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Pizza Casserole

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Pizza Casserole is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that combines pasta, meat, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings in a cheesy, saucy oven-baked casserole. It’s everything you love about pizza and pasta in one easy meal.

Ingredients

  1. 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or rigatoni)
  2. 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
  3. 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
  4. 2 cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  5. 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  6. 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
  7. 1 tbsp olive oil
  8. 1 small onion, diced
  9. 2 cloves garlic, minced
  10. 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  11. 1/2 tsp salt
  12. 1/4 tsp black pepper
  13. Optional toppings: sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, black olives, cooked bacon, jalapeños

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

  1. Cook pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté diced onion until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  3. Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
  4. Stir in pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta, meat sauce, and half of the mozzarella cheese.
  6. Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese, then layer pepperoni and optional toppings.
  7. Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  8. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Use ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter version.
  • Add ricotta or cottage cheese for a lasagna-style twist.
  • To freeze, assemble without baking, wrap tightly, and freeze up to 2 months.
  • Vegetarian? Omit meat and load up on veggies like mushrooms and peppers.
  • Great make-ahead meal—assemble and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://thefamilycooking.com/pizza-casserole/