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Hearty Pizza Casserole Recipe with Pepperoni, Beef, and Mozzarella

Hearty Pizza Casserole Recipe

A comforting baked pasta dinner layered with seasoned meat, pizza sauce, tomatoes, pepperoni, mozzarella, and Parmesan. This family-friendly casserole serves 6–8 and brings classic pizza flavor to the dinner table.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 12 ounces Rotini or penne pasta
  • 24 ounces Pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  • 14-15 ounces Diced tomatoes, drained
Meat and Vegetables
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 small Small yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium Green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
Toppings and Seasoning
  • 6 ounces Sliced pepperoni, divided
  • 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt, or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil, only if needed for sautéing

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente, usually 1–2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain well.
  3. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any excess fat.
  4. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.
  5. Stir in the pizza or marinara sauce, drained tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and about half of the pepperoni. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.
  6. Combine the cooked pasta with the meat-and-sauce mixture, stirring gently until the noodles are evenly coated.
  7. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle it with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan, then add the remaining pasta mixture.
  8. Top the casserole with the remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni. Arrange the pepperoni over the cheese so its edges can crisp as it bakes.
  9. Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the casserole is bubbling and lightly browned.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. This gives the sauce time to settle and makes the portions easier to scoop.

Notes

Undercook the pasta slightly because it continues cooking in the oven. Reserve pepperoni for the top so it crisps and releases flavorful oil. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and reheat until hot.