Description
A comforting and cheesy pepperoni pasta bake that combines cooked rotini pasta with seasoned ground beef, pepperoni slices, marinara sauce, and a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Baked to golden perfection, this hearty casserole makes a perfect weeknight dinner for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions, drained
Meat and Seasonings
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheeses
- 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup (138 g) pepperoni slices
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook ground beef: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until fully cooked and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
- Combine ingredients: To the skillet with the cooked beef, add the cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together until well combined. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Add cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Be sure to drain excess grease from the cooked beef to prevent the dish from becoming too oily.
- Cook the pasta just until al dente to avoid mushy texture after baking.
- Feel free to substitute ground beef with ground turkey or sausage for a different flavor.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes if you like a bit of heat.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
