One Pot Pepperoni Pizza Orzo

One pot pepperoni pizza orzo bake. An easy crowd-pleasing meal that everyone at your table will love. Imagine smooth orzo simmered in a tomatoey broth with roasted peppers and Parmesan, baked off under a carpet of mozzarella and crispy slices of pepperoni. A pretty looking, delicious dish to serve any night of the week. Serve with a big side salad and enjoy!

As opposed to a classic pepperoni pizza, this weeknight meal is made with orzo instead of a doughy crust. The usual suspects like pizza-style seasoning, the right ratio of sauce to melted cheese and thin slices of pepperoni that crisp up as they bake, are still in place. You’ll only need one pot and it comes together in no time. 

An easy, cheesy pasta bake that tastes like pizza and will beyond doubt be a total hit. It’s the best of both worlds.
Adjust the spiciness of the pepperoni and make this an all-ages dinner. Serve when it’s warm and bubbling with some garlic bread and a big side salad.
Let me guide you through the recipe with this step-by-step VIDEO.

RECIPE NOTES

You can easily customize this dish with other toppings and add-ins

• replace the pepperoni for thinly sliced bacon
• add veggies like mushrooms, black olives or sun-dried tomatoes
• go vegetarian with only fresh basil and mozzarella on top for a pizza margherita-inspired meal
• adjust the spiciness of the pepperoni you use to make this an all-ages dinner
• serve with some garlic bread and a big side salad

Try These Next

• Easy Sausage Cast Iron Skillet Pizza
• Chicken and jalapeño pizza
• Baked Meatballs with Orzo in Roasted Pepper Sauce

Cooking Video

 

Yield: serves 4

One Pot Pepperoni Pizza Orzo

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 3 garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 250 g/9 oz orzo pasta
• 2 1/2 cups/600 ml chicken broth
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 240 ml/1 cup tomato purée
• 100 g/3.5 oz roasted peppers from a jar, drained
• 30 g/1 oz grated Parmesan
• 180 g/6.5 oz grated mozzarella
• 100 g/3.5 oz thin slices pepperoni
• fresh basil
• 1/2 tsp crushed pepper flakes

spices

• 1 tsp each: dried oregano, dried thyme, dried sage, salt, black pepper

Instructions

1. Get all the prep done before you start cooking: mince the garlic and finely chop the shallot. 
2. Heat oil in an ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium low. Add shallot and garlic, cook until soft and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add orzo, toast for 1 minute. Stir in spices and toast until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in broth and bring to a boil. Add tomato paste and stir until dissolved. Add tomato purée and stir well. Cover, and simmer over low for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent orzo from sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Add more chicken broth or water if needed.
3. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200 °C/400 °F.
4. When ready, turn off the heat. Add roasted peppers and grated Parmesan, stir until combined. Then top with grated mozzarella, pepperoni and basil leaves. Finish off with black pepper and red pepper flakes.
5. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden browned on top. Serve immediately with a big side salad. Enjoy!

Notes

Calories Per Serving: 561 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe?

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