This Lightened Up Pizza Pasta Bake has all the pizza flavors you love- with pasta!!  This is a meal the whole family will love!

8 (1 and 1/4 cup) servings

What ingredients do I need to use to make this Lightened Up Pizza Pasta Bake?

• Rotini or penne or whole wheat rotini or penne pasta– I’ve recently discovered Fiber Gourmet Pasta! It’s my NEW favorite low point pasta!  It’s Kosher, Vegan certified, non-GMO, and has zero artificial colors or flavoring-with only 17 net carbs vs. 41g, only 100 calories vs. 210 calories, & an astounding 25g of fiber vs. for a 2g serving of regular pasta.  I’m telling you, it has the same great taste, texture but with more fiber, fewer calories, and 1/2 the points than regular pasta! You just can’t go wrong with the Fiber Gourmet Pasta- now it’s a little more expensive but it’s so worth it to me to and it may be worth it to you!! You can find it HERE on Amazon-which sells it in a 6-pack.

Another great option is the Barilla Plus pasta, which can be found at most grocery stores or HERE on Amazon in an 8 pack- its also high in protein and lower in points than most regular pasta.  

• Italian chicken sausage or turkey sausage – I like to use Isernio’s chicken sausage-it tastes just like regular sausage and it’s lower in points than turkey sausage. It’s only 7 smartpoints per pound vs. 20 smartpoints for the Jennie- O turkey sausage. Click HERE to find the nearest store that carries Isernio’s chicken sausage.  If you can’t locate that particular chicken sausage, you can use any turkey sausage as a substitute. Just adjust the points as needed. 
• Yellow onion– finely diced
• Hormel mini pepperoni or turkey pepperoni-diced. I like switching it up and I love using both the mini pepperoni’s as well as turkey pepperoni-which is lower in points. You’ll may want to cut the turkey pepperoni’s into quarters before adding them to the casserole. 
• Minced garlic
• Zero point marinara sauce– I highly recommend using my zero point marinara sauce for this recipe-it’s much lower in points than bottled pasta sauce and tastes fantastic! You can find the recipe HERE. 
• Reduced fat or fat free mozzarella cheese– shredded. I use Pantry Market low moisture part skim mozzarella from Target 
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped-optional 
• Salt and pepper– to taste 

What other toppings could I add to this Lightened Up Pizza Pasta Bake?

• Tomatoes, diced 
• Olives 
• Mushrooms
• Ricotta cheese
• Red or green peppers, diced

How do I make this Lightened Up Pizza Pasta Bake?

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Spray a 9×13-inch or 3- quart baking dish with non stick cooking spray; set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and until it’s very al dente. Drain.

Meanwhile, in a skillet add the chicken or turkey sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up into pieces using a spatula, until browned.

Stir in the onion to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for another minute.

Add 2 cups of the zero point marinara sauce to the turkey sausage mix and stir until combined. Remove from heat. 

Combine cooked pasta and turkey sausage mixture into a large bowl. Stir to combine. Fold in 1/2 cup of the cheese. 

Pour pasta mix into prepared baking dish. Spread the remaining sauce in an even layer over the pasta.

 Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Top with mini pepperonis or turkey pepperoni, olives, and fresh parsley, if desired.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and the cheese is bubbling.

Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

 Ingredients:

• 12 oz. uncooked, Fiber Gourmet light rotini  or Barilla Plus Rotini or Penne or whole grain rotini or penne pasta – I like to use Fiber Gourmet light rotini 
• 1 lb Isernio’s Italian chicken sausage or Jennie-O Italian Turkey sausage – I use Isernio’s chicken sausage 
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/3 cup or 1 oz. Hormel mini pepperoni or 15 slices turkey pepperoni, diced 
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 3 cups zero point marinara sauce
• 1 cup reduced fat or fat free mozzarella cheese, shredded – I use Pantry Market low moisture part skim mozzarella from Target 
• 2 tsp fresh parsley, finely chopped-optional
• 2 Tbsp diced black olives, optional  
• Salt and pepper, to taste 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spray a 9×13-inch or 3- quart baking dish with non stick cooking spray; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and until it’s very al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, in a skillet add the chicken or turkey sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up into pieces using a spatula, until browned.
• Stir in the onion to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for another minute.
• Add 2 cups of the zero point marinara sauce to the turkey sausage mix and stir until combined. Remove from heat. 
• Combine cooked pasta and turkey sausage mixture into a large bowl. Stir to combine. Fold in 1/2 cup of the cheese. 
• Pour pasta mix into prepared baking dish. Spread the remaining sauce in an even layer over the pasta. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Top mini pepperonis or turkey pepperoni, olives, and fresh parsley, if desired. 
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and the cheese is bubbling. Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

8 (1 and 1/4 cup) servings

7 Points® per serving

How do I track this recipe in my WW app? 

Click the link below to go to the recipe builder. You’ll first need to sign into your WW account and then the recipe builder will upload. Be sure to edit the recipe with any ingredients that you use that are different. The recipe builder is the most accurate way to create, obtain, and track the Points®

*The recipe builder link only works for WW members located in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, you’ll need to access the WW app manually to create the recipe in the recipe builder. 

Author Notes:

• The point values will vary depending on the brand of ingredients you use- and if you use a bottled marinara sauce vs. my zero point marinara sauce.