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Easy Cheesy Pizza Pasta Casserole

A hearty slice of baked pizza casserole featuring macaroni pasta, meat sauce, and bubbly, melted mozzarella cheese topping.
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Make this simple pizza pasta casserole for a quick, cheesy, one-dish family dinner that tastes like your favorite pizza baked in a comforting casserole format.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound dried penne or rotini pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 24 ounces jarred pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  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, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and water or broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked pasta and half of the mozzarella cheese (3/4 cup). Mix well to coat everything.
  7. Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  8. Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Scatter the mini pepperoni slices over the cheese, if using.
  9. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a meat lovers version, add cooked crumbled bacon or cooked diced ham with the ground meat.
  • To make this low carb, substitute the pasta with 12 ounces of steamed cauliflower florets or zucchini noodles added in step 5.
  • You can prepare this casserole entirely ahead of time. Assemble it, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time if baking directly from the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://afripaket.com/easy-pizza-casserole-recipe/