Description
A hearty, family-friendly casserole that combines all the flavors of your favorite pizza in one easy-to-make dish, perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked rotini or penne pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 20 slices pepperoni
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet, brown the meat over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; cook until softened (5-6 minutes). Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and water. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread uncooked pasta in the prepared baking dish. Pour meat sauce evenly over pasta and stir gently to combine.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
- Remove foil, top with cheeses and pepperoni. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use turkey sausage and reduced-fat cheese.
- Add mushrooms, olives, or other favorite pizza toppings in step 2.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg