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Easy Pizza Pasta Casserole: The Ultimate Weeknight Comfort Bake

A generous serving of amazing pizza casserole featuring penne pasta, meat sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese topped with pepperoni.
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Make this easy pizza pasta casserole for a satisfying weeknight dinner. It combines penne pasta, ground beef, savory marinara sauce, and layers of gooey mozzarella cheese for a dish that tastes just like your favorite pizza.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 (16 ounce) package dry penne pasta
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar pizza or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Add the pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pepper, and water to the skillet with the meat. Stir to combine. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer.
  4. Stir in the uncooked penne pasta until it is fully coated in the sauce.
  5. Pour the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes.
  7. Remove the foil. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese and all of the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top. Arrange the pepperoni slices over the cheese.
  8. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  9. Let the pizza casserole rest for 5 minutes before you serve it.

Notes

  • For a Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole, add cooked, crumbled bacon or diced ham along with the ground beef.
  • If you want a Supreme Pizza Casserole, add 1/2 cup sliced black olives and 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers to the sauce mixture before baking.
  • This recipe freezes well; cool completely, cover tightly, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://fooddexterity.com/easy-pizza-casserole-recipe-family-favorite/