt and black pepper. Sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned but not fully cooked.
02 - Add onion, garlic, and red bell pepper if using to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in pepperoni and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Add uncooked rotini, marinara sauce, chicken broth, dried Italian herbs, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine, ensuring pasta is mostly submerged.
05 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 to 14 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most liquid is absorbed.
06 - Stir in half of the mozzarella and all Parmesan cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella.
07 - Cover skillet and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from heat and let sit for 2 minutes. Garnish with extra herbs if desired before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means less scrubbing and more time to actually enjoy dinner.
  • It delivers all the satisfying flavors of pizza without waiting for dough to rise or an oven to preheat.
  • The pasta soaks up the sauce as it cooks, creating layers of flavor you just can't get from boiling separately.
  • Kids and adults alike devour it, making weeknight meals a lot less stressful.
02 -
  • Don't walk away during the simmer; stir at least twice to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  • If the pasta looks dry before it's tender, add a splash more broth or water and keep the lid on.
  • Let the dish rest for a couple of minutes after cooking; it helps the sauce thicken and the flavors settle.
03 -
  • Use a deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid; a shallow pan will cause the liquid to evaporate too quickly.
  • Taste the pasta a minute or two before the timer goes off; different brands cook at slightly different rates.
  • If you want crispy pepperoni edges, uncover the pan for the last minute of cooking and let some of the moisture escape.
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