One-Pan Pizza Pasta (Printable)

Savory chicken, pepperoni, and rotini cooked together with melted mozzarella in one pan for easy dinner.

# What You 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. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned but not fully cooked.
02 - Add chopped onion, minced garlic, and diced bell pepper if using. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in pepperoni and cook for 1 minute to release flavor.
04 - Add uncooked rotini, marinara sauce, chicken broth, dried Italian herbs, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly ensuring pasta is mostly submerged.
05 - Bring mixture 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 shredded mozzarella and all Parmesan cheese. Top with remaining mozzarella.
07 - Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Remove from heat and let rest for 2 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so theres almost no cleanup and you can actually relax after dinner.
  • The pepperoni releases its spicy oils right into the sauce, giving you that pizza parlor flavor without turning on the oven.
  • Its flexible enough to handle whatever odds and ends are lurking in your vegetable drawer.
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting time at the end, the sauce goes from soupy to perfect in those two minutes.
  • If your pasta looks dry halfway through, add a splash more broth or water, every stove runs a little different.
  • Use a deep skillet or the liquid will bubble over and make a mess, trust me on this one.
03 -
  • Let the chicken get a little golden before adding the veggies, it adds depth to the whole dish.
  • Taste the sauce before you add the pasta, if it needs more salt or herbs, fix it then because its harder to adjust later.
  • Use a wooden spoon to stir, it wont scratch your pan and it feels more authentic somehow.
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