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Ultimate Cheesy Pizza Pasta Casserole

A close-up of a gooey slice of pizza casserole topped with melted cheese and pepperoni.
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Make this ultimate cheesy pizza pasta casserole for a simple, satisfying weeknight dinner that tastes like your favorite pizza baked into one dish. It is a family favorite.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound rotini pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar pizza sauce
  • 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water or beef broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the pizza sauce, drained diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Pour in the water or broth and the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Reduce the heat to low and stir in 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the provolone cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.
  7. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce mixture and stir well to coat everything evenly.
  8. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese over the top. Scatter the pepperoni slices over the cheese layer.
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before you serve it. This is a great easy weeknight dinner casserole.

Notes

  • For a supreme pizza casserole flavor, add sliced bell peppers and mushrooms when you cook the onion.
  • You can make this ahead of time. Assemble the casserole completely, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 minutes to the baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
  • If you want a low carb pizza bake alternative, substitute the pasta with cauliflower florets or use zucchini slices as a base layer.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://www.purecookingjoy.com/easy-pizza-casserole-recipe-quick-dinner/

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