Pizza Pasta Casserole
Pizza Pasta Casserole brings together all your favorite pizza flavors in one cheesy, comforting dish. With rotini pasta, savory ground beef, pepperoni, marinara sauce, and plenty of gooey mozzarella, this hearty casserole is a family-friendly crowd-pleaser perfect for busy weeknights.
Servings: 8
Calories: 325kcal
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz box rotini pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 6 oz package pepperoni, chopped (reserve 20 whole slices for topping)
- 1 green bell pepper finely diced
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 36 oz marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 20 whole pepperoni slices reserved from package
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside (do not rinse).
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt until no longer pink. Drain excess grease.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, beef mixture, chopped pepperoni (reserve 20 slices), diced green pepper, diced onion, marinara sauce, and 2 cups shredded mozzarella. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it evenly. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven, top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and the 20 reserved pepperoni slices.
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
For softer bell pepper and onion, sauté them with the beef during step 3.
Use 1½ jars (24 oz) of marinara, or substitute with pizza sauce for a richer flavor.
Any onion variety works well—white, yellow, or sweet Vidalia.