For those times when you can't decide what to make for dinner, I suggest you whip up this Pepperoni Pizza Mac and Cheese. It's a cross between two of your favorite things...pizza, and mac and cheese. Your family will thank you!
Easy. Cheesy. And undeniably delicious. Pepperoni pizza mac and cheese is a perfect family dinner for any night of the week.
This recipe for Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni & Cheese is not mine. It's one I found in the June 2017 issue of Cuisine At Home Magazine, and when I saw it I knew I had to make it right away. I hope you enjoy it. It's one of the best family-friendly recipes you'll find because it pleases just about everyone!
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making macaroni pizza is available near the end of this post. OR find the "jump to recipe" text (shown below) to be taken directly to the recipe.
Jump to Recipe
The ingredient list:
**Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- Penne Pasta
- Pepperoni
- Green bell pepper
- Red onion
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Milk
- Flour
- Provolone Cheese
- Sharp White Cheddar Cheese
- Marinara Sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
Why this recipe for pizza mac and cheese works:
The thing I like most about this recipe (other than all the CHEESE), is how easy it is to make on a busy weeknight.
By cooking the pasta while the vegetables are sauteing, and the cheese sauce thickens, Pizza Mac & Cheese can be on the dinner table in less time than it takes to order from your favorite take-out place.
Since my husband and I both love green peppers and onions on our pizza, I've added them to this recipe. However, you can tweak the ingredients to fit your pizza preference if green peppers and onions aren't your things.
Alternate add-in suggestions for macaroni pizza:
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Cooked Sausage
- Ham
- Spinach
- Garlic
- Anchovies
- Meatballs (precooked)
- Ham
- Pineapple
- You name it!
Can pizza macaroni and cheese be frozen?
Yes! Once cooked and cooled, store the macaroni pizza in an airtight freezer container for up to 3 months.
To recook from frozen, place in an oven-safe casserole dish, covered, and cook at 350-degrees until heated through (approximately 1 hour). Uncover and continue cooking for an additional 15-20 minutes, if needed.
Want more pepperoni pizza flavor?
My recipe for Pepperoni Pizza Hasselback Zucchini is a great way to get the kids to eat their veggies. This stuffed zucchini recipe is a sure-fire family winner.
How to make Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni and Cheese:
- In a large skillet sauté green pepper and onion over medium heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the sliced pepperoni and cook for 2-3 additional minutes.
- Stir in all-purpose flour and combine.
- Stir the milk into the veggie and flour mixture and heat through, stirring frequently.
- Add the dried herbs.
- Once the sauce has thickened, stir in half of the shredded cheeses and the cooked pasta.
- Stir well to combine.
- Spoon marinara sauce liberally over the pasta.
- Top the pasta with more cheese and pepperoni slices.
- Bake in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly!
- Remove the Pepperoni Pizza Macaroni & Cheese from the oven.
- Cool slightly before serving.
- Enjoy!!
Creamy, cozy, comforting, and delicious. What more can you ask for when you're cooking for your family?!!
Serve this pepperoni pizza pasta along with a colorful side salad, and you'll gain some valuable cooking points that will carry over for the next few weeks at least, and who can't benefit from a few extra cooking-points no matter who you're cooking for?!!
I'm excited to link up this post to Meal Plan Monday hosted by Southern Plate, Southern Bite, A Southern Soul, Big Bear's Wife, and Julia's Simply Southern
Delicious recipes to serve alongside pepperoni pizza macaroni and cheese:
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's easy dinner recipe of pepperoni pizza mac and cheese.
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Printable Recipe Card
Macaroni and Cheese Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 box of penne pasta cooked according to package directions, drained, and kept warm.
- 1½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper seeded and chopped
- 1 package (6 ounces) pepperoni slices reserve 12 for the topping
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3½ cups milk warmed slightly
- 1½ teaspoons dried basil
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 9 ounces provolone cheese about 3 cups, shredded and divided
- 6 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese about 2 cups, shredded and divided
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a large skillet over medium/high heat, sweat the green pepper and onion in the olive oil, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes.
- Add the chopped pepperoni and continue to cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
- Turn the heat to medium and stir in the flour. Cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute
- Slowly stir in the milk along with the basil and oregano.
- Continue to stir until the liquid begins to bubble and thicken.
- Stir in 1½ cups of provolone and 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta to the cheese sauce and stir well to combine.
- Turn the heat off under the skillet and top the pasta evenly with the marinara sauce.
- Top the pasta and sauce evenly with the remaining cheese and top with the rounds of pepperoni.
- Carefully place the skillet in a preheated oven and cook until the cheese is browned and bubbly, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- Allow the pasta to cool slightly before serving.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you'll come back and visit me often. There is always room for you around my table!
Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen here on my blog, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. It is always my distinct pleasure to respond to you just as soon as I possibly can.
Ellen E Wright says
Can't wait to make this, but don'thave any parmesan lying around - - - what do you suggest I substitute? Thanks for your patience!
Renée says
Hi, Ellen!
That's a good question but unfortunately, I'm not sure I have an equally good answer. What are the chances you have Romano cheese lying around? That would be a good substitution, for sure. However, it's not the end of the world to leave the grated cheese out entirely.
OR, (and this is really a stretch, but one that I think will work)...what about toasting up some breadcrumbs with some butter in a skillet along with a light touch of lemon rind? The breadcrumbs will give the texture, and the lemon zest will give a brightness that the Parmesan would have finished with.
Of course, you can also do a light grating of cheddar cheese if you like, or...again, off the rails...what about those French fried onions? Have any of those in the cupboard? If you do, maybe you could crunch those up for the topping. For me, THAT would be a winner for sure. I love those French fried onions! 🙂
I hope these few (far out) suggestions are helpful. Let me know what you decide to do. I'm curious.
Take good care, and thanks for the great question.
Renee
Erica Acevedo says
I LOVE mac & cheese in any iteration, and this is by FAR one of my favorite ways to eat it! Thanks so much for this crowd pleaser recipe, Renee!
Renée says
My pleasure, Erica! This is a favorite of ours too! 🙂
Justine says
This was delicious! My kids thought it was so fun, too!
Renée says
Awesome! So glad to hear it, Justine! Thanks!!
ROBIN says
I love how the family can have both pizza and pasta with this dish!
Renée says
You can't be it for being a family pleaser. Thanks, Robin!!
Samantha Dawn says
This recipe is such a great twist on 2 classic recipes! My kids love it!
Renée says
Glad to hear it! Thanks!!
Lauren says
OMG I love absolutely everything about this. The pepperoni on top is such a great idea!
Renée says
Thanks, Lauren!
Shelby says
You are so talented! Love this recipe. We will definitely give it a try. Also, LOVE that wine glass!
Jennifer Farley says
That is one epic meal!
megunprocessed says
I thought this was pizza! This is such a creative recipe.
Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling says
OHMYGOSH best mac & cheese ever!!
Jenny | Honey and Birch says
Everything I love in one skillet!!!!
Katerina @ Diethood says
My family would really LOVE this dish! Its fantastic!!
Delaney | Melanie Makes says
This looks so so delicious!
Jenni says
Oh, man, this is my kind of comfort food!
Cookin Canuck says
This would be a crowd pleaser, for sure! I have a feeling my boys would want to add in some black olives.