Description
A comforting and flavorful twist on traditional pizza, this Pizza Casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish that the whole family will love. It combines all the classic pizza flavors in a convenient casserole form, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 oz uncooked rotini or penne pasta
Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Cheese and Toppings:
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
- ½ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: Sauté onion in olive oil until softened. Add garlic, then meat, cooking until browned. Stir in sauce, seasoning, and pepper flakes. Simmer.
- Combine: Mix cooked pasta with meat sauce. Layer half in baking dish, top with half of cheeses. Add remaining pasta, cheeses, pepperoni, and olives.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish and serve.
Notes
- Customize with favorite toppings like mushrooms, green peppers, or cooked bacon.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the meat and add extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
