Description
A rich and hearty pizza casserole filled with seasoned meat, gooey cheese, and zesty marinara, perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cups pepperoni slices
- 24 oz pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef or sausage over medium heat until fully cooked.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes until tender.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, stirring to combine. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- In a large baking dish, combine the cooked pasta, the meat mixture, pepperoni, and half of the mozzarella. Mix thoroughly.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let cool slightly before serving.
Notes
Feel free to customize with your favorite toppings or add a splash of spice!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: pizza casserole, comfort food, family meal, easy recipes, make ahead