Description
A delicious and cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese Bake that combines the classic flavors of pizza with creamy mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz elbow macaroni (or cavatappi)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk (warm)
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 20–25 slices pepperoni
- 1 tsp dried oregano or basil (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in warm milk until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until creamy. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss pasta with cheese sauce and spread evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef or sausage until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread meat sauce evenly over the mac & cheese layer.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
- Arrange pepperoni slices evenly across.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with dried oregano or basil.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into squares.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add more crushed red pepper flakes.
- Feel free to substitute the ground beef with turkey or a meat alternative for a lighter option.
- This dish can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg